SILVER BAY – Silver Bay YMCA hosted its annual Winter Weekend celebration Feb. 17 through Feb. 20. Despite the lack of snow, the community showed up in full force to partake in the winter-themed fun.
The fun started Friday evening with rock climbing and S’mores in Fisher Gymnasium where there was lots of laughter, memories, and sweet treats to be had and a Paint n’ Sip class in Gullen Lounge.
The excitement continued into Saturday with Broom Ball, arts and crafts, a mini disc golf tournament, cookie decorating, and an ice carving demonstration. The night ended with a community concert by “Uncle Juan’s Band.”
“I love Silver Bay,” Holly Kocher, a 10-year-old from Pennsylvania, proclaimed.
Holly’s mother, Julianna Kocher said that her family has been visiting Silver Bay for 70 years.
“Silver Bay is home,” Kocher said.
Sunday morning an Ecumenical service was held for all who wished to attend followed by a Play-Doh sculpture
“Even though we didn’t have the amount of snow we usually do, we still had a lot of fun with indoor and outdoor activities,” Silver Bay YMCA Programming Director Zac Smalley said.
Smalley also mentioned that the Silver Bay YMCA Food Service department played an integral role in making the Paint n’ Sip and the community concert happen, both programs were new additions to Winter Weekend this year.
The Paint n’ Sip class was so popular that an extra class was added to Saturday‘s schedule.
Sliver Bay CEO Peter Doliber said, “Winter weekend is a great time to gather and enjoy our amazing Silver Bay. This year we are excited to be offering live music, ice carving, and some new activities. It’s a great time for families and to make new lifelong friends!”
This event would not have been possible without the help of the Silver Bay staff and community. Silver Bay YMCA warmly thanks everyone for their help in making this event a fun, community-focused weekend.

Olivia Kocher, 8 years old, weaves a hat during Winter Weekend. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

A friendly game of Broom Ball is held as part of the Winter Weekend activities. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

Cookies are handed out for the cookie decorating activity. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

Guests participate in a micro disc golf tournament. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

Siver Bay YMCA CEO Peter Doliber, and his wife Jean pose with a Winter Weekend Ice Sculpture. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

Carlos Ortiz a program coordinator for Silver Bay YMCA leads community members and Silver Bay guests in a Paint n’ Sip class. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

Guests work on entries for the play-doh sculpture competition. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

Zac Smalley, Silver Bay YMCA program director belays rock climbers in Fisher Gym during the Winter Weekend program “Climbing Wall and S’mores”. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist

Silver Bay YMCA invited a real-life mermaid to join the Winter Weekend fun during a special story time hour in the library. Photo provided by Talia Perrea , Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist
About Silver Bay YMCA:
Silver Bay YMCA, founded in 1902, is in Silver Bay, NY, just minutes south of Hague. Its 700-acre campus along one mile of Lake George shoreline offers a breadth of programs for all ages.
Silver Bay YMCA is consistently ranked one of the top ten family reunion sites in the country and is on the National Register of Historic Places with the U.S. Department of the Interior.
As a mission-based charity, Silver Bay YMCA offers outreach programs in addition to its core activities as a premier conference and family retreat center.
Learn more about Silver Bay at www.silverbay.org.
Our MISSION: To foster relationships, strengthen communities and nurture spirit, mind, and body for all.
Our IMPACT: 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, inclusive and diverse. 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.
Photo at top: Guests cheer each other on during the original giant board game, Horse Racing. Photo provided by Talia Perrea, Silver Bay YMCA Communications Specialist.