After School Programs
The Morris Memorial currently houses a free after school program Monday through Friday for local youth. The Morris acts as an open-door recreation center for children from the Chatham community. The program operates with a balance of student lead and staff lead activity. Basketball, soccer, kickball, floor hockey, arts and crafts, ping pong, foosball, use of a second floor suspended running track, pool, board games, air hockey, the Wii gaming system, computer use and homework help among several other activities are offered on any given day.
Cultural Opportunities
The Morris Memorial partners with other local youth agencies and individuals interested in providing opportunities to children in our community. For the last several years, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, a professional circus company based in Hudson, NY has provided free after school classes to our participants weekly. We have teamed with prevention educators from Catholic Charities of Columbia County who provide weekly fit and fun classes. PS21 – Performance Spaces for the 21st Century, has provided instructional dance classes. In a less official manner, members of our community have provided other educational opportunities for students which have included art classes, puppetry workshops and language classes.
Community Involvement
The Morris also provides a venue to several other community groups, class instructors and organizations. Examples from recent years include Girls Scouts, Chatham Lady Reds Softball, Columbia County Youth Theatre, Columbia County Z-Club, Unicycle Hockey Club, Chatham Kids Club, Sean’s Run, Zumba, Tai Chi, and Pilates. The Morris hosts C.A.P.E.R.S. (Chatham Area People Enjoying Recreation and Socialization) twice a week during daytime hours. This group, composed primarily of retired Chatham residents, enjoy the many opportunities the Morris’s facility offers including its newly painted pickleball court, before students arrive after school.
Sports for Boys and Girls
The Morris Memorial Association also facilitates youth soccer, basketball and track and field programs for Chatham area children. In recent years, an average of 250 children participate in the fall recreational soccer program held at Crellin Park, approximately 120 participate in the basketball program held on Saturday mornings at the Chatham Middle School and Morris Memorial and nearly 70 students register for the Chatham Gold track and field program. Programs are organized and managed by the Morris Memorial utilizing volunteer coaches and volunteer referees – oftentimes high school athletes who have graduated to varsity teams after participating in our programs themselves.
Gold track and field program. Programs are organized and managed by the Morris Memorial utilizing volunteer coaches and volunteer referees – oftentimes high school athletes who have graduated to varsity teams after participating in our programs themselves.