Taste of Summer
Wine and Beer Tasting Fundraiser
At Pour Richards Wine and Spirits 14 Grove Street, Franklin, MA
June 6, 6:00 - 8:30 PM
Sponsored by Franklin Federated Church
All are Welcome
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Inside the Proposed FY 2020 Town of Franklin proposed budget
In answer to some questions on rising cost of health insurance and it impact on the budget, I offer the following. Per the budget voting document released for the Finance Committee for the March 18, 2019 meeting I have copied the following numbers.
1 - Rising health care costs drive benefits
1 - Rising health care costs drive benefits
| FINAL - FY 2017 | FINAL - FY 2018 | FINAL - FY 2019 | Proposed - FY 2020 | |
| Subtotal, Employee Benefits | 10,955,567 | 11,693,882 | 12,360,354 | 12,315,354 |
Will the benefits line item really come down in 2020?
Probably not. These numbers are preliminary and will likely change before the Town Council sees the 'final' budget numbers for their May budget hearings (May 22-23)
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| Rising health care costs drive benefits |
2 - How much is the School budget part of the whole Town budget?
| Proposed - FY 2020 Percent | |
| Subtotal, General Government | 8.9% |
| Subtotal, Public Safety | 10.5% |
| Subtotal, Education | 57.5% |
| Subtotal, DPW - Highway | 4.2% |
| Subtotal, Human Services | 0.6% |
| Subtotal, Culture & Recreation | 1.4% |
| Subtotal, Debt & Interest | 5.9% |
| Subtotal, Employee Benefits | 10.6% |
| Subtotal, Liability Insurance | 0.5% |
| 100.0% |
The Schools budget here includes Tri-County, Norfolk Ag and the Franklin Public Schools. As near as I can tell, the Charter School portion comes in and out on the State funding lines of the budget document.
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| How much is the School budget part of the whole Town budget |
The spreadsheet copy of these numbers can be found online. The original Town of Franklin doc is also found online.
Spreadsheet
Town of Franklin budget doc
Monday, April 29, 2019
Peter Willis Photographer: Next art show scheduled for the 4th of July week
Franklin photographer Peter Willis has an show coming up the week of July 4th. To be held at the Orleans Artist Cottages.
For more about the show times and location: http://artcottages.com/OurArtists/Peter%20Willis/
Peter's web page https://www.peterwillisphotography.com/what-s-happening
For more about the Orleans Artist Cottages:
Artist Cottages Sprout at Orleans Market Square from Lower Cape TV on Vimeo.
For more about the show times and location: http://artcottages.com/OurArtists/Peter%20Willis/
Peter's web page https://www.peterwillisphotography.com/what-s-happening
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| Peter Willis Photographer |
For more about the Orleans Artist Cottages:
Artist Cottages Sprout at Orleans Market Square from Lower Cape TV on Vimeo.
Franklin ArtWeek Schedule for Monday, April 29, 2019
Monday, April 29
9:00 - 8:00: Post-It Note Collage at Franklin Public Library ~ In celebration of ArtWeek 2019, the Youth Services department will be building a Post-It Note Collage! But we need your help! Stop by anytime during the week to help add post-it notes to the wall. What will the final image be?? Only time will tell!!
6:00 - 8:00: Franklin High School Jazz Open Rehearsal at Franklin High School (FREE) This open rehearsal with FHS Jazz Ensemble students and the Kenny Hadley Big Band is open to the public so that audience members can watch, listen, and ask questions of the professionals, who will give students helpful tips and pointers of how to play proper jazz articulations within different genres.
6:00 - 8:00: Art of Game Design with Michael Epstein at Pete's Nerd Emporium (FREE) Michael Epstein, the MA-based game designer of Copper Frog Games, will talk about his creative process as it relates to game design and the power of art, followed by a demo of his game Pigment, a worker placement game where you send out your apprentices to gather paint to create Renaissance masterpieces.
6:30 - 8:30: Zentangle for Adults at the Franklin Public Library (FREE)
Zentangle is an easy-to-learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. Come try your hand at this fascinating new art form! No experience necessary! Materials provided.
Register: 508-520-4941 or kshipala@minlib.net
Download your copy of the full schedule for ArtWeek here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczODN4X2hTdVdobWpWWTlpR19WMFZHZE5JWHVz/view?usp=sharing
9:00 - 8:00: Post-It Note Collage at Franklin Public Library ~ In celebration of ArtWeek 2019, the Youth Services department will be building a Post-It Note Collage! But we need your help! Stop by anytime during the week to help add post-it notes to the wall. What will the final image be?? Only time will tell!!
