Westport-Weston Family Y Offering Free 1-Year Membership to Local Seventh Graders

Ages 12-13 are important years for boys and girls in terms of establishing their exercise and health habits. Although anyone can change their ways at any point in their life, this is a critical stage in which is mostly determined whether someone will go on to have an active — or sedentary — lifestyle.

To help kids appreciate exercise and make it a regular part of their lifestyle, the Family Y of Westport and Weston is offering free one-year membership to all seventh grade students in the Westport and Weston school districts.

“Only a small number of middle-school students are part of competitive sport teams or get involved in regular organized physical activity,” said Dr. Marshall Muntz, a sport psychologist who advises Y’s on youth education and awareness programs, in a press release. “Regular physical activity is valuable beyond getting our hearts pumping and muscles working. It helps us maintain and build a strong self-image, builds our self-confidence about handling challenges, improves our attitudes about our bodies, helps us manage eating habits, can help us feel more socially comfortable, and can provide more energy for doing school work.”

The program not only helps kids understand the benefits of regular exercise, it also boosts self-esteem and teaches them about healthy nutrition.

The Y worked with the school administrations in Westport and Weston, including the school PTAs, to make the free membership available to graduating 6th graders through the schools.

All a student has to do to get the free one-year membership is bring a school ID or report card to the YMCA and get a parent to sign them up.

To participate, each student must commit to at least one volunteer opportunity, such as at a one-time event like the Strong Kids Triathlon in September, or a long-term experience like Teen Volunteer Corps. Students are also required to take part in a group tour of the facility and orientation sessions in the Fitness Center to learn how to use the equipment safely.

Free programs and activities available to seventh grade members include open swims and open gyms, fitness orientations, special group exercise classes, racquet sports and spinning classes.

For more information visit www.westporty.org and click on 7th Grade Activities. Or contact Dave Cohen at 203-226-8981, ext. 109, or dcohen@westporty.org.

“Our Family Y has a longstanding tradition of creatively adapting its services to the changing needs of the community,” said Family Y CEO Rob Reeves. “By providing our youth a place to improve their health, wellness and happiness, we are helping to shape their futures.”

For more information about the Strong Kids Campaign or to make a donation, visit www.westporty.org.