MATTAPOISETT – In 2010 Stephanie Winterson was hired at the Mattapoisett YMCA as a camp counselor. Nine years later, on Jan. 2, Winterson had her first day in a new role there — director. 

“I’m really a YMCA South Coast person through and through,” the Fairhaven native said. “The Mattapoisett Y really became my home away from home.”

After falling in love with the Massasoit camp in 2010, Winterson decided to continue working at the YMCA through the school year. In 2014, she was promoted to the program director in Mattapoisett, and in 2016 she was promoted again to run the after school program in Fall River.

“And then when [the director position] opened up, I applied,” she said. “I started at the camp and just worked my way up.”

Though new to the director’s role, Winterson has big plans for the Y. 

“I would love to be a community center here in town,” she said. “We have some restrictions with the space here, but I want to tap into the community and be that place for Mattapoisett.”

An eventual goal is to build a new community center on the Mattapoisett YMCA property, but until then Winterson will work on expanding programing in the space they have.

Her immediate focus will be to continue building the camp programs, adding to specialty camps that go beyond a basic summer camp, such as the February Vacation camp. Another goal is to and find a way to open the property’s waterfront access up to adults in the community.

“Our kids get to kayak and do fun stuff like that, but how can we use that space for Y members?” Winterson asked. “We really want to get more programming for families.”

Winterson also expressed an interest in expanding the already-booming wedding business at the YMCA.

“We had 42 weddings last year at Shining Tides,” she said. “It’s really successful and we want to continue to grow that.”

Additionally, Winterson has helped restart a nutrition program that ensures children will have healthy food options on the weekend.

“We provide two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks, a vegetable element and a fruit element,” she said. “Some of the items we try to choose are easier for them to make on their own, in case their parents have to work.”

The program launched at Sippican School at the end of January because the YMCA had a connection there. So far the program has 22 participants.

Asked what she likes to do when she’s not at work, Winterson struggles to come up with something non YMCA-related.

“I’m super passionate about my job,” she laughed. “I’m really excited to be here.”