At the WYC we offer a variety of high-quality programs, but we know we don’t cover everything. We also know that it can be hard to find a program that’s right for you and your family, particularly if you are new to the area.
The WYC is happy to provide information about other agencies that provide youth- and family-oriented programming in our community. Please feel free to contact the organizations directly with specific questions or give us a call at 413.458.5925.
Community Institutions
Williamstown Elementary School
Destination Williamstown
Williamstown Community Preschool
Baseball and Softball
Cal Ripken Baseball
Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball is a youth league for kids 4-12. Through simple, basic lessons and proper supervision of regulation competitive baseball, Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball teaches skills, mental and physical development, and the basic ideas of sportsmanship and fair play. The season usually begins in early May.
Dance
Studio North Dance Arts
Contact: Jessica Gwozdz
Studio North Dance Arts believes that dance is for everyone – whether just beginning as a preschooler, continuing as a teen, or returning as an adult (or trying something new as a teen or adult!). The classes are designed to encourage discipline and creativity in all students while teaching the technical concepts of the art of dance. Classes are run September through May, culminating in a recital for family and friends at the end of the year. Studio North also offers an 8-week session starting in June, as well as DANCEcamps for ages 3-12 during August for those who want to continue through the summer months.
Berkshire Dance Theater
Contact: Becky Ahamad, Hope Fontaine
Berkshire Dance Theatre (BDT) is a non-profit organization devoted to the advancement of dance and other performing arts. BDT provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced students the opportunity to improve their technical and artistic skills in dance and related arts, and fosters public awareness and interest in dance and other performing activities. BDT’s experienced instructors not only teach dance; they also offer our students the opportunity to put on public performances throughout the year. Classes run from September to June in Adams, Bennington, and Williamstown.
Gymnastics
Gemini Gymnastics
Gemini Gymnastics is a studio offering gymnastics instruction to athletes of all ages and interest, from ages 2 1/2 through 13 and older. Classes are held in North Adams.
Gymfest Gymnastics
Gymfest was designed with the student in mind, to provide a safe, educational gymnastic environment and positive learning experiences for each child. The carefully selected staff provides a caring attitude that encourages the student to acquire overall physical fitness, poise, confidence, and self-discipline. The state of the art facility is fully equipped with multiple sets of men’s and women’s USAG approved. Classes are offered during fall, winter, spring, and summer sessions in Pittsfield.
J Star Gymnastics
Contact: jstargym@gmail.com
J Star Gymnastics is the fastest growing gymnastics facility in the northern Berkshires. The 10,000 square feet is occupied by state of the art Olympic quality equipment for children of all abilities. J Star gymnastics is for both recreational and competitive gymnasts to train, play, and have fun. Classes are offered all year in North Adams, along with camps in the summer and birthday parties throughout the year.
Figure Skating
Christmas Brook Figure Skating
Contact: Wendy Gipp
The goals of the Christmas Brook Figure Skating Club are to conduct classes in figure skating with professional instruction, to sponsor and produce ice shows with students, and to hold competitions. Christmas Brook prides itself in its continual effort to provide skating lessons to the children of the northern Berkshires in an atmosphere where children learn to skate while having fun. Christmas Brook is located in North Adams.
Pittsfield Figure Skating Club
Contact: Tracy Kipp
The mission of the Pittsfield Figure Skating Club is to develop the sport of figure skating, whether recreational or competitive, in a professional environment that encourages fun, fitness, safety, and good sportsmanship, while providing opportunities in the sport which promotes determination and ultimately self-esteem. The skating season runs from the beginning of October through the beginning of March, concluding with the annual ice show. PFSC provides lessons in basic skating skills on Tuesdays and Sundays for any child or adult – ages 4 and up – looking to learn the basics of skating. Private lessons with professional coaching staff are also offered.
Fitness Training
Livingstone Speed Academy
Contact: Rob Livingstone
Livingstone Speed Academy, LLC is the leader in youth sports performance and skill development in Berkshire County and the surrounding area. The LSA’s mission is to empower athletes with knowledge, equip them with skills, and encourage them with positive, passionate coaching. Programs include group and private strength and speed trainings or consultations, adult boot camps, combine training, team training, nutritional counseling, summer camps, and more.
Ice Hockey
Berkshire Bruins Youth Hockey
The mission of the Berkshire Bruins Youth Hockey Organization is to provide a safe environment in which hockey players of all ages can develop. Through disciplined practice and healthy competition, the Bruins not only aim to encourage the physical development and skill acquisition necessary for the game of hockey, but also the dedication to team, motivation for improvement, and respect for others necessary to the game of life. We offer this program to all boys and girls who want to play as a way to be healthy, be proud, and create winning relationships on and off of the ice. The Bruins are based in Pittsfield.
Northern Berkshire Youth Hockey
Contact: Lisa Lescarbeau
Since 1969, Northern Berkshire Youth Hockey (NBYHL) has been a league that has promoted and developed the game of hockey among the youth of northern Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and southern Vermont. Our league has travel teams (Black Bears) for boys and girls from age 6 through high school. We also boast a recreational house league (Bear Cubs) for ages 4-12, including a session that teaches children how to skate. The purpose of the league is to provide the best available instruction in order to teach the game of hockey, stress the importance of physical fitness, and provide the core values of USA Hockey: sportsmanship; respect for the individual; integrity; pursuit of excellence as an individual, team, and organization; enjoyment; loyalty; and teamwork. NBYHL is based in North Adams.
