Y offers free memberships to seventh-grade volunteers

While it's been said there is no such thing as a free lunch, local seventh-graders can attest there is such a thing as a free gym membership.

Targeting youngsters at a critical formative age, the Westport Weston Family Y is offering free one-year memberships to Westport and Weston children who volunteer for the organization. They can choose from help out with such programs as Healthy Kids Day, Strong Kids Triathlon, Point-to-Point Swim, Mahackeno Volunteer Day, Fall Family Fiesta, Service Learning, a program where seventh-graders volunteer in the Y's Early Learning Program, and the Teen Volunteer Corps.

"The 7th Grade Membership Initiative is based on the knowledge that the preteen years are pivotal in developing lifelong habits," said David Cohen, the Y's vice president of operations. "Research shows that the seventh grade is a critical time in a young person's life when exposure to risk factors greatly increases. We believe that this is the perfect time of life to increase independence and expand students' comfort in being a part of the community."

Since Y offered the initiative June 22, about 15 seventh-graders have signed up for the program, which is designed to support better health by keeping them on their feet and off their computers, cell phones and iPods.

Jacob Leaf, a Coleytown Middle School student who plays soccer, said his Y membership "is going to help me stay busy." He's also looking forward to making new friends there with students from Westport's two middle schools and Weston Middle School.

"When I have free time I can always go" to the Y, he said.

Spencer Nelson, also a Coleytown student, said his Y membership will help keep him in shape ahead of trying out for the Police Athletic League basketball team. Nelson, who is away at camp until mid-August, plans to take advantage of his one-year membership when he returns to Westport by spending most of his time on the Y's basketball courts and in the fitness center.

Dorian Kail, Leaf's mother and a serious runner, said the membership is great in that a child who doesn't want to be part of a sports team can "still feel healthy and active on their own."

Neither Leaf nor Nelson has committed to a specific event yet, but Leaf said Healthy Kids Day sounds interesting and Nelson said he's leaning towards the Strong Kids Triathlon.

Healthy Kids Day, held in April, sees approximately 300 young children and their families visit the Y for a day of active play, healthy snacks and much more. Volunteers run booths and games, help people find activities in the Y and help in other parts of planning and implementation. As for the Strong Kids Triathlon, hundreds participate in the September event held at Staples High School. Volunteers help with everything from directing the young athletes to distributing metals and other awards.

Nelson said he is ready to serve.

"It's not asking too much for you to give three to four hours of your time to the community for all the great things the Y offers," he said.

John McCarthy, whose son Patrick could not be reached this week because he is away at camp, said the free Y membership will prove valuable.

"It's a great chance for kids to be active after school, on weekends or at night," he said. "I grew up in Westport. The Y was a place where you could go and hang out, without your parents, for hours, play basketball, go swimming, whatever. During the school year, it's one of very few places to do things unsupervised, and that is important."

The 7th Grade Membership Initiative is made possible by donations to the Strong Kids Campaign, the Westport Weston Family Y's annual fund drive that provides financial assistance for memberships, programs, child care and camp scholarships. For information, visit www.westporty.org.