6:00 - 8:00: Franklin High School Jazz Open Rehearsal at Franklin High School (FREE) This open rehearsal with FHS Jazz Ensemble students and the Kenny Hadley Big Band is open to the public so that audience members can watch, listen, and ask questions of the professionals, who will give students helpful tips and pointers of how to play proper jazz articulations within different genres.
6:00 - 8:00: Art of Game Design with Michael Epstein at Pete's Nerd Emporium (FREE) Michael Epstein, the MA-based game designer of Copper Frog Games, will talk about his creative process as it relates to game design and the power of art, followed by a demo of his game Pigment, a worker placement game where you send out your apprentices to gather paint to create Renaissance masterpieces.
6:30 - 8:30: Zentangle for Adults at the Franklin Public Library (FREE)
Zentangle is an easy-to-learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. Come try your hand at this fascinating new art form! No experience necessary! Materials provided.
Register: 508-520-4941 or kshipala@minlib.net
Download your copy of the full schedule for ArtWeek here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczODN4X2hTdVdobWpWWTlpR19WMFZHZE5JWHVz/view?usp=sharing
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| Franklin ArtWeek Schedule for Monday, April 29, 2019 |
Town Council Actions Taken for April 24, 2019
The Actions Taken provide a quick summary of the specific actions taken by the Town Council. For more details we'll need to await the Franklin TV broadcast via on demand or the full minutes once approved by the Town Council.
Get your copy here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SP3acgckXUTpujK8YTC62ST5LSEBBJuA/view?usp=sharing
Get your copy here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SP3acgckXUTpujK8YTC62ST5LSEBBJuA/view?usp=sharing
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| old South Meeting House on Washington St |
Register O'Donnell Warns Homeowners About Deed Scam
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 | Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | | |
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| screen grab of Norfolk Deeds webpage |
What is the Role of the Town Council?
1. A member of the Council, in relation to his/her community should:
2. A member of the Council, in his/her relations with administrative officers of the Town, should:
3. A member of the Council, in his/her relations with fellow Council members, should:
Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/role-town-council
How to contact your Town Council
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council
- A. Realize that his/her basic function is to make policy, with administration delegated to the Administrator.
- B. Realize that he/she is one of a team and should abide by, and carry out, all Council decisions once they are made.
- C. Be well-informed concerning the duties of a Council member on both local and state levels.
- D. Remember that he/she represents the entire community at all times.
- E. Accept the office as a means of unselfish service, not benefit personally or politically from his/her Council activities.
- F. In all appointments, avoid political patronage by judging all candidates on merit, experience, and qualifications only.
- G. Abide by the ethics established by the State and not use the position to obtain inside information on matters which may benefit someone personally.
2. A member of the Council, in his/her relations with administrative officers of the Town, should:
- A. Endeavor to establish sound, clearly defined policies that will direct and support the administration for the benefit of the people of the community.
- B. Recognize and support the administrative chain of command and refuse to act on complaints as an individual outside the administration.
- C. Give the Administrator full responsibility for discharging the duties of his/her office.
3. A member of the Council, in his/her relations with fellow Council members, should:
- A. Recognize that action at official legal meetings is binding and that he/she alone cannot bind the Council outside of such meetings.
- B. Not make statements or promises of how he/she will vote on matters that will come before the Council until he/she has had an opportunity to hear the pros and cons of the issue during a Council meeting.
- C. Uphold the intent of executive session and respect the privileged communication that exists in executive session.
- D. Make decisions only after all facts on a question have been presented and discussed.
- E. Treat with respect the rights of all members of the Council despite differences of opinion.
Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/role-town-council
How to contact your Town Council
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council
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| What is the Role of the Town Council? |
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Franklin Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger on May 11 - Franklin Food Pantry Asks for Specific Items and No Expired Food
The Franklin Food Pantry is asking the community for some very specific items in this year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. On Saturday, May 11, Franklin letter carriers will pick up donated goods from town residents at their mailboxes and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry.
The Pantry is asking for residents to please consider donating the items most needed:
• Canned vegetables (potatoes, yams, carrots)
• Soups (chowder, cream of (any kind) soup)
• Canned pasta (spaghetti, ravioli, etc.)
