Hockomock YMCA's Healthy Kids Day Set for Saturday at Patriot Place

The Hockomock Area YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day with a free community event on Saturday, April 27th at Patriot Place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event encourages kids to be active and provides families with options and methods for living healthier. This will be the first time all the Hockomock Area MYCA branches will join together to form one big event.

Activities will take place at the NRG Plaza at the lower level concourse outside The Hall at Patriot Place.

“Our Y’s promise is to help strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility," said Hockomock Area YMCA President Ed Hurley. "We believe that all kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are, what they can achieve, and how to grow up active and healthy."

Healthy Kids Day, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being, is being celebrated by 1,900 YMCAs this year. The event encourages healthier behaviors through exercise and nutrition. The event aligns perfectly with the Hockomock Y’s Healthy Futures initiative, a program committed to reduce inactivity and poor nutrition in the 15 communities served by the Hockomock Area YMCA.

“Our Healthy Kids Day helps reinforce the importance of our Healthy Futures initiative and will encourage kids and families to get a jump on creating a healthier summer, and ultimately a healthier lifestyle. We’re grateful to Patriot Place for partnering with us to host the event this year and are proud to be collaborating with our community partners and organizations. We look forward to welcoming kids and families for a day filled with fun and creative healthy activities for everyone,” said Hurley.

The day will feature active play and educational activities including BOKS (Build Our Kids’ Success) activity bursts, bouncy houses, a DJ, dance party, Y camp activities, a kids boot camp, imagination station, nutrition & active games, science experiments, gymnastics, golf, slime making, tattoos, and more. Prizes, raffles, coupons, goody bags, and YMCA passes will also be part of the day.

Community partners include Stop & Shop, the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Healthy Futures Initiative sponsor, as well as participating Patriot Place businesses including Bass Pro Shops, Brigham and Women’s/MGH Health Care Center, Life is Good, Reebok, Tastings, and Trader Joe’s.

Other community partner participants (as of April 19) include CBS Radio, Cyclo-Cross, Dock Dogs/Team 21, Dorel, The First Tee/MGA Links, Green Schools Education, Mansfield Community Garden, Milford Hospital, New York Life Insurance, Norwood Hospital, Pediatric Dental Health Care, Safe Routes to School, and Sturdy Memorial Hospital.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day this year and to host the event. Patriot Place is proud to be associated with such an innovative, mission-driven Y. Both organizations have a shared vision and commitment to bring people and families together. Healthy Kids Day will be a great event and we look forward to seeing the community there to participate in a free fun, active day,” said Brian Earley, general manager of Patriot Place.

Research shows that without access to out-of-school physical and learning activities, kids fall behind academically and gain weight twice as fast during summer than the school year.

On April 27, YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to grow and achieve all summer long.