Will Gallion is shown working outside on Putnam Street shortly before 11:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. The master carpenter has been doing renovations on Charlestown homes for over 30 years.
On April 28, the Charlestown YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event for kids and families from 10 am to 1:00 pm. More than 1,900 Ys across the country are taking part in the celebration, meant to kick start physical activity and learning throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids.
Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids, is filled with fun, active play and educational activities that will help parents improve their kids’ lifestyles for the long term. Research shows that without access to activities that stimulate the mind and body, kids are more prone to gain weight and fall behind academically over the summer months.
“At the Charlestown YMCA, we know that when the school year ends, many kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning. Healthy Kids Day will help parents to begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer,” said Ashley Filipp, Director of Membership Operations at the Charlestown YMCA. “Summer is just around the corner and is an ideal time for kids to get out and grow so they are healthier and sharper when the next school year begins.”
Healthy Kids Day activities at the Charlestown YMCA will be co-sponsored by the Friends of the Navy Yard and the Charlestown Mothers’ Association, and it will and include participation in Boston Shines, a program encourages neighborhoods to participate in a spring cleanup. The Charlestown Mothers’ As Families will meet at the Charlestown YMCA at 10 am for a kickoff event and will then head to the Harvard-Kent playground.
A leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to promote community involvement, teach healthy habits and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity through active play.
For more information, contact the Charlestown YMCA at 617.286.1220 or visit ymcaboston.org/healthy-kids-day.