.jpg)
THE HISTORY OF THE SDYMCA
Growth and development are not just goals for individuals—they are the foundation of the Southern District YMCA. What began as a summer camp has grown into a vibrant, multi-site organization serving thousands of children, families, and older adults throughout the Seacoast.
WAY BACK WHEN…
It all began in 1926 when Warren Tucker sold the Rockingham County YMCA 70 acres of land on the shores of Kingston Lake in Kingston, New Hampshire. With the construction of a dining hall and eight cabins, the YMCA established a permanent summer camp for boys and young men. The site was dedicated to the boyhood of President Abraham Lincoln and became known as YMCA Camp Lincoln.
Throughout the 1950s, Camp Lincoln offered one-week overnight camping sessions for boys ages 8 to 15, with each session serving 60 to 80 campers. During the 1960s, the camp expanded to include a beach, ball field, craft center, administration building, and ten new cabins. This growth also led to a unique partnership with the State of New Hampshire that enabled children with speech and hearing needs to attend camp and participate in specialized activities alongside traditional camp experiences.
In 1974, the Rockingham County YMCA Board of Directors transferred ownership of Camp Lincoln to the New Hampshire YMCA in hopes that a single, stronger organization would ensure the camp’s long-term success. Under this leadership, Camp Lincoln expanded into a year-round destination for families and groups, while environmental education programming was introduced.
Camp Lincoln welcomed girls and became a year-round camp in 1981, further strengthening its reputation for nurturing the potential in every child. In 1986, the YMCA launched its first before and after school child care program. Within just a few years, YMCA School Age Child Care had expanded into ten local elementary schools.
THE BIRTH OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT YMCA
In 1997, the New Hampshire YMCA dissolved, and Camp Lincoln became Southern District YMCA/Camp Lincoln, Inc., marking the beginning of a new chapter focused on serving communities throughout southeastern New Hampshire.
In the fall of 2015, the Southern District YMCA opened the Exeter Area YMCA at 56 Linden Street in Exeter. The 33,000-square-foot health and wellness facility quickly became a community gathering place, offering programs that promote youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility for people of all ages and abilities.
Continuing its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of local families, the Southern District YMCA expanded again in the spring of 2025 with the purchase of a childcare facility in Hampton. Today, the Hampton Center serves as both a YMCA School Age Child Care site for the Hampton community and the administrative headquarters for the organization’s growing School Age Child Care programs.
Today, the Southern District YMCA serves communities across the Seacoast through three primary program centers: YMCA Camp Lincoln, celebrating more than a century of outdoor adventure and youth development; the Exeter Area YMCA, providing health, wellness, and community programs for all ages; and the Hampton Center, supporting children and families through School Age Child Care while serving as the headquarters for one of the region’s largest before and after school care programs. Together, these facilities support summer camps, childcare, health and wellness programs, evidence-based health initiatives, and community outreach that impact thousands of individuals each year.
Throughout its history, the Southern District YMCA has remained committed to ensuring that no one is turned away because of an inability to pay. The YMCA welcomes everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, ability, or financial circumstances, and continues to strengthen the foundations of community by helping every individual reach their full potential.
