Downeast Family Young Mens Christian Association

DEFY Child Care includes the Moore Early Learning Center, the Beechland Early Learning Center, The Island of Imagination Early Learning Center, Camp Discovery, and Hancock Grammar School Afterschool. In all, DEFY Child Care provides services to over 500 families each year. DEFY Child Care is the largest child care provider in Hancock County, and one of the only centers to provide care from 6 weeks through 6th grade. More than 30% of our families receive some level of assistance for childcare services. Our centers collaborate with State agencies, local non-profits, and local schools to provide excellent care and transitional support for children needing special services.

The Blue Hill YMCA is focused on improving healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility for the communities on and around the Blue Hill Peninsula. The YMCA offers a broad range of programs and services to a diverse population. The Aquatics department provides instructional swim lessons and competitive swimming for all ages, aquatic aerobics for adults and seniors, Special Olympic programming, and the States first water safety program specifically for middle school-aged lobstermen. The Fitness department provides a wide range of programming for all ages, including the collaboration with Northern Light Hospital to provide Cardiac Rehabilitation Phase 3 to over 30 seniors. More than 250 adults and seniors take advantage of fitness programming each week, and an additional 300 adults and seniors take advantage of fitness equipment and our indoor track for their fitness. The Y also acts as the recreation department for much of the Peninsula.

The Wiggins YMCA is focused on improving healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility for the City of Ellsworth and surrounding communities. The YMCA offers a broad range of programs and services to a diverse population. The Aquatics department provides instructional swim lessons and competitive swimming for all ages, aquatic aerobics for adults and seniors, Special Olymic programming, and aquatic therapy. The Fitness department provides a wide range of programming for all ages, including a collaboration with Northern Light Hospital to provide cardiac rehabilitation phase 3 to over 40 seniors. More than 300 adults and seniors take advantage of fitness equipmnet and our indoor track for their fitness. The YMCA also acts as the recreation department for the City of Ellsworth. More than 500 youth paticipated in our recreational sports and afterschool programming. Scholarships are provided to qualifying individuals ensuring that all can be served.

DEFY collaborates with the City of Ellsworth to manage the Moore Community Center(MCC). MCC houses the Moore Early Learning Center, Friends in Action (senior resource organization), and the Ellsworth Community Music Institute. The center also has a qymnasium, atrium, cafeteria & kitchen, auditorium, boardroom, and several classrooms available for rent for community groups and organizations. The YMCA assumes the majority of occupation expenses for the center and works with many local non-profits and agencies to provide affordable space for the programs and or meetings.

The Bucksport YMCA is focused on improving healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility for the Town of Bucksport. The YMCA offers a broad range of programs and services to a diverse population. Through a collaboration with the Town of Bucksport, the Y provides year-round recreational sports and programming for kids from age 3 to 18. More than 350 youth participated in activities ranging from cheering to soccer, basketball, swim lessons and football. The Young Bucks Summer Camp provides child care services for families during the summer. More than 120 families enrolled in 2023, 30% of whom received scholarships. In the summer, the Y manages an outdoor pool, open to the public at no cost. More than 150 individuals take advantage of the pool each day during the summer. The Y provides a small fitness room and adult fitness programs throughout the year. Scholarships are provided to qualifying individuals ensuring that all can be served.