From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Chilmark Community Center is exactly what it sounds like, a community center located in the town of Chilmark in Martha's Vineyard; it is open to and used by summer visitors and year-round residents. In July and August the C.C.C. hosts a program for children and families which offers a play school, a morning program with many different activities to choose from, and an evening program of movies, lectures, dancing, and music for children and adluts of all ages. In the off-season the C.C.C. provides other events such as, pre-school classes, wedding receptions, clambakes, and the Fire Department's annual Christmas party.

The Chilmark Community Center is not a day camp, day care, or anything like that; it is a place where anybody can come and go as they please and use it for recreational purposes or just about anything else.

Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Facilities 4 Activities 5 Chilmark Road Race 6 Sailing 7 External Links

The Chilmark Community Center is located at Beetlebung Corner in Chilmark, Massachusetts on the island of Martha's Vineyard.

"The Center began as a handful of informal traditions which took place during the summer in private places around town. On Mondays, the Masons hosted a sing-along; on Wednesdays, the Leventhals showed movies in their basement; and Curly Carroll fiddled and called square dances at the Cornerway. Then, in 1956, through the efforts of the Town Affairs Council, an association of summer and permanent residents, and a gift of land from Roger Baldwin, a building was erected to house all these activities and more.

Since its creation, the Center has grown in activity and membership, but it has not changed significantly in style. It remains a spontaneous and informal place where families gather naturally, and older and younger children interact with ease. It also has an old fashioned budget. The fees for the summer program are set at a minimum "break even" level, based on estimated operating costs. When necessary, capital improvements are funded through voluntary contributions and appropriations as voted by the residents of the town."

-Tennis courts -Basketball court -Playground -Baseball/softball diamond -Field (used for just about any kind of sport) -Wall for hand ball -Arts & crafts shack -Ping pong table -Kitchen -Sail boats -Multi-purpose recreational room

The Chilmark Community Center offers an extremely wide variety of activities ranging from athletics to arts and crafts and also night time activities. -Annual Chilmark Road Race -Play school -6 year old program -7-9 year old program -10-12 year old program -13-14 year old program -Art -All center activities -Drama and music -Aerobics -Yoga -Hip Hop for all ages -Tennis -Baseball and Softball -Sailing -Ping pong -Basketball -Bird walks -Nature walks -Snakes and turtles at the center -Freshwater ponding -Concerts -Lectures -Film Screenings

The Chilmark Road Race is a 5K (3.1 miles) road race that is held every year in the middle of August. The event is run by the Chilmark Community Center and has been around since 1976. The race is run along the hilly Middle Road and ends at the Chilmark Community Center on Beetlebung Corner where there are refreshments awaiting all of the runners. The race is divided into age groups: 8 and under, 9-11, 12-16, 17-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70+. Each person who enters the race recieves a free t-shirt. This is one of the biggest events held by the Chilmark Community Center all year.

The sailing program at the Chilmark Community Center is for anybody from ages 6 and older. Everybody meets at the C.C.C. and takes a bus down to the dock at the Chilmark Town Landing. Lessons are taught on the protected waters of Quitsa and Menemsha ponds. There are classes for beginning, intermidate, and advanced students. Beginners go in groups of three in day sailors along with an instructor. Intermediate sailors get the chance to go out in the waters without an instructor in optimists, but instructors are very close by in their own boats to help the kids out. Intermediate sailors get to go out in sunfish and lasers by themselves or inpairs, they too are watched by instructors in motorboats.

[1]