• Beef stew
• Chili
• Tomato products
• Pasta sauce
• Pasta and rice side dishes
• White, red and baked beans
• White Tuna
• Baking items (brownie and cake mixes, flour, sugar, etc.)
• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Personal care items (toothpaste/toothbrushes, shampoo/conditioner, body wash/soap, deodorant, body lotion, feminine hygiene products and hand soap)
The Pantry does not need chicken soup, garbanzo beans/chick peas, black beans, green beans and boxed macaroni and cheese since it is overstocked with these items.
“We have very limited building space to store a surplus of items,” said Amy Cataldo, interim executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “We are asking the community for these very specific items, as well as no expired food. We are so grateful for all the donations we receive, but unfortunately, we have space constraints.”
The Pantry receives thousands of pounds of food donations monthly. Every item is checked for expiration dates by volunteers. The expired food must be disposed of, which costs the Pantry time and money.
According to Cataldo, “We are asking the community to please check expiration dates on their donations so that we can prevent excess waste and avoid volunteer burnout. This would be such a huge help to us, and much appreciated by our hard-working volunteers.”
Volunteers are still needed for the event. If anyone is interested, they can sign up online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org.
Franklin residents can donate to the food drive by leaving a bag of non-perishable food where their letter carrier normally delivers their mail on Saturday, May 11. Some residents may receive the yellow Stamp Out Hunger grocery bags to use, but any paper or plastic bag can be used. Letter carriers will pick up the bags during their normal mail rounds and will deliver the food to the Franklin Food Pantry.
“We are so thankful to the letter carriers, and a supportive community, for helping us acquire the items that are most needed,” said Cataldo. “We have more than 1,100 individuals who count on us for food on a regular basis. We could not provide for them without the support of such a generous community.”
Cataldo said that in lieu of donating goods, individuals who want to support the Pantry can donate online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org. Monetary donations allow the Pantry to purchase fresh food such as fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products to supplement the canned and boxed food donations.
For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that provides food to local food banks and pantries.
The Pantry is asking for residents to please consider donating the items most needed:
• Canned vegetables (potatoes, yams, carrots)
• Soups (chowder, cream of (any kind) soup)
• Canned pasta (spaghetti, ravioli, etc.)
• Beef stew
• Chili
• Tomato products
• Pasta sauce
• Pasta and rice side dishes
• White, red and baked beans
• White Tuna
• Baking items (brownie and cake mixes, flour, sugar, etc.)
• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Personal care items (toothpaste/toothbrushes, shampoo/conditioner, body wash/soap, deodorant, body lotion, feminine hygiene products and hand soap)
The Pantry does not need chicken soup, garbanzo beans/chick peas, black beans, green beans and boxed macaroni and cheese since it is overstocked with these items.
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| Stamp Out Hunger is a great opportunity for high schoolers to earn community service hours |
“We have very limited building space to store a surplus of items,” said Amy Cataldo, interim executive director of the Franklin Food Pantry. “We are asking the community for these very specific items, as well as no expired food. We are so grateful for all the donations we receive, but unfortunately, we have space constraints.”
The Pantry receives thousands of pounds of food donations monthly. Every item is checked for expiration dates by volunteers. The expired food must be disposed of, which costs the Pantry time and money.
According to Cataldo, “We are asking the community to please check expiration dates on their donations so that we can prevent excess waste and avoid volunteer burnout. This would be such a huge help to us, and much appreciated by our hard-working volunteers.”
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| In last year’s drive, volunteers helped unload 8,000 pounds of donations |
Volunteers are still needed for the event. If anyone is interested, they can sign up online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org.
Franklin residents can donate to the food drive by leaving a bag of non-perishable food where their letter carrier normally delivers their mail on Saturday, May 11. Some residents may receive the yellow Stamp Out Hunger grocery bags to use, but any paper or plastic bag can be used. Letter carriers will pick up the bags during their normal mail rounds and will deliver the food to the Franklin Food Pantry.
“We are so thankful to the letter carriers, and a supportive community, for helping us acquire the items that are most needed,” said Cataldo. “We have more than 1,100 individuals who count on us for food on a regular basis. We could not provide for them without the support of such a generous community.”
Cataldo said that in lieu of donating goods, individuals who want to support the Pantry can donate online at www.franklinfoodpantry.org. Monetary donations allow the Pantry to purchase fresh food such as fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products to supplement the canned and boxed food donations.
For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide effort organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) that provides food to local food banks and pantries.
