Princeton NJ Family and Kids Guide - Princeton NJ Family Feature

Princeton Family YMCA Offers Free Memberships to Seventh Graders and New "Roadmap Challenge"
November 16, 2015 By Jane Hynes

PRINCETON - For a fourth year in a row, the Princeton Family YMCA is offering complimentary full facility teen memberships to seventh graders in the Princeton region. Called the Seventh Grade Initiative or "7GI", a variation of the program is offered by more than 17 YMCAs throughout New Jersey.

"Seventh grade is a critical time with respect to making choices, decision making and developing personal values," explained CEO Kate Bech, "teens, as they become more independent, need a safe space to be with friends, and a supportive and welcoming setting where they can develop positive health and fitness practices that hopefully become lifelong habits." To participate, seventh graders must complete a membership application and waiver with parent permission. "We want parents to have a full understanding of the program's goals," added Bech, "because while the Seventh Grade Initiative is intended to give teens some autonomy, they still need their parents' encouragement and reinforcement to stay on track."

The 7GI program is fully aligned with the Princeton Public Schools' recent commitment to wellbeing and balance. According to Superintendent Steve Cochrane, "Optimal health is not just about the physical but about the social and emotional as well. It is about our young people feeling empowered to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. This year's program does just that."

New this year, teens can participate in the "Roadmap Challenge", a self-guided program that allows students to earn points, get prizes, and ultimately, achieve a Roadmap Challenge certificate and listing on the Honor Roll banner in the gym. A variety of activities are available that reflect the Y's commitment to building Spirit, Mind and Body: for example, helping a neighbor with outdoor chores, completing an in house triathlon, conducting the "Healthy Family Home" program with family members, or completing a scavenger hunt that highlights the history and mission of the YMCA Movement.

The 7th Grade Initiative was originally conceived and implemented by the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance in 2008 to support and encourage teens to maintain and/or adopt healthy lifestyles at an age when they are beginning to make their own choices regarding health and wellness. An estimated 112,000 7th graders live within three miles of a New Jersey YMCA. The program model supports increased physical activity, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and connection to the YMCA as a lifelong resource for healthy living.

"The YMCA is all about families. With a full facility family rate of just $99 per month, we provide an affordable and cost-effective option. The 7GI is a wonderful pathway for families to get acquainted with what we offer, and how we can help families lead a healthier, active lifestyle together," added Bech.

The program is free to seventh graders through the Princeton Family YMCA's service area: Princeton, Montgomery, West Windsor, Plainsboro, and Lawrenceville. For more information or to register, visit the Princeton Family YMCA's website at www.princetonymca.org/programs/teens or visit the Y's Welcome Desk at 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton.

About the Y

The Y is one of the nation's leading nonprofit strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,687 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation's health and well-being and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. www.princetonymca.org

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