7th & 8th Grade Memberships

By: June Owens

FREE … BUT OH SO PRICELESS

Few things worth having in life are truly free, right? Well, sometimes, you might stumble upon something very worthwhile that is just that. My stumble came in the form of a meeting with Sophia Yarwick at the Huber Heights YMCA. She has been an outdoor lifeguard there for 3 years, was recruited for summer swim lessons, and is currently serving as the 7th and 8th Grade Activities Coordinator. Her enthusiasm is truly contagious, and I left our interview wishing I had a 7th or 8th grade student. Now, I am sharing what I learned during my time with her with hopes that you will help me get the word out about this wonderful opportunity.

• About the Program
  • IT IS TOTALLY FREE! You read that correctly and I did ask a second time to ensure I heard correctly. It is FREE!
  • This year’s membership runs June 1 - August 15 and students can attend 1-5 pm Monday through Friday. Yarwick is present during these times.
  • This summer’s session has a core group of 8 students there daily and there can be up to 15 on any given day.
  • Full access to the YMCA areas, activities, and even the equipment (if age appropriate) is part of their membership.
• Keeping Kids Busy
  • Yarwick describes this summer opportunity as 80% fun combined with 20% service projects. This summer she and the students realized the YMCA book box was not being used. They worked together to redesign the system, repainted the box and moved it to a more visible area. Be sure to check it out in the foyer area next time you stop in.
  • What is synonymous with the YMCA? Swimming! And there is lots of that for the 7th and 8th grade students during their membership hours, both at the indoor pool and as they enjoy free access to the onsite Kroger Aquatic Center. There is sometimes the added bonus of having pizza delivered while there.
  • Daily activities are planned and include sports, games, crafts, swimming, and more. With this year’s Olympics, the students are interested in learning so many new things. This past week they played beachball volleyball, one of Yarwick’s favorite sports. One student later in the week told her, “I’ve never heard of pickleball.” I bet you can guess what she now has on the schedule for this week!
  • A monthly onsite visit is scheduled utilizing various community resources. Next week the Huber Heights fire department will be there providing information and letting everyone explore the trucks.
  • Flexibility keeps the days fun and exciting. Yarwick said, “I tell the kids all the time to ‘go with the flow.’ I often let them help choose the direction of the day, reminding them that things in life change and adaptability is a skill that is much needed.

The YMCA offers this membership opportunity each summer. A simple verification that they are entering 7th or 8th grade the following year gets them in. As you can see, it is the perfect way to have fun, connect with others, and build character. It may be FREE, but the memories and life benefits are oh so PRICELESS! What makes it even better? I asked Yarwick just that. She said, “I love really getting to know the kids. It is more than names, basic likes, and personalities. I love it when I’ve gained their trust through listening without judging and they feel comfortable enough to really share their life with me.”