Franklin ArtWeek Schedule for Sunday, April 28, 2019
Sunday, April 28
10:00 - 2:00: Throwing Seeds mural painting at Franklin Agway (FREE)
Come watch farmer and artist Tyler Harris create a mural on Agway's fence as he interprets the phrase “Throwing Seeds”. Tyler grew up in Franklin and is now the manager of a farm in Dartmouth Mass.
12:00 - 2:00: The Art of Canning Jams at Franklin Agway (FREE)
You can enjoy the taste of summer year round by learning how to preserve fresh fruit and vegetables at their peak ripeness. Learn where and when to get your fresh produce at Franklin's local farms as well as how to make your own jams! Mash, stir, chop, and skin, or just watch.
Learn the lost culinary art of canning. It's fun and yummy! Outdoor event; weather permitting.
1:30 - 5:00: Post-It Note Collage at Franklin Public Library ~ In celebration of ArtWeek 2019, the Youth Services department will be building a Post-It Note Collage! But we need your help! Stop by anytime during the week to help add post-it notes to the wall. What will the final image be?? Only time will tell!!
2:30 - 4:30: A Taste of Israel at the Franklin Public Library (FREE)
Experience "A Taste of Israel" sponsored by Temple Etz Chaim of Franklin as we visit the artist colonies of Tzfat and create Israeli art, explore the Old City of Jerusalem through pictures, music and dancing, and visit a cafe in the bustling city of Haifa to enjoy a tasty snack.
4:00 - 6:00: Diana Fanning Concert at THE BLACK BOX ($15/$20)
Pianist Diana Fanning will perform Mozart, Beethoven, Chapin, Debussy, and Villa-Lobos, followed by an informational talk-back and Q&A with the audience. Adults $20, Seniors & Students $15.
Tickets: bit.ly/fanning_concert
Download your copy of the full schedule for ArtWeek here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczODN4X2hTdVdobWpWWTlpR19WMFZHZE5JWHVz/view?usp=sharing
10:00 - 2:00: Throwing Seeds mural painting at Franklin Agway (FREE)
Come watch farmer and artist Tyler Harris create a mural on Agway's fence as he interprets the phrase “Throwing Seeds”. Tyler grew up in Franklin and is now the manager of a farm in Dartmouth Mass.
12:00 - 2:00: The Art of Canning Jams at Franklin Agway (FREE)
You can enjoy the taste of summer year round by learning how to preserve fresh fruit and vegetables at their peak ripeness. Learn where and when to get your fresh produce at Franklin's local farms as well as how to make your own jams! Mash, stir, chop, and skin, or just watch.
Learn the lost culinary art of canning. It's fun and yummy! Outdoor event; weather permitting.
1:30 - 5:00: Post-It Note Collage at Franklin Public Library ~ In celebration of ArtWeek 2019, the Youth Services department will be building a Post-It Note Collage! But we need your help! Stop by anytime during the week to help add post-it notes to the wall. What will the final image be?? Only time will tell!!
2:30 - 4:30: A Taste of Israel at the Franklin Public Library (FREE)
Experience "A Taste of Israel" sponsored by Temple Etz Chaim of Franklin as we visit the artist colonies of Tzfat and create Israeli art, explore the Old City of Jerusalem through pictures, music and dancing, and visit a cafe in the bustling city of Haifa to enjoy a tasty snack.
4:00 - 6:00: Diana Fanning Concert at THE BLACK BOX ($15/$20)
Pianist Diana Fanning will perform Mozart, Beethoven, Chapin, Debussy, and Villa-Lobos, followed by an informational talk-back and Q&A with the audience. Adults $20, Seniors & Students $15.
Tickets: bit.ly/fanning_concert
Download your copy of the full schedule for ArtWeek here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczODN4X2hTdVdobWpWWTlpR19WMFZHZE5JWHVz/view?usp=sharing
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| Franklin ArtWeek Schedule for Sunday, April 28, 2019 |
The Town of Franklin is hiring for these positions
Job Opportunities
To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov. Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.
- Part-Time Library Assistant
- Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works
- Administrative Assistant and Marketing Coordinator
- Part-Time Conservation Agent
- Summer Jobs - DPW and Facilities
- Summer Engineering Intern - DPW
- Junior Building Custodian
- Part-Time Custodian
- Firefighter/Paramedics - The Town of Franklin's Fire Department is in the Massachusetts Civil Service system.
