Bennington Senior Community News January-February 2026
BenningtonSenior & Community News
January – February 2026
Please note the Senior Center & the Sports Center will be closed January 1st
The Rec Center will be open January 1st
Senior Center 124 Pleasant St | The Sports Center 230 Gage St
Adult Program O erings 8-4 Daily
Check program calendars for times & location
To our Senior Community…
It is the mission of the Berkshire Family YMCA and Town of Bennington to engage persons 50+ in the lifelong learning process; promoting their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being by providing social, recreational, creative and cultural programs and enabling active participation in the center and community. Program costs are founded on a not-for-profit basis.
Sponsored by:
WEEKLY PROGRAMS
MONDAYS
Painting Group: This informal group meets on Mondays & Fridays, but painters are welcome to work on their own at any time. The group works from photographs, calendar art, and old masters. Bring your own painting materials; group size limited to 8-10 participants. Come when you can, get ideas from each other, and enjoy some good conversation! 9am – Noon No Fee
Cards & Games: Group decides the game, or multiple groups can play di erent games. Games available here include the following: Board games: Parcheesi, Trivial Pursuit, Backgammon, Mancala, Clue, Payday, Ticket to Ride, Go, Chess, Checkers, Battleship Word games: Balderdash, Pictionary, Taboo, Scattergories, Scrabble, Smart Mouth, Upwords, Whatchamacallit Card, Dice, and Tile games: Yahtzee, Farkle, Cribbage, Mille Bornes, Dominos, Mahjong, Rummikub, Uno, Bohnanza, all manner of traditional card games… or bring your own game to share. The possibilities are nearly endless! 1:00 pm No Fee
HOLIDAY
HOURS
REC CENTER
December 24 Closed at 1 pm
December 25 CLOSED
December 31 Closed at 1 pm
SPORTS CENTER
December 24 Closed at 1 pm
December 25 CLOSED
December 31 Closed at 1 pm
January 1 CLOSED
SENIOR CENTER
TUESDAYS
Bone Builders: This low impact exercise, run through RSVP, promotes strength through weight training, plus helps with both balance and bone density. Class may include open discussion about nutrition, disease prevention, and alternate exercises. Class leader varies. 8:30AM & 9:45AM No Fee
THURSDAYS
Bone Builders: See class description on Tuesday list. Craft Corner: Bring whatever craft project you are working on. Quilting, crocheting, knitting, weaving, decoupage, coloring, the options abound! We have sewing machines available to use. You bring the materials (or peruse what has been donated here), we supply the space, co ee, tea, and socialization. 1:00 pm No Fee
FRIDAYS
Painting Group: See group description on Monday list.
BINGO: Come play low stakes, high energy BINGO! 2 cards for $2, additional cards 50 cents each, 6 card maximum. Beverages provided; feel free to bring snacks to share! 1 pm
December 24-26 CLOSED
December 31 CLOSED
January 1 CLOSED
BFMMCA - BENNINGTON BRANCH
GROUP FITNESS
JANUARY 2026 SCHEDULE | BENNINGTON
MONDAY
BENNINGTON SPORTS CENTER
8am Hatha Melissa C.
9am Silver Sneakers with Sam! Sam
9am Active Walk Tracy
10am Tai Chi - Advanced Tracy
11am Pilates Sam
11am Beginners Tai Chi Tracy
12pm Muay Thai Foundations Sam
12pm Silver Sneakers Melissa
4:15pm Zumba Jasmine
5:15pm Cardio Drumming Michaela
5:30pm Hatha Yoga Jasmine
BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER
11am Dancefit Wendy
TUESDAY
BENNINGTON SPORTS CENTER
8am Yoga Flow Melissa C.
9am Strength & Balance: Advanced Tracy
9am Spin with Melissa Melissa
10am Strength & Balance: Beginners Tracy
10:15am Floor Yoga Jasmine
11am Chair Yoga Jasmine
11am Strength & Balance: Intermediate Melissa
11:30am Cardio Drumming Micheala
12pm Qigong! Tracy
4:15pm Restorative Yoga Jasmine
5:30pm Zumba Jasmine
BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER
8:10am Aqua Zumba Jasmine
9am Water Joint Health & Mobility Jasmine
WEDNESDAY
BENNINGTON SPORTS CENTER
8:30am Balance, Stability, & Core Melissa 9am Active Walk Sam 10am Pilates Sam
10:15am Silver Sneakers with Wendy Wendy 11am Full Core Melissa 11am SilverSneakers Yoga Sam 12pm SilverSneakers Melissa
5:15pm Cardio HIIT Taylor
BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER
9:30am Cardio Splash Michaela 5:15pm Aqua Aerobics Judi
10am Spin with Melissa Melissa 10am Strength and Balance: Beginners Tracy 11am Strength and Balance: Intermediate Tracy
5:30pm Let’s Dance with Judi Judi
FRIDAY
BENNINGTON SPORTS CENTER
9am SilverSneakers with Sam! Sam 9am Active Walk Tracy 10am SilverSneakers Yoga Sam 11am Floor Work Tracy 12pm SilverSneakers Melissa 12pm Muay Thai Foundations Sam
BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER 11am Dancefit Wendy Login to your account online to register www.bfymca.org/programs
Waitlist Policy: Our classes have a max capacity for your safety and comfort. Make sure to attend class even if you are on the waitlist. You may be able to take a vacant spot but only in the absence of registered members or at the discretion of the instructor.
