Try Something New at the Family Outdoor Center in Hopkinton!
The Family Outdoor Center offers 122-acres of year-round fun for the whole family! We offer seasonal family events, classes in archery, indoor rock-climbing, wilderness skills, and orienteering, plus access to soccer fields, a cricket pitch, basketball courts, tennis courts, and miles of hiking trails! (Please note this facility does not have a gym, workout classes, indoor pool, etc... as found in a traditional Y location. We are an outdoor/adventure/summer camp facility.)
Plan Your Visit
The Family Outdoor Center is located at 45 East Street, Hopkinton, MA 01748. There are two entrances and three parking lots. Please click "Find out more" to download a map!
FALL PROGRAMS
Session I: September 12 - October 30
Session II: October 31 - December 23
Weekly Classes (Register online):
Beginner/Intermediate Archery
Our Beginner/Intermediate Archery program works on the foundation of archery skills. Identify the parts of the bow and arrow, how to hold equipment, stance,
and other information. All equipment is provided! Ages 6+
Family Members $90 | Youth Members $95 | Non-Members $180
Saturdays, Sept 17 – Oct 29, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Advanced Archery
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 and call the Family Outdoor Center to register. Ages 8+
Family Members $90 | Youth Members $95 | Non-Members $180
Saturdays, Sept 17 – Oct 29, 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
One-time Workshops (Register online):
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+ On the day of the event, arrive via the North entrance and park in the middle parking lot, check-in at the Recreation Lodge.
Family Members $25 | Non-Members $35
Friday, Sept 9, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday, Oct 21, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Outdoor Skills
This outdoor skills workshop is a hike around the property with several stops to learn skills along the way including: hiking safety and equipment, basic first aid, plant identification, animal tracking and basic navigation using a map and compass. The same workshop is offered three different times, from 12:00 - 2:00 PM.
Family Members $10 | Non-Members $15
Sunday, Sept 25
Sunday, Oct 9
Saturday, Oct 22
Special Events (Register online):
The Family Outdoor Center is offering a host of special events this fall! See the events page here for full details and links to register. https://www.metrowestymca.org/events-calendar
September 10 - Family Day on the Ropes Course
September 17 - "Try Archery" Event
September 18 - Community Boating Day
September 24 - Inaugural Cornhole Tournament
October 1 - Family Day on the Ropes Course
October 8 - Guided Boat Tours of Ashland Reservoir
October 8 - Fall Camp-Out and Lunar Carnival
October 15 - Fall Foliage Fest and Cornhole Tourney
October 29 - Spooktacular & Halloween Cornhole Tourney
Family Cooking Classes (Register online):
Fun for the whole family! Spend some quality time together cooking a fun, healthy meal at the Family Outdoor Center in Hopkinton! Ages 3+ (under 3 free). These classes take place in the Admin building in our kitchen.
Learn more by contacting Karley Doray at: KDoray@metrowestymca.org
Family Chopped Night!
Come join us for a friendly family competition where you will be given a basket of ingredients to create a delicious meal for your family to enjoy! Limit 6 families.
Cost $35 per family (that’s 2-6 people).
Friday, Sept 23, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Spooky Family Dinner Night!
Don’t be scared, dinner time will be easy when done together! Join us for a spooky night of meals: Taco salad and Frankenstein guacamole with a potion drink.
Price per person: $15 -- under 3 is free!
Friday, Oct 14, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Weekend Drop-In Programs
Free for members, small fee for non-members, check-in at location
Open Indoor Rock Climbing
Every Friday, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM in the Recreation Lodge
The indoor climbing gym is open to climbers of all ages, shapes, and sizes. Come and check out our climbing walls and be belayed by YMCA staff members. If you can be appropriately harnessed, you may climb. Anyone wishing to belay must have attended the Adult Belay Class. Learn how YOU can belay YOUR FAMILY by signing up for an Adult Belay Class!!
Members FREE | Non-Members $10/person or
$25 per family of 3+
Check In at the Recreation Lodge, use the North Entrance and park in the middle lot.
Open Archery (Ages 6+)
Every Saturday, 11:30 AM - 1:30 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 at upper archery range, behind Recration Lodge, weather permitting, or inside the Recreation Lodge if necessary, use the North Entrance and park in the middle lot.
Geocaching
Have you ever wanted to go on a treasure hunt? Come get an overview of geocaching and the use of a GPS device, then go out on our 122 acres and nature trails to find the eight geocaches hidden on our site!
Free, ongoing. All ages welcome!
Please note that the Family Outdoor Center is open from 6am to dusk.
Photo Orienteering
Think you know the lay of the land? Photo-orienteering is the challenge of being given a photograph and being able to locate on our property what the photo is of and where it was taken. Practice your orienteering and map work. Photo Orienteering worksheet available here:
Free, ongoing on the weekends. All are welcome!
Please note that the Family Outdoor Center is open from 6am to dusk.
PLAN YOUR NEXT CORPORATE EVENT OR BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Interested in renting our facility for a birthday party, club event, or corporate outing at the MetroWest YMCA Family Outdoor Center? Contact 508-435-9345 ext.104
General Inquiries: (508) 435-9345 ycampoffice@metrowestymca.org
Contacts:
Facility Director Allan Gillis - agillis@metrowestymca.org
Camp Director Hannah Glenshaw - hglenshaw@metrowestymca.org
Program Director Tyler Reynolds - treynolds@metrowestymca.org
Business Manager Cori Merchant - cmerchant@metrowestymca.org
Hopkinton Family Memberships Bring Great Value!
Members can enjoy: Members enjoy access to our facilities, special events, member pricing on programs like archery, rock climbing, adventure education, and summer camps, and so much more!
