The Boothbay Region YMCA’s main campus was built in 1967, directly across the street from the Boothbay Region High School. This was no accident. In fact, the strategic alliance that exists between families, schools, and the YMCA has been a thread that’s bound the strong fabric of the Boothbay community together for decades. “Founders knew it was wise to be close to area schools,” CEO Andy Hamblett stated, and students feel the expansive impact of that decision daily. “Middle school youth can come here unchaperoned once they reach 6th grade. High school kids come here to work out, hang out, and extend their learning day,” Hamblett added.  

In September 2016, with the generous gift from a local couple, the Y began offering free memberships to high school students. Public school and homeschooled students from Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, and Southport are welcome to participate in the high school-level free membership program that removes financial and transportation barriers for local families. Because the 3-year pilot program was so successful in drawing older youth, the YMCA supported the innovative initiative for the last five years. More than 160 teens currently have a membership through this free program. Recently, the Borsage Family Foundation provided financial support to help sustain the inclusive program for high school students, and the YMCA’s ability to offer free membership. 

In the upcoming year, the YMCA will expand programming aimed toward older youth to include internships with local businesses, job shadowing, career exploration and vocational readiness. “It’s an exciting time,” Hamblett said. “Working with the schools and local businesses to help youth stay on the peninsula in high-quality jobs is something that’s great for everyone,” he added. The YMCA will also bring expanded opportunities for middle school youth to the YMCA campus and beyond. From early childhood education to Camp K to workforce training, the Boothbay Region YMCA has a place for every child during their development. 

It’s unlikely you’ll ever hear Andy Hamblett call the YMCA an organization; he refers to the people who enjoy the YMCA and support the YMCA as “family.” And like a family, the YMCA is committed to supporting youth by increasing learning experiences, growing social opportunities, and providing guided mentoring. The placement of the YMCA across from schools can be traced back to the forward-thinking local families who founded the Boothbay Region YMCA, but it’s the on-going reciprocity that exists between the YMCA and families, individuals, businesses, schools that is the key to helping kids connect with opportunities that enrich their lifetimes.