Southington YMCA Dedicates New Camp Pavilion

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A popular Southington summer camp's new pavilion has recently been named in honor of one family that, according to camp officials, has been involved with the facility for half a century.

The YMCA's Camp Sloper, located on 1000 East St. in Southington, opened up a new pavilion this year to shelter summer campers and users of the camp during bad weather.

Now, that new pavilion has a name and its been dedicated to the Mathieu family, according to the local YMCA this week.

"Another one of our success stories to come out of the YMCA Camp Sloper Capital Campaign features the Mathieu family," wrote the YMCA last week.
"The Mathieu family has been connected to YMCA Camp Sloper for over 50 years through the day camp program, volunteering, pavilion rentals and just utilizing the property for outdoor recreation."

Last March, the Southington Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved an application filed by engineers hired by the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA to build the large, covered pavilion.

Camp Sloper, the YMCA's popular summer day camp program for children in the area, conducts daily operations in the summer, even when the weather is less than ideal.

As a result, the YMCA was seeking more space for days when rain strikes, as in a summer thunderstorm, or the summer mercury skyrockets.

The pavilion, a 2,100-square-foot covered concrete slab, provides sheltered activities as well as temporary respite from the elements.

Longtime camp supporter and current Washington State resident "Mike Mathieu has been in conversation with Southington-Cheshire YMCA CEO Mark Pooler for several years about the right opportunity to honor his family and cement their name in Sloper history," wrote the YMCA.

"With a new roof, paint job, and playing field, the pavilion and adjacent area look great and are a big hit with the day camp program," wrote the YMCA. "Thanks to a generous donation to the campaign from the family, the refreshed pavilion is now called the Mathieu Family Pavilion."

Mike Mathieu, who grew up in Southington, said despite living across the country, the local YMCA is still close to he and his family's heart.

“Even now, living 3,000 miles away, I wouldn’t miss the chance of giving my kids the opportunity to experience the magic of YMCA Camp Sloper in their young lives,” he said.

As a result, his two children are at YMCA Camp Sloper this summer.

His kids Rhone and Lorie are at YMCA Camp Sloper this summer and loving all the new improvements.

Roger Mathieu, Mike Mathieu's father, also expressed kudos to the new pavilion.

Said Roger Mathiew: “It warms my heart to see all the improvements and how far this property has come over the year.”

From March 15: 'Southington PZC OKs New YMCA Camp Pavilion'

For more information on the YMCA's Camp Sloper in Southington, click on this link.