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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

At the Y, we are committed to reducing financial barriers for families so that everyone has access to opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Thanks to the generous support of our Annual Campaign donors and the Old Town – Orono YMCA Foundation, we are proud to provide income-based Financial Assistance for Membership, Child Care, and Program fees to ensure everyone in our community can access our Y.

In addition to our Financial Assistance program, we are also proud to offer discounts for many of our hometown heroes and their families, including First Responders, Healthcare Workers, Teachers, Active Duty Service Members, and Veterans.

Canoe City Swim Club (CCSC) is the Old Town – Orono YMCA’s year-round competitive swim team. Our program emphasizes teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal development while helping athletes improve stroke technique, endurance, race strategy, and confidence in and out of the pool.

Led by an experienced, professional coaching staff, CCSC provides a safe environment where every athlete is supported and challenged to reach their full potential in the water and in our community.

WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE CCSC

We’re proud to offer high-quality coaching, meaningful competition opportunities, and a team experience that keeps swimming accessible for families through:

  • Affordable year-round training with some of the lowest team fees in the State of Maine
  • Additional financial assistance for athletes and families in need
  • Flexible schedules and a variety of practice options across training groups
  • Experienced, professional coaches committed to athlete safety and long-term skill, confidence, and character development
  • Training in Maine’s only NCAA Division I aquatic facility
  • Opportunities to compete in YMCA and USA Swimming meets across Maine and New England
  • Developmentally appropriate dryland training and Senior Program strength training opportunities
  • A FREE two-week trial for athletes interested in joining the team

From new swimmers and busy athletes balancing multiple activities to New England Champions and Olympic Trials hopefuls looking to compete in college and beyond, CCSC offers eight unique training groups with the perfect lane for every athlete!

AGE GROUP PROGRAM

Our Age Group Program includes four training groups focused on growing confidence, building character, forming meaningful connections with teammates, and developing the stroke technique and foundational habits that set athletes up for long-term success in the sport. Our goal is to place each athlete in the training group that best matches their age, experience, and goals so that every athlete can reach their full potential while developing a lifelong love for the sport.

Age Group 1 is our entry-level group for athletes ages 10 & Under who are ready for their first competitive swimming experience.

Athletes in this group are eager to learn, able to follow directions, and ready to support their teammates while building confidence, practice habits, foundational racing skills, and excellent technique in all four strokes. Swim meet participation is not required; however, we encourage families to attend our home meets to cheer on their teammates and learn what swim meets are all about!

To join Age Group 1, athletes must be able to pass the Old Town – Orono YMCA’s Deep End Test and confidently swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke with proper technique.

Age Group 2 is designed for athletes ages 8 – 12 who are ready to build on their technical skills in all four competitive strokes as well as starts, turns, streamlines, and race fundamentals while developing a strong aerobic foundation and learning the habits that lead to long-term success and a lifelong love for the sport.

Athletes may also be introduced to basic dryland training during regularly scheduled practice times to improve their balance, coordination, and body awareness.

This is a competitive training group designed for ages 10 – 14 to prepare athletes for state and regional levels of competition. The emphasis of this group is on developing leadership and communication skills, consistent and committed training habits, and mastering the following key skills: training etiquette, stroke mechanics, race strategies, goal setting, nutrition, mental preparation, and the ability to handle an increased volume and intensity of training. Athletes will participate in a dryland program to help develop strength, body control, and coordination with an emphasis on keeping the body healthy and injury-free.

This is the most competitive age group training group. This group is designed for athletes 11 – 14 to prepare them for YMCA and USA Swimming state, regional, and national levels of competition. The emphasis of this group will be on continued mentoring and leadership opportunities; increased focus on goal setting, mental training, and peak performance management; and developing aerobic capacity through increased training volume, intensity, and kicking with a continued focus on stroke mechanics, race strategies, training habits, and nutrition. Athletes will also participate in a specifically designed dryland program.

SENIOR PROGRAM

Our senior program consists of four groups with a continued emphasis on leadership and stroke technique and an increased focus on values and integrity, goal setting, race strategies, training and competitive performance, nutrition, confidence building, and physical conditioning. Our goal is specific training for our senior athletes geared towards challenging each individual and developing them to reach their full potential in the water and in our community.

The Senior 1 group is for 12 & Over athletes generally striving to compete at the New England Swimming Age Group Championship level. This group focuses on learning how to achieve at the senior level of the sport while growing the skills necessary to be positive role models and leaders on our team and in our community. The introduction of advanced stroke technique and dryland skills are an integral part of the Senior 1 training program to help athletes meet their individual goals.

The Senior 2 group is for 12 & Over athletes generally at the Eastern Zone Age Group & New England Senior Championships level. This is a highly committed and internally motivated group focused on learning to balance increased leadership opportunities with growing mental and physical training emphasizing time management, nutrition, hydration, sleep, peak performance management, and positive self talk. For Senior 2 athletes, swimming has likely become one of their main activities, with consistent meet and practice attendance becoming more critical to achieving short and long term individual and group goals.

The Senior 3 group is for 13 & Over athletes generally at the YMCA National and USA Swimming Sectionals level or above. Athletes in this group are expected to regularly mentor Senior and Age Group athletes in addition to their training responsibilities. This is a maximum commitment, high achieving training group where swimming is a mainstay in the lives of all athletes. Attending meets and practices is crucial, expected, and monitored to maintain the integrity of this culture. The training focus of this group is to prepare athletes for national and international levels of competition while giving them the tools to be successful in collegiate swimming and beyond.

The High School group is for 14 & Over athletes who are relatively new to the sport or want to continue their athletic progression as a balanced part of their high school lives. The focus of this group is to provide the opportunity for each athlete to develop at their own pace with training tailored to their individual goals and an emphasis on technique development while helping athletes succeed during their high school seasons. Volunteering and community service opportunities are a cornerstone of the High School group as we help our future community leaders and changemakers develop confidence in and out of the pool.

All athletes must maintain an active Old Town – Orono YMCA membership in good standing to participate.