WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Even on those rare occasions when the New England Patriots are not playing for the NFL championship, the first Sunday in February has been pretty super in Williamstown.

 

Snowfest returns Sunday, Feb. 5, at Williams College.

 

The 14th annual family festival is a major fundraiser for the Williamstown Youth Center, but this year, the center is making the event free to the community.

 

"We want this to be a celebration of community," Director David Rempell said. "We don't want any admission fee to discourage parents from bringing their kids."

 

The fun begins at noon with ice skating in Lansing Chapman Rink and a host of activities in Towne Field House next door.

 

In addition to the always popular climbing wall, there will be arts and crafts, video games, inflatable equipment and a soccer clinic by the Vermont Voltage.

 

In years past, admission was just $5 per child, but this year, the center decided to waive that fee, Rempell told the Williamstown Board of Selectmen last week.

 

"This is also our way of saying to the community, 'Thank you,' " Rempell said. "We are here because of the community. There should be a celebration of what this community's done in terms of its children, and this is a way the youth center can do that."

 

A few years ago, the town rallied to the cause of the WYC when it launched a major capital campaign to build its home on the grounds of Williamstown Elementary School. Rempell reiterated the center's thanks for the use of the town-owned parcel as well as the financial support for the center approved each year at annual town meeting.

 

Thanks to both contributions, the center has played an increased role in the lives of Williamstown families since its move from its former home on Cole Avenue.

 

"Things at the Youth Center are going very, very well," Rempell said. "First of all, we run a before-school program on a drop-in basis. Today, I think we had eight to nine students. We feed them breakfast and then bring them next door [to WES].

 

"Our signature program is the after-school program. This year, our numbers are through the roof, and I can't tell you why. Many days, we have over 100 children."

 

Those children play games in the center's gymnasium and, weather permitting, on the adjacent playground, play music in the dedicated room, get creative in the center's arts program and receive homework assistance in the WYC's learning center.

 

"We only have two full-time employees," Rempell said, referring to himself and assistant director Michael Williams. "We hire a number of part-timers for our after-school program and fill in with college students, high school volunteers and parent volunteers.

 

"The community makes Williamstown Youth Center work. We couldn't afford to run the facility if we had to hire everyone we need. And, in my opinion, that's the way a community youth center should work."

 

Keeping program fees low is a high priority at the center, and, in spite of the low fees and the availability of need-based scholarships, the center has maintained its economic viability, Rempell said.

 

"When we entered into an agreement with the town to be able to build the Williamstown Youth Center facility on town land and entered into a 50-year lease, we did a 30-year [financial] projection of what we'd be able to do," he said. "Obviously, the worst-case scenario for the town and the Youth Center would be for the Youth Center to fail and have this vacant building next door to the school.

 

"We projected finances for the next 30 years that included a maintenance reserve. Our budget takes 3 percent of our revenue and puts it in that maintenance reserve. When we did the projection in 2009, interest rates [for the reserve] were obviously higher than they are today. Even with the lower interest rate, we are on track to meet our projections.

 

"Whatever happens, we know we'll be able to take care of it."

 

Williamstown Youth Center's Snowfest is from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5, at Lansing Chapman Rink and Towne Field House.