Growing up Y

Only three years apart, siblings Natalia and Lucy Bowman have been coming to the Y since they were infants. Their family membership was used often, with their parents bringing them to the Y for years for a variety activities and programs including swim lessons, waterslides and playtime in the gym. But the thing they remember the most is birthday parties at the Y.

“Now we’re here to stay in shape, but I remember that this was the place to be for birthday parties,”  said Natalia.  Rounding out their Y experience, the siblings also look forward to Camp Stephens each year.  “Lucy just finished a six-week trip last summer and I plan on doing a three-week trip next summer,” said Natalia.

Today Natalia and Lucy are age 14 and 17 respectively and enjoy working out at the Y – including together when their busy schedules allow for it. They recently joined a program called Small Group Teen Training at the South Y where they were introduced to weight training to gain knowledge on how to exercise safely, while building confidence in the weight room. “Now I feel comfortable and enjoy working out with other people my age and with the same goals,” said Natalia.

Hayley, the Y Fitness Instructor running the program, says she enjoys seeing participants gain strength and the confidence to come to the gym and weight room independently. “That’s exactly what the small group teen training is designed to do because it helps build healthy young people into healthy adults.”

For Lucy, the next chapter in their Y story involves being a Lifeguard at the Y. After going through swim lessons and progressing through Lifeguard training, Lucy now helps other kids learn to swim and gain confidence in the water.  "I guess you can say that I spend a lot of time at the Y. It’s been such a big part of our family."

Then right on cue, just after the siblings finished telling us about everything the Y has meant to them, a boy came up to them and asked “Did you go to Camp Stephens last summer?  I remember you.”

Y experiences are indeed very hard to forget.