Outdoor-center-programs | Metrowest YMCA | MetroWest YMCA

Throughout the year, we offer sports, recreation, cooking, leadership development, and outdoor education classes for all ages! We host school vacation programs in December, February, and April. In the summer, we offer swim lessons, and family swim club memberships at our outdoor pool.

  • Seasonal Session Classes, Workshops, Events
  • School Vacation Programs
  • Free Member Events & Drop-in Programs 
  • Self-Led Activities for Members
  • Swim Lessons/Swim Team

 

Spring II Session Classes & Workshops

 

 

YOUTH AND ADULT ARCHERY & BELAY

Aim for the future with our YMCA archery classes! Our Beginner and Intermediate class gradually teach skills, patience, and confidence. The Advanced class covers care of equipment and essential gear, competition commands, as well as works on the finer points of technical archery. 

Our classes are mulit-age. Adults are invited to join the appropriate class. We hope to one day have so many adults involved that we might be able to have an adult archery club! See you soon!

 

Beginner/Intermediate Archery

Youth and Adult (ages 6 and up)

Our Beginner/Intermediate Archery program works on foundational archery skills: identifying the parts of the bow and arrow, how to hold equipment, stance, and other information. All equipment is provided!

Saturdays April 29th – June 17th from 9am – 10am (No

class May 27th, Memorial Day weekend)

Members: $90 | Youth & Teen: $95 | Non-Members $180

 

Advanced Archery

Youth and Adult (ages 8 and up)

The Advanced Archery class provides an environment in which students will hone in on their form, learn range/ competition commands, and learn care of essential gear such as stringing, waxing, & re-fletching. To participate you MUST have instructor approval

Saturdays April 29th – June 17th from 10:15am – 11:15am

(No class May 27th, Memorial Day weekend)

Members: $90 | Youth & Teen: $95 | Non-Members $180

Adult Belay Class
Calling all parents, guardians and siblings over age 18!! Register for a learn-to-belay class so that YOU can learn how to manage the ropes and take charge of your family's life line! Once a participant passes the course, you will have the ability to belay your family and approved guests during Open Climb. Ages 18+. May 12th, 5-7pm

 

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Outdoor Adventure Excursions for Adults!
Looking to adventure with some other adults? Now offering several guided excursions for a variety of activities this spring! Transportation is provided, group will meet at the Outdoor Center and take the YMCA vans.

Sat 4/29, Outdoor rock-face climbing @ College Rock Park (Hopkinton, MA) - 12:30pm – 4:00pm, Members: $50 | Non-members: $75

Sat 6/3, Cape Cod bike tours (Sandwich, MA) – 9:30am – 4:00pm, Members: $60 | Non-members: $80

Sun 6/11, Cape Cod kayak tours (Sandwich, MA) – 9:30am – 5:00pm, Members: $75 | Non-members: $101

 

Young Explorer Series

Workshops every other Sunday during Spring I from 1:00pm - 3:00pm

This workshop series is geared towards youth ages 7-10 who are looking to get out exploring, perhaps for the first time, and would like to learn some basic outdoor skills. Participants can attend just one, or all of these stand-alone workshops.
 

April 30 - Guided hike/Map-reading/Compass 101

Learn the basics of map reading and compass work before testing your skills on the level 1 orienteering course.

 

May 14 - Mother's Day Fun

Spend time with mom outside among nature, create a unique piece of art to take home and treasure, follow with Mother's Day refreshments.

 

June 4 - Critter Collection & Pond Ecology

Explore our brook and wetlands and leran about the creatues that call these places home. Channel your inner entomologist!

 

June 18 - Father's Day on the Challenge Course

Spend time with Dad up in the trees! Come explore some of the high elements on the challenge course.

 

 

NATURE EXPLORATION
 

Birds, Birds, Birds!

Haven’t you heard? Bird is the Word! In this workshop, put together and decorate a birdhouse that you can either take home, or leave here for us to put out on the trail. Spend some time exploring the trails after, using the Ipads with the Merlin Bird ID app and see how many different species of birds you can identify (some by just their song!).

Sunday May 14th from 10a – 12p

Members: $5/person | Non-Members: $10/person

 

 

COOKING CLASSES

 

NEW! Adult Cooking Classes!

Adult chefs of all levels are invited to join these classes for a fun evening of cooking, conversation, and delicious food!

 

Indian Cuisine, Friday, June 2nd at 5:30pm

Members: $25/person | Non-Members: $50/person

 

Cooking with the Littles

In this class parents/guardians and children learn cooking skills and explore new foods and flavors together! We will prepare a delicious kid-friendly recipe and make a related craft. Ages 2-6. Sign up for one or all of the classes!

 

Classes are from10:30am-12:00pm

Friday, May 12th: Tastes of Mexico

Friday, June 2nd: Eat The Rainbow

Members: $15/child/class | Non-Members: $20/child/class

 

Kids in the Kitchen Afterschool Series

Looking for a hands-on program for your child to engage in after school? Kids in the kitchen is a 7-week program that will teach children basic cooking skills while also learning how to prepare healthy, delicious recipes! Ages 7-12 at the Outdoor Center kitchen.

 

Mondays, 5:15-7:00 pm

Members: $120 | Youth & Teen Membership: $180 | Non- Members: $240

 

Family Dinner Night: Greek Cuisine

Fun for one or the whole family! Spend some quality time together while cooking a delicious, healthy meal! We will make homemade spanakopita and falafel pita pockets with tzatziki sauce.Price for anyone 3 and over, under 3 is free! Held at the Outdoor Center.

 

Friday, June 9th 5:30pm

Members: $15 per/person |Non-Members: $20 per /person

 

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.

Members FREE | Non-Members $10/person or $25 per family of 3+

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!