Because of Silver Bay YMCA, connections between people and family are stronger. People are more connected, respectful and caring. They have the confidence to develop to their full potential and to positively impact the communities in which they work and live. As a result, communities are more dynamic, comprehensive and varied. As stewards of Lake George, we inspire people to be stewards of the environment while they are visiting our magnificent campus and in their home communities.

Because of Silver Bay YMCA’s mission to cultivate relationships, strengthen communities and nurture spirit, mind and body for all, we strive to connect our local communities to the spirit of Silver Bay through a variety of outreach programs and environmental stewardship projects. These initiatives are intended to inspire individuals and families to connect with one another in meaningful ways, cultivate a sense of belonging within their communities, and take action to preserve the environment.

Silver Bay YMCA is committed to supporting the youth of Essex and Warren Counties by providing opportunities to transform the lives of its children. Throughout the years, programs such as the Teen Center, After School Program, Youth & Government, Healthy Meal, the Leader’s Club, and many more have provided mentorship and friendship to local youth, inspired students with the self-confidence to express themselves, created opportunities for teens to learn the values of respect and responsibility, and provided the fun experiences that every child deserves while fostering lifelong skills.

Financial Assistance is offered to local youth to provide them with the opportunity to attend summer camp at Silver Bay YMCA.

Silver Bay YMCA Silver Camp and Swim Lessons are designed to provide kids with new challenges to build confidence, foster self-worth, and to build relationships with others.

In 2021 over 20 families received assistance from Open Pathways scholarships.

The William Boyd Center was completed in 2018 and designed to contain numerous environmentally sensitive factors including extensive use of local labor and locally sourced construction materials.

The new building is also equipped with green roof features, low energy usage fixtures with ambient light sensors, leveraging of natural light sources through enlarged windows and skylights, pervious paver elements that capture storm water, and a high energy efficient HVAC system.

Silver Bay YMCA is leading the way in storm water management with the addition of numerous rain gardens and a constructed wetland.

The campus encompasses 700 acres of Lake George watershed and stewards over one mile of Lake George shoreline.

During a storm event, the storm water runoff from heavily used Route 9N and Silver Bay Road passes over and through Silver Bay’s campus as it makes its way to the lake.

In 2019, Silver Bay completed construction of a wetland project designed and engineered to mitigate the negative effects of contaminated storm water and salt entering Lake George through a natural filtration process.

Silver Bay YMCA modernized its 70+ year old waste water capabilities in 2019 with a new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) system.

This advanced technology is the first of its kind on Lake George.

Protecting Lake George’s water quality if of utmost importance because it sustains the biosphere of the lake while providing a place of enjoyment for future generations.

Silver Bay YMCA sponsors an annual electronic recycling day for the local community where residents drop off unwanted equipment at no cost except for select items with minimum fees that go directly to Silver Bay YMCA’s Vermont-based recycling partner EWASTE+

Items that have avoided the landfill because of this program include microwaves, laptops, and printers.

The event has succeeded in recycling over 10,000 pounds of electronic waste since the program’s inception.

Silver Bay YMCA was awarded LID Certification by the FUND for Lake George for its environmentally sound relocation and reconstruction of its main parking facility in 2016.

This project was the first on Lake George to be awarded LID Certification.