12/7/25
– COMMUNITY RESOURCES –
Bennington Town Clerk/ Town O ces (802) 442-1037
Bennington Recreation Center/YMCA (802) 500-2770
Meals on Wheels of Bennington County (802) 442-8012
VNA & Hospice (Bennington Home Health) (802) 442-5502
Bennington Project Independence (802) 442-8136
Bennington Rutland Opportunity Council (BROC) (802) 447-7515
Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging (802) 442-5436
Social Security Administration (Rutland o ce) (866) 690-1944
Green Mountain Community Network (802) 447-0477
Support And Services at Home (SASH) (802) 442-9920
– HOUSING –
Bennington Housing Authority (802) 442-8000
Shires Housing (802) 442-8139
THM (o ce in Manchester) (802) 362-4663
SHOPPING
January 8th - Burlington Coat Factory, Pittsfield & Applebee’s for Lunch 9:30-4PM
January 20th – Wilton Mall, Saratoga & Red Robin for Lunch 9:30AM -4PM
February 5th Crossgates Mall, Albany 9:30AM – 4PM
February 24th Rutland Craft Stores 9:30AM- 4PM
OUT TO EAT!
Tue, Jan 13 Ramunto’s Arlington 11:30AM-2PM Tue, Jan 27 Red Lobser/Olive Garden Colonie 10:45AM-2:30PM Tue, Feb 10 Bubbles Restaurant Mechanicsville 11AM-2PM Thu, Feb 26 Hoosick Falls Diner 11:30- 2PM
PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE NEW FEES FOR BUS TRIPS, PLEASE CALL OR VISIT FOR PRICING. Discounts up to 100% o with BFYMCA members
SPECIAL EVENTS
AT THE SPORTS CENTER
January 15th
CROCK POT COOK OFF – 12:15
Enter your favorite recipe for bragging rights and a prize
February 19th
CHILI COOK OFF
Who will be the winner this year? Enter your most delicious chili and let the best chili win!
VALENTINES COOKIE SWAP
Wednesday, February 11th - 10AM-1PM
IN HOUSE PROGRAMS
Daily 9AM-10AM
COFFEE HOUR
A time to socialize with friends over co ee, pastries, and music. Held at Bennington Senior Center daily.
COFFEE WITH WENDY
Join our Adult Wellness Coordinator Wendy at the Bennington Sports Center every Monday and Thursday for co ee, snacks, good chats, and a lot of fun!
WILLIAMS COLLEGE X INSTITUTE FOR FIGURING
BERKSHIRE
SATELLITE REEF
Greater Bennington Interfaith Community Services, Inc.
serves people through:
Kitchen Cupboard - The Kitchen Cupboard provides free food to individuals and families in need and teaches them how to eat better on a budget.
Emergency Needs Fund - The Emergency Needs Fund helps families pay for shelter, utilities and other basic needs to low-income families experiencing a financial crisis due to unexpected events like layo s and injuries.
You First - The You First Bennington program provides eligible individuals in Bennington County personalized support to pay for breast, cervical and heart screenings, diagnostic tests and heart healthy lifestyle programs.
The Dr. G. Richard Dundas Free Clinic - Primary medical care, care coordination, and referrals for uninsured or underinsured adults living in the Bennington County area. More information can be obtained by calling (802) 4473700.
REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS
BENNINGTON BRANCH
GO TO WWW.BFYMCA.ORG
In the upper right hand corner, click MY Y ACCOUNT LOGIN/SIGNUP
Login or find your account with associated e-mail address of phone number. Note: For password recovery contact your Welcome Center (802)500-2770 FIND YOUR BRANCH START BY LOGGING IN...