Soccer
Black Rock Football Club
Black Rock Football Club believes in developing players with good character and strong values. Over the years, team members have consistently earned some of the highest leadership positions and honors at their respective schools. The club’s structure provides development and competitive opportunities for the prep school players (U15-U19) in addition to players within the public-school sector (U5-U19).
Vermont Voltage
Contact: jrvoltage@gmail.com
The skills training program at the Bennington Sports Center has evolved into a multitude of programs designed to bring each soccer players’ abilities to the next level. While skills training is offered, Bennington Sports Center looks to help develop each players’ technical abilities, strength, as well as speed. Programs cater to all ages and have been tailored to suit the different levels of development for each unique individual.
Williamstown Soccer Club
Williamstown Soccer Club teams play in the Berkshire County Youth Soccer League (bcysl.org). The U10 division is non-competitive – meaning no standings are kept and while there is no overt separation of strong teams and weak teams, the league takes input from the Clubs and tries to schedule games between teams of similar experience and ability. The WSC promotes exercise and fun through soccer and wants to encourage participation. It is “travel soccer,” which is a step up in seriousness and competitiveness from the WYC program and may not be for every kid and family. Practices and home games will be at Williamstown Elementary School.
Swimming
Purple Valley Aquatics
Contact: Steve Kuster
Purple Valley Aquatics is committed to developing accomplished swimmers from the pre-age group through college levels. Our goal is to create an exciting environment that not only provides excellent teaching, training, and motivation of young athletes, but also cultivates a true enjoyment of the sport. Our coaches will endeavor to instill in every team member an exceptional work ethic, a strong sense of self, the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, as well as personal achievement in and out of the pool.
Sand Springs Pool
Sand Springs is one of the premier outdoor recreational facilities in the Berkshires. With its spring-fed pool and hot tub, beautifully renovated clubhouse, café, and peaceful setting on nearly 3 acres, Sand Springs is one of the most beloved places in the region. Sand Springs offers memberships and swimming lessons in the summer months.
Berkshire Family YMCA
YMCA swim lessons increase accessibility and enjoyment of swimming to all ages and skill levels. The latest evolution of Y Swim Lessons accommodates varying abilities to help foster a sense of achievement as swimmers progress between levels. Through this approach, advanced swimmers flow more easily to higher levels while swimmers who need more instruction can learn at their own pace. This results in more confident swimmers who stick with lessons and develop a love for swimming that can last a lifetime. Swim lessons are offered through Pittsfield, Northern Berkshire (North Adams), and Bennington Recreation Center branches.
Theater
The Minerva Arts Center
Contact: info@minervaartscenter.org
The mission of the Minerva Arts Center is to promote the importance of an arts-based education by providing high-quality arts programming, to inspire creativity in our community, and to offer opportunities for students and adults of all ages to realize their true artistic potential.
Starlight Stage Youth Theatre
Contact: ssyt@roadrunner.com
Starlight Stage Youth Theatre is a summer program for young people from northern Berkshire County, southern Vermont, and eastern New York to participate in the production of full-length theatre performances. The SSYT rehearses and performs at facilities in the First Congregational Church in Williamstown.
Williamstown Theatre Festival Community Works
Contact: community@wtfestival.org
COMMUNITY WORKS is Williamstown Theatre Festival’s year-round community-engaged theatre program that brings together hundreds of Berkshire area residents from all walks of life. These diverse constituencies are connected with professional theatre artists and with each other through workshops, rehearsals, and a professional-caliber production on the Main Stage at the Festival, presented free of charge for more than 2,000 locals.
Well-being
Berkshire Yoga Dance & Fitness
Contact: Rachael Plaine
A community-minded yoga, dance & fitness co-op studio, offering public classes, corporate classes, outdoor classes, and private sessions in yoga, Zumba, QiGong, Pilates, and more.
North Adams Yoga
Contact: Devin Raber
North Adams Yoga offers all levels of yoga and small-group fitness classes that are designed to help you feel great with a focus on functional movement.
studio b Pilates & Fitness
Contact: Lauren Gotlieb
studio b offers private, semi-private, and group barre, TRX, strength, and Pilates mat and equipment-based classes.
Night Sky Yoga with Mary Edgerton
Contact: Mary Edgerton
Mary offers a range of classes in Williamstown, including yoga for seniors at the Harper Center; at Williams College for students, faculty, and staff; and Vinyasa yoga at the Williamstown Youth Center; as well as private lessons.
For Families
Northern Berkshire Family Net
Contact: familynt@bcn.net
Family Net is a program funded by the Massachusetts Department of Education; its mission is to provide a network of support for families with young children. Family Net holds playgroups in several locations throughout Northern Berkshire. It also present parent education workshops such as “The Power of Play” and “Siblings without Rivalry.” Age-specific groups such as “Toddler Gym Day” and “Growing Baby” and “New Baby” playgroups are also available to meet the different needs of parents with infants, older babies, and toddlers.
For Teens
ROOTS Northern Berkshire Teen Center
Contact: dropin@rootsteencenter.com
ROOTS Teen Center recognizes and upholds the inherent worth of all northern Berkshire teens and young adults. Its mission is to be a safe space where young people feel heard, encouraged, and empowered. All youth and young adults, age 14-22, are welcome to join this community.