WOBURN, Mass. – When social distancing regulations prompted Reading’s Burbank YMCA to seek an overflow facility for its summer programming, Cummings Properties was quick to offer a solution. The Y will host “Camp Cummings” at a 12,000-square-foot suite at 206 West Cummings Park, Woburn, for the duration of the summer.
“We are grateful to Cummings Properties for the rapid response and flexibility it showed throughout the leasing process,” said Burbank YMCA executive director John Feudo. “Cummings’ generous donation of a short-term space has allowed us to provide a fun summer experience for many more local families than we would have otherwise been able to accommodate.”
Housed at the site of a former athletic club, Camp Cummings accommodates dozens of campers in three large studios, an expansive space with a turf floor, a media room, and multiple breakout spaces.
“When John contacted us about the Y’s capacity issue, I knew that we would be able to find a great space for his overflow campers,” said John Halsey, a Reading native and Cummings Properties account manager. “My experience at Cummings Properties has proven time and again that there’s rarely a space challenge we can’t meet. Given the Y’s dedication to giving back to the community, we were happy to provide a short-term facility rent-free.”
The current shortage of childcare options was another factor in Cummings’ decision to donate the space, according to Halsey.
“Our hope in bringing a summer program to this central location in Woburn was to provide our local leasing clients with a convenient daycare option during a time when full-day childcare is so difficult to find.”
Camp Cummings has employed strict precautionary measures in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines, including mandatory social distancing and daily online prescreening for COVID-19.
Campers participate in themed art projects, drama classes, active games, and STEM activities as well as virtual field trips, movie screenings, and assorted interactive games in its media and game rooms. Registration is currently open, and enrollment materials are available online at www.ymcaboston.org/active-programs.
The Cummings organization has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with multiple local Y branches, including Cummings Properties leasing clients Greater Boston YMCA’s Children’s Center and YMCA of the North Shore. In addition, Cape Ann YMCA, YWCA Cambridge, and YWCA Greater Newburyport were among the local nonprofits awarded at least $100,000 of funding in June through Cummings Foundation’s $20 Million Grant Program.