- If you are currently a Firefighter/Paramedic in a Civil Service community and are interested in working for Franklin, send a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.
- Please note: new hires must have and maintain a paramedic certification and complete an Associate's Degree within 5 years of the date they are hired.
If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.
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| The Town of Franklin is hiring for these positions |
FHS girls lacrosse top North Andover 20-9
Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Saturday, Apr 27, 2019
Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 20 vs. North Andover, 9 – Final
– Seven Panthers found of the back of the net as Franklin rolled to a win over visiting North Andover. Junior Erin Walsh led the way with six goals and six assists while junior Kelsey MacCallum (two assists), freshman Stella Regan, and freshman Kenzie Baker each scored three goals.
For the other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-04-27-19/
Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 20 vs. North Andover, 9 – Final
– Seven Panthers found of the back of the net as Franklin rolled to a win over visiting North Andover. Junior Erin Walsh led the way with six goals and six assists while junior Kelsey MacCallum (two assists), freshman Stella Regan, and freshman Kenzie Baker each scored three goals.
For the other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-04-27-19/
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| FHS Panthers |
Franklin American Legion Post 75 - 5M-5K Road Race - June 22
5 Mile and 5K
Scholarship Fund Road Race
Saturday June 22, 2019 at 8 AM
Help support our effort to give scholarships to Franklin High School students looking at the high cost of secondary education. All profits from this event will go to the Scholarship Fund for Franklin American Legion Post 75. Runners and walkers welcome!
• Post race refreshments
• Prizes awarded by category
• T-Shirts for entrants
• Raffle Prizes
• Race Timing by Spitler Race Systems
• Registration: 7:00 – 7:50 AM
• Start Time: 8:00 AM
• Start / Finish: Remington Middle School, Franklin, MA
• Run – 5 mile and 5K loop on paved roads
• Entry Fee: $30, $20 for students and active members of the military
Register on Active.com or visit our Franklin Post Web Site: http://www.mapost75.com/
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| Franklin American Legion Post 75 - 5M-5K Road Race - June 22 |
Trout Fishing Derby - June 1
Trout Fishing Derby
Saturday June 1 (6:30 AM – 2 PM)
MA Free Fishing Weekend!!
No License Required
First Prize $150 for Heaviest Trout
Cash Prizes 2nd and 3rd Places
Multiple prizes for all fish types and fishing skills (kids 16 and under)
Sporting Goods Raffle
Breakfast $5, free pizza for Lunch
Free Use of Bait, Gear, Rod and Reel (While Supplies last)
Franklin Rod and Gun Club
53 Florence Street, on Uncas Pond, Franklin, MA
Tickets Adults $10.00, Children 12 and under $5.00
(Rain Date Sunday 6/2)
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| Trout Fishing Derby - June 1 |
Memorial Day Breakfast - Senior Center - May 24
The annual Memorial Day Breakfast is scheduled for the Franklin Senior Center on Friday, May 24, 2019. Guest speaker Alan Earls will discuss the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
Please call the Senior Center to register 508-520-4945
Please call the Senior Center to register 508-520-4945
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| Memorial Day Breakfast - Senior Center - May 24 |
Planet Fitness To Open Its Doors to Teens FOR FREE All Summer Long
Planet Fitness will invite high schoolers ages 15 – 18 to work out for free at any of its locations throughout the U.S., including all clubs across Massachusetts, from May 15 through September 1 as part of the nationwide Teen Summer Challenge initiative. The nationwide launch builds on a successful local program first launched last summer in Planet Fitness' home state of N.H.
In Massachusetts, 11.7% of high school students are considered obese and 14% are considered overweight; 54.3% of high school students are physically active for less than an hour a day on five or more days a week. Planet Fitness' Teen Summer Challenge offers a solution for teenagers looking for an opportunity to stay active during the summer when school sports programs, gym classes or after school activities wind down.
Please see press release below for full details on the program and let us know of any questions.
Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. and home of the Judgement Free Zone®, is inviting high school teenagers ages 15 – 18 to work out for free at any of its more than 1,700 Planet Fitness locations throughout the United States from May 15 through September 1 as part of the nationwide Teen Summer Challenge initiative. Free fitness classes specifically for teenagers will also be available Monday through Friday via certified fitness trainers.
