OUTDOOR CENTER/HOPKINTON FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
For those who only want to access the Hopkinton location:
Programs & Events Included In Membership:
- Weekly Open Climb, Open Archery, and Open Pickleball (School Year)
- Monthly Family Events
- Family Outdoor Center Swim Club Membership
- Youth member rates on Outdoor Center classes, programs, and summer camp
Facility Use Included In Membership:
- Family Swim Club (outdoor pool)
- Hiking Trails
- Courts & Fields
- Winter self-guided trail use; snowshoes, x-country skiing
- Drop-in orienteering and geocaching
Outdoor Center Membership Restrictions:
- Only valid at the Family Outdoor Center
- Not part of a reciprocal membership program
- Do not have access to the Framingham Branch or Clearbrook Swim Club in Framingham.
- Do not have member pricing or privileges for Framingham classes or member registration
METROWEST YMCA FRAMINGHAM FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS
For members looking for greater health, wellness, and program opportunities throughout the year, the MetroWest YMCA Family Membership will also have ALL the benefits of the Outdoor Center (including the Swim Club), PLUS access to the Framingham Branch and all of it’s member benefits including fitness, pool, gym, wellness center, childwatch and more!
Key Included Benefits:
- Access to our Wellness Center
- Unlimited attendance to our group exercise classes which include cycling, kickboxing, step-classes and more
- Pilates is free for members.
- Over 70 hours of lap swimming time per week in our heated pool
- Designated member-only open swim and family swim
- Access to open basketball, family, youth, teen and preschool open gym time in our full-size gymnasium
- Member rates on programs and priority registration
- My Y Is Every Y in New England
WEEKLY DROP-IN PROGRAMS- FREE FOR MEMBERS!
Open Archery (Ages 6+)
Every Monday, 5:30pm-8:30 pm
Try out archery before signing up for classes or practice on your own. All required equipment and instruction provided by YMCA staff. You may bring your own recurve or compound bow provided draw weight is 30lbs or less, and only arrows with field/target points are allowed. Takes place inside the Recreation Lodge, use the North Entrance and park in the middle lot.
OPEN CLIMB
Every Friday, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
The indoor climbing gym is open to climbers of all ages, shapes, and sizes. YMCA staff members, and those who have been through the adult belay class are able to belay participants. If you can be appropriately harnessed, you may climb. Anyone wishing to belay must have attended the Adult Belay Class. Our awesome black light glow climb is from 8:00-9:00 pm!
NOTE: New auto-belays will be installed soon on our indoor climbing wall to provide an enhanced and more efficient climbing experience allowing more people to climb at one time!
Open Pickleball - seasonal only program
Every Tuesday, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Pickleball is a sport played with wooden paddles and a small, plastic baseball similar to a Wiffle Ball. It's a cross between ping-pong and tennis - played on a badminton court with the net placed lower to the ground (approx. 34 inches). Pickleball can be played as a singles or doubles match. We are offering drop-in pickleball inside the Recreation Lodge at the Outdoor Center in Hopkinton. Tuesdays, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, starting April 11 and running through May 15.
SELF-LED ACTIVITIES FOR MEMBERS
Geocaching
Have you ever wanted to go on a treasure hunt? There are five geocaches (hidden boxes) currently located on the beautiful nature trails of our 122-acre property. Download the Geocaching app or visit the website to see the general locations and come down to see if you can find them all! Bring a small toy or item to trade prizes (take an item; leave an item style of play).
Free, ongoing. All ages welcome!
Please note that the Family Outdoor Center is open to members from 6am to dusk.
Orienteering
Come challenge your inner adventurer! Orienteering is a navigational activity that challenges you to read a highly detailed map (with or without a compass), and plan the best route to find control markers (wooden posts). This can be done competitively (fastest time wins), or just for fun as a “treasure hunt” to find the control markers.
We provide everything you need to enjoy our 1.5 mile orienteering course. This course allows participants to practice their orienteering skills while walking along the clearly marked forest trails.
There are currently six levels of courses broken across three distance levels:
Short maps (less than a mile):
Easy (15-25 min.)
Intermediate (25-45 min.)
Hard (40-60 min.)
Long maps (up to 1.24 miles):
Intermediate (45-60 min.)
Hard (60-80 min.)
Extra-long map (1.86 miles):
Hard (70-90 min.)
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is a great physical activity that is fun for everyone. When snow levels are deep enough, snowshoes can be borrowed (free for members, small fee for nonmembers) from the Outdoor Center to be used out on out trail systems as you wonderland.
