MetroWest YMCA Advocacy Day: Coming Together to Celebrate the Impact of Summer Camp

Hopkinton, MA (August 2024) - This summer, the MetroWest YMCA Outdoor Center hosted a morning of community leaders from across the state to celebrate the powerful impact of Y summer camp.

Over 50 members of the MetroWest Y community became campers for the day, including dignitaries Senate President Karen Spilka; District Attorney Marian Ryan; and State Representatives James Arena-DeRosa, Kate Donaghue, Jack Lewis, David Linsky and Priscila Sousa.  

Welcomed by CEO and President Rick MacPherson with Board President Patricia Duarte, and led by Outdoor Center Executive Director Bartt Pinchuck, attendees were able to take in the beauty of our 120-acre facility and witness the joy of camp firsthand.  

Throughout the morning, they also learned about camp at our facility from our staff member and Senior Unit Camp Director, Jesus Addarich and Counselor-in-Training (CIT), Chihab Abadli. Additionally, they learned about our team’s initiative to improve nutrition and food access in our community and our commitment to water safety from Chief Operating Officer, Jeanne Sherlock.

Our Legislative Delegation offered special memories of camp during their childhoods and discussed the importance of Y camps. Wrapping up the morning, everyone joined in on some old-fashioned camp fun taking a serve on the brand new pickleball courts and returning to the classic favorite, archery.

We would like to thank everyone for taking time out of their morning to join us. We are grateful for the continued support in helping us better our community so that all can thrive.