Additionally, all teens who sign up beginning May 15 are automatically entered into Planet Fitness' Scholarship Sweepstakes. By the end of summer, 51 lucky teens across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., will be randomly selected to receive a $500 scholarship, and one teen will receive a $5,000 grand prize. Teens will also have the chance to win exciting prizes on Planet Fitness' Twitter and Instagram channels throughout the summer, such as club swag, movie tickets and wireless headphones.
The nationwide launch of the Teen Summer Challenge builds on a successful local program first launched last summer in New Hampshire, Planet Fitness' home state. To sign-up, visit a Planet Fitness near you beginning May 15. Teens under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at sign-up.
A FOCUS ON TEEN HEALTH
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently released new physical activity guidelines, which revealed that 80 percent of Americans do not currently meet the recommended amount of physical activity. The guidelines also challenge youth (ages 6 – 17) to pursue a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day.
Planet Fitness' Teen Summer Challenge offers a solution for teenagers eager for an opportunity to stay active during the summer when school sports programs, gym classes or after school activities wind down.
"Teens today are under ever-increasing pressure to succeed academically and socially, battle a growing list of responsibilities both inside and outside of the classroom and become well-rounded members of their community," said Chris Rondeau, Chief Executive Officer at Planet Fitness. "At Planet Fitness, a healthy and active lifestyle should never be a challenge – which is why we're flipping that notion on its head with the launch of the nationwide Teen Summer Challenge.
We want to give teens across the United States the chance to stay active when school is out – a time when they may not otherwise have access to organized fitness or athletic programs, which is why we're offering a safe space to exercise for free and spend time with their friends all summer long."
BY THE NUMBERS
To uncover how teens ages 15 – 18 view health and fitness today, Planet Fitness commissioned a national study that sheds light on how teens and parents feel about health and wellness, and how best to motivate youth toward pursuing an active lifestyle and setting them up for success through adulthood. Key findings include:
Wellness is On the Brain. Today's teens are more health-conscious than ever before, seeing exercise as not only a way to be in shape, but believing that – among those who work out already – it positively impacts their mental health (72 percent) and focus on schoolwork (47 percent).
Sadly, nearly half of all teens (42 percent) lack a positive body image, noting they're self-conscious and have trouble finding the confidence to try something physically challenging.
In addition, with two-in-five (42 percent) of today's teens also battling anxiety and body image issues, many teenagers are recognizing that exercise may be the answer. Those who work out note they feel more confident (47 percent) and happier (43 percent) in addition to feeling less stressed (37 percent) and anxious (24 percent).
Schedule's Booked. Nearly three-in-five (57 percent) teens surveyed say that between school and extracurricular activities, they do not have enough time to make exercise a part of their daily routine – a sentiment also shared by more than one-third (36 percent) of teens' parents, who feel today's youth have fewer opportunities to exercise on a daily basis than they did a generation ago.
Not surprisingly, over two-in-five (41 percent) report that their fitness levels decrease over the summer when school is out.
That said, nearly all (91 percent) agree that they want to stay healthy and active over the summer.
Having Access Doesn't Infer Action. Parents and teens (50 and 54 percent, respectively) agree teens have greater access and options to exercise than previous generations. But almost two in five (39 percent) of teens say they don't have enough guidance on how to exercise or where to event start (36 percent), which may be why 39 percent feel negatively towards fitness.
Exercise Your Body, Not Just Your Fingers. When asked how they'd prefer to spend their free time, more than one-third (36 percent) wished to exercise or work out more (regardless of school schedules), which is greater than the number of teens who want to spend more time playing video games (27 percent), browsing social media (16 percent) or watching TV (16 percent).
All-Star Student. Working out works to many teens' advantage, too, as fitness can be a secret recipe for straight As. In fact, among surveyed teens who see improvements based on exercise (91%), two in five (40%) have reported that exercise helps them to find more focus, with 23 percent directly attributing it to making them a better student.
Friends who Sweat Together Stay Together. Having friends at the gym is a big motivator, with almost two-thirds (65 percent) saying they would go to the gym more often with a buddy.
In addition to opening its doors to all teens ages 15 – 18 all summer long, Planet Fitness also offers extremely low prices and a variety of benefits, including a hassle-free environment, brand name cardio and strength equipment, fully equipped locker rooms, flat screen televisions and much more.
For more information on the Teen Summer Challenge, including how to sign up for the free membership at any of the more than 1,700 Planet Fitness locations nationwide, visit PlanetFitness.com/TeenSummerChallenge.
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| Planet Fitness To Open Its Doors to Teens FOR FREE All Summer Long |
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