BCYF Family Gym

BCYF Family Gym is a free, weekly play program for families sponsored by
the Foundation for BCYF, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Northeastern University.

BCYF Family Gym promotes physical activity for children ages 3-8 and their families. Each year BCYF Family Gym runs a fall cycle and a spring cycle, offering 16-18 weeks of fun, healthy activity!

Family Gym’s target population is families in neighborhoods with restricted access to healthy and affordable foods and limited or unsafe recreational space. The gym offers moderate-to-vigorous physical activities and educational activities focused on healthy eating, with both taking place on a regular basis to promote healthy living.

Children and adults move at their own pace in supervised activities.  Colorful play and sports equipment encourages individual, small, and large group play. Families can jump rope, play on an obstacle course, do the limbo, or play parachute games or sports. No pre-registration required, however, caregivers must participate and remain in the gym with their children at all times. Family Gym’s mission is to promote healthy living habits within the family unit as a whole.

In fall 2019, BCYF Family Gym ran Saturdays, 10-11:30 a.m. at BCYF Blackstone Community Center in the South End, BCYF Gallican Community Center in Mattapan, BCYF Holland Community Center in Dorchester, BCYF Menino Community Center in Roslindale, and BCYF Vine Street Community Center in Roxbury.

Winter 2019 we are excited to announce a pilot session at BCYF Menino Community Center in Roslindale. This session will run Saturdays 10-11:30 a.m., December 14, 2019 - January 25, 2020.

Stay tuned for Spring 2020 details coming soon!

Please visit Boston.gov/BCYF-Family-Gym for program details and updates.

 

Through partnership with Northeastern University and other colleges in the Boston area, student volunteers serve as Activity Leaders at Family Gym. If you are interested in volunteering with Family Gym please contact familygym@foundationforbcyf.org.

 

We are looking for Family Gym Volunteers!

 

Job Title:   Family Gym Volunteer

Job Type: VOLUNTEER (Temporary Seasonal)

Total Positions:  20+

Location(s): 5 BCYF community centers

Employment Dates: Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 - Saturday, April 11, 2020 (Closed February 29 and March 7 for Spring Break)

Hours per Week: 3 hours/ week (9:00am-12:00pm)

Compensation: This is an unpaid position. However, we are able to sign off on hours for high school and college students, depending on the requirements of the course or program. A letter of reference will be made available to the Family Gym Volunteer upon completion of service.

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Job Description:

The Family Gym Volunteer will work collaboratively with a Family Gym Site Supervisor to supervise, educate and engage with Family Gym program participants at a BCYF community center in Boston during the Spring cycle of programming. The Family Gym Volunteer will create a positive environment for participating families by leading and supervising age appropriate-group activity stations and assisting in the implementation of the Family Gym nutrition curriculum when necessary.

 

The Family Gym Volunteer will model healthy lifestyle choices to program participants by running a safe, accessible space where families can engage in creative, fun, and age-appropriate physical activity. Each week Family Gym Volunteers supervise and monitor families as they engaged in physical activities at their own pace during the unstructured component of programming. These activities include, but are not limited to, obstacle courses, soccer, tennis, and basketball. Family Gym Volunteers also take turns leading organized physical activities that include roles for children, caregivers, and other volunteers during the structured portion of the programming.

 

Family Gym’s unique family engagement model encourages caregivers to engage in physical activity along with their children in order to encourage healthy activities at home, leading to better health outcomes for the caregiver participants as well. Family Gym provides viable health and wellness opportunities for underserved populations, preventing childhood obesity. Providing a safe space for families to be active at little to no cost, and connect participants to valuable resources that might not have been previously accessible.

 

Minimum Experience and Qualifications:

• Minimum of 16 years of age or older
• Must be willing to commit to the eight Saturday sessions of programming
• Interest or experience in leading youth and families in physical activity
• Interest and passion for working in a diverse environment that encourages a healthy lifestyle through the promotion of physical activity and education activities focused on healthy eating
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Must be able to comfortably work in both a team environment and independently
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job
• Must attend orientation, and complete online Mandated Reporter and WePlay trainings

 

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sexual Offender Record Information (SORI) checks required.