While the start of 2021 was still mired in pandemic restrictions, the YMCA Ice Arena had a familiar sense of normalcy within our youth programs. The MV Youth Hockey and MVRHS Boys & Girls Varsity and Varsity Prep Teams began playing against traditional rivals within their leagues building skills and team comaraderie. The MV Figure Skating Club continued working on their craft through the Bridge, Freestyle and Learn To Skate Programs with skaters excelling and participating in competitions again. The YMCA After School and summer camp children were able to skate again as an enrichment activity. Many Island youth also took advantage of public skating as a way to safely recreate with friends and family.

This past summer we continued our collaboration with, The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival, to produce the Vineyard’s ‘pay-what-you-can’ Drive-In. The movie screen is hosted on the back of the Ice Arena building and the parking lot was transformed into the Drive-In for another successful season. The Drive-In provided a vital resource by allowing families to feel connected in an experience, while following social distancing protocols. We were especially thankful to partner with the Island Disability Coalition to host the community’s first Disability Film Festival.

The legacy of the Ice Arena is one that is deeply engrained in the Island’s ice-sports community.Thanks to the generosity of MVYouth, the Ice Arena can continue to deliver on the mission to fulfill the skating needs of our Island community.