In 1874 the YMCA of Boulder Valley was founded with young people involved in Bible studies and Sunday evening concerts at the Boulder Theatre. In 1908 $63,000 was raised to construct the first YMCA facility with residence rooms, gym and pool at the intersection of Walnut and 13th streets. The Association stated as its purpose the physical, mental, and spiritual development of its members.

Inactive during the Great Depression and World War II, the YMCA was re-chartered in December of 1955. During this period the YMCA utilized the Reinert Building, the old Community Hospital and an office at 14th and Pine.

In 1966 with $416,000 in contributed capital, the Mapleton YMCA facility opened its doors. Renovations for Mapleton were completed in 1979, 1988 and 2000. The most recent Mapleton update--in 2007--featured a complete interior and exterior renovation to improve accessibility for all including new solar powered Spray Park, Wellness Room, Spirit Mind, Body Studio, and Indoor Cycling Room, Family/Assisted Locker Room, Social Area/Member Lounge, New Entrance, Wellness Help Desk and many more state-of-the art features.

In the 1970s the YMCA of Boulder Valley began providing child care in the Boulder Valley Schools, a program that today reaches 14 schools and 450 youth a day.

In 1969 the St. Vrain Center in Longmont was chartered with Boulder, and in 1990 the St. Vrain Center received its own charter becoming the Longmont YMCA. In 1994 the YMCA officially became the YMCA of Boulder Valley.

In the summer of 1998, as the new millennium approached, our Arapahoe facility in Lafayette opened its doors to serve the East County region. Unique for the YMCA of Boulder Valley is that Arapahoe includes one of only a few YMCA-operated indoor year-round ice rinks in the country. And in 2004 the Cohagen Sports Synthetic Turf Field opened at the Arapahoe Center to serve as a regional sports center and provide new sports opportunities such as Lacrosse.

In 2004 the YMCA of Boulder Valley became a national pioneer in a YMCA of the USA initiative that responds to the current health crisis facing our nation. Through Activate America: Pioneering Healthier Communities:

• Elementary school children in Boulder Valley are increasing healthy eating habits, physical activity, and connectedness to positive adult role models.
• Middle school youth and early teens are building developmental assets and making good decisions about risk behavior that could otherwise lead to chronic health problems.
• Adults are learning successful new approaches to physical activity that will result in a life time relationship with good health and with the YMCA.
  

Between 2005 and 2008, the W.I.S.E strategic plan was implemented to ensure that as the needs of our community grow and become more diverse, that the YMCA is committed to collaborating and expanding our programs and facilities to ensure that the critical needs of children and families are met.

2008 brought an interior renovation to our Arapahoe Center to improve space utilization and room features including a new therapeutic Sound Resonating floor system in the Spirit Mind Body Studio that provides gentle relief to many chronic conditions.

More than 30,000 youth, families and adults from all walks of life are served annually by the YMCA of Boulder Valley, positively impacting the communities of Boulder, Broomfield, Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland, Niwot and Superior.

While acknowledging our past, it is important that we look forward to future initiatives that involve the youth and teens, and insure that that the character values of Caring, Honest, Respect and Responsibility are part of all we do!