Jun. 1—FAIRMONT — Teens bored with summer break can build up their physical fitness for free at Fairmont State University from May through August, provided they come with a parent.
“I think now is an important time to make sure our youth have opportunities to engage in health, fitness and wellness opportunities,” Spencer Flanagan, director of the Falcon Center and Campus Recreation said. “We’re here and we want them to have an outlet and a place to go where they can be engaged and have a good time this summer.”
Doubtless this prospect will be of interest to any teen concerned with attaining peak physical condition for the purposes of attracting romantic attention in the fall, once the invariable ‘you’ve changed so much over the summer’ conversations start.
Teen schemes aside, Flanagan said providing this opportunity was also a way to introduce teens 13-17 to Fairmont State University and keep the university at the forefront of their minds when application season begins.
Alyssa Diacono, assistant director of Operations and Community Programs, said instituting this program is part of a 10-year vision of making Fairmont State a great place to learn, work and call home.
“Within that realm, we’re extending that to the community,” Diacono said. “As we all know, part of a great place to call home is the ability to be healthy and a place to work out. Whether that’s playing basketball or running on the indoor track, we have all those options as well as the pool.”
Flanagan said the school considers it important to encourage the campus community to thrive by allowing students to integrate with the surrounding community. Doing so builds a strong campus. As a public institution, Flanagan said the university should serve the public, a view he shares with the school’s president, he said.
“We need to be here to help contribute to public good,” Flanagan said. “It’s good for us because of the relationships we build. It’s good for us because maybe if someone was on the fence about college, they find that they’ll have a great experience and can make an informed decision to be here at Fairmont State.”
The program will run through Aug. 17. An adult must purchase a membership prior to making their children eligible. Flanagan said membership rates can be comparable to commercial gyms, but the comparison is hard to make because the Falcon Center is a multisport complex. Therefore, when looking at a price point the Falcon Center is relatively cheaper than some of the competition, he said. The gym at the Falcon Center is a resource for community members, not just students he added.
Children ages 13-15 must be accompanied by an adult to enter the gym. Sixteen and 17-year-olds can get a free membership with parent or guardian consent.
“I think it’s important health and wellness is a big part of their life and they’re exposed to that at an early age,” Flanagan said. “I think it’s also a great way for them to experience the facilities and campus and see what it’s like without having to worry about the burden of cost.”
Reach Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com
