READING, MA- Fulfilling its commitment to make healthy living accessible to all, the YMCA of Greater Boston is offering free summer memberships to teens ages 13 to 17 at all of its 13 branches, including the BURBANK YMCA, in Reading. Teens can visit any YMCA of Greater Boston branch to enroll with a valid state or student ID or with a parent present.

The free summer memberships for teens are a part of the Y’s Get Summer program. Get Summer provides a safe and fun environment for teens to become well-rounded individuals, engaging them through sports, arts, leadership programs, community service projects, job skills training, college admission tutoring, technology, literacy, nutrition classes, dances, field trips, and more..

Y memberships will be unrestricted from June 23 through September 8, allowing teens total member privileges including use of gyms, pools, group exercise classes, teen center activities and special teen programs per the schedule of their local YMCA.  Teens must fill out a Get Summer membership application to receive the special summer membership card and teens must have the permission of a guardian to enroll.

“Keeping our teens safe and engaged throughout the summer months is one of the Y’s most important initiatives,” says YMCA of Greater Boston CEO Kevin Washington. “It’s vital in helping to decrease summer violence and shape our communities. For many single parent households, the Y becomes a second home for the teens and a place to find positive role models. We are proud to provide support for more than 7,500 young adults each year through our Get Summer program.”

In addition, the Y of Greater Boston will employ teens this summer, participating in the City of Boston’s Youth Fund and supporting the Boston Private Industry Council’s Summer Jobs Program.  These teens will receive job readiness training and also participate in the Y’s Safe Dating Program, a Y signature program designed to teach teens the warning signs of dating abuse and provide strategies on prevention and intervention.

To learn more about the free summer membership program for teens, visit ymcaboston.org/teens or like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ymcabostonteens.

ABOUT THE YMCA OF GREATER BOSTON: The YMCA of Greater Boston is the state’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities.  Every day the Y works with thousands of men, women and children to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. With 13 branches in and around Boston, the Y partners with 250 organizations to meet unique needs of the communities it serves. The Y is committed to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. For more than 165 years, the Y has been developing skills and emotional well-being through education and training, welcoming and connecting diverse populations, preventing chronic disease and building healthier communities through collaborations and policymakers. The Boston YMCA is the first in the United States. www.ymcaboston.org

###