After selecting your name from your account click Browse for programs Scroll down to the program registry screen, in the upper left hand corner it says:
Bennington Sports Center (230 School Street) holds coral reef crochet workshops every Thursday at 1:00pm
You’re looking for offerings at All Locations Change
LOVE TO CROCHET? LOVE THE SEA? JOIN US!
The Berkshire Satellite Reef—part of the worldwide Crochet Coral Reef by artists Christine and Margaret Wertheim and the Institute for Figuring—is a communal art project entailing the creation of a life-size coral reef made entirely out of crochet. It will be exhibited at Williams College in the ‘62 Center for Theatre & Dance as an immersive installation in the spring of 2026.
All ages and skill levels are welcome to participate!
Use your phone to scan the code
Click Change
Select your branch (Bennington Branch) and all group fitness locations (Bennington Rec, Bennington Senior Center, Bennington Sports Center)
Click SET LOCATIONS
Select Group Exercise - Bennington Branch
To see all class options select - See more (Example: See 24 more) SIGN UP!
Select your classes, after clicking REGISTER it will ask which member on the account you’d like to sign up.
The next screen will direct you to a Waiver of Liability to sign that is required for Y class participation.
Sign your waiver, then click ACCEPT AND SIGN Don’t check out yet! You can ADD MORE PROGRAMS to your cart!
Continue the process of selecting your classes.
CHECK-OUT
Click CHECKOUT only after confirming that all the classes you’d like to attend are in your cart. If you exit the checkout screen before completing this step and receiving a It will not save your registration!
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
Please pay attention to dates and times when signing up. Often times we have multiple listings for the same class.
Example: Strength and Balance often runs on Tuesdays AND Thursdays.
Online registration opens at 12am the 3 Monday of each month, and in-house registration will open the following day at 8am.
POOL SCHEDULE
BENNINGTON RECREATION CENTER
Typical Jan - Feb Pool Schedule
Please note that the pool schedule is subject to change and should be checked before arriving. Check online schedules for accurate pool schedule, group exercise, and more: www.bfymca.org/schedules
Sign up for classes, learn about special events, and more on our website!
Below are general schedules for each day of the week.
PLEASE LOOK ONLINE FOR ACCURATE SCHEDULE WITH HOLIDAY CLOSURES & EVENTS!
Monday
6-9am: Lap/Open Swim
9-10:30am: School Group Reserved
10-llam: Lap/Open Swim
11am-12pm: DanceFit Class*
12-12:30pm: Lap/Open Swim
12:30-1:30pm: Lap/Open Swim
1-2pm: School Group Reserved
2pm-3pm Lap/Open
3pm-4:30pm MAU swim team
4:30-5pm Lap/Open
5pm-7pm Marauders
7-8pm: Lap/Open Swim
Tuesday
8-l0am: GroupEx*/Lap Swim
10am-4pm: Lap/Open Swim
4-6pm: Swim Lessons*
6-7pm: Marauders Reserved
7-8pm: Masters/Marauders Reserved
Wednesday
6-8am: Lap/Open Swim
8-9am: Deep Water Aerobics*/Lap Swim
9-9:30am: Lap/Open Swim
9:30-10:30am: Cardio Splash*
10:30-11:30am: Tots Swim*/Open Swim
11:30am-3pm: Lap/Open Swim
3pm-4:30pm MAU swim team
4:30-5:15pm Lap/open
5:15-6pm: WaterAerobics*
6-8pm: Marauders Reserved
Thursday
8am-1pm: Lap/Open Swim
1-2pm: School Group Reserved
2:30pm-4pm MAU swim team
4-6pm: Swim Lessons*
6-7pm: Marauders Reserved
7-8pm: Masters/Marauders Reserved
Friday
6-9am: Lap/Open Swim
9-9:30am: Step Into Swim Reserved
9:30-10:30am: School Group Reserve
10:30-11am: Lap/Open Swim
11am-12pm: DanceFit Class*
12-1pm: Lap/Open Swim
1-2pm: School Group Reserved
2pm-3:30pm: Lap/Open
3pm-4:30pm MAU swim team
4:30-5:30pm : Lap/Open Swim
5:30-7pm: Marauders Reserved
7-8pm: Kids Night Out*
Saturday
8am-10:30am : Lap/Open
10:30am-12pm: Masters
12pm-3pm : Family Swim
3pm-4pm Lap/Open
SUNDAY: (Open Sundays Nov-Apr!)
8am-12pm: Open/Lap Swim
Special timing updates: parties are changing & swim practices end 2/1/26
Revised 12/10/25 & subject to change
**Classes with * require registration. Sign up for classes, learn about special events, and more on our website!
