A Home Away From Home

If you’ve been around the Downtown YMCA, you probably know Carol Baker. Correction—if you’ve been to the Downtown YMCA in the past 66 years, you probably know Carol Baker. A lifelong Frederick native, Carol has been a YMCA member since elementary school, when she joined the Y swim league. Several decades later, you can still find her in the pool or at the fitness center.

Throughout her life, Frederick County has been a focus of Carol’s professional and personal endeavors. She worked as a teacher and coach at Walkersville Middle, New Market Middle, Ballenger Creek Middle, Carroll Manor Elementary, and Oakdale Middle. One aspect of teaching physical education that Carol especially enjoyed was the opportunity to help children develop their skills, such as by breaking down sports into different components.

Outside of her career as an educator, Carol served on the Y’s Board of Directors and with community groups at Lake Linganore and the Tour de Frederick. Her dedication to the community and the YMCA was recognized in 1990 when she received a service award for her support of the Y’s capital campaign.

Although there are other places to swim or exercise, Carol prefers the Y. “The YMCA is a home away from home. It’s an organization that tries to meet the needs of all ages and abilities and welcomes a very diverse population.”

From her first job as a day camp counselor to her group of swimmers today, the YMCA is proud to have Carol as a member and a leader in our community.