March 29, 2025 • 5 mins
April school vacation in Massachusetts is just a few weeks away. If you're doing a staycation this time around, or if you don't have any plans just yet, you might be thinking about what you want to do with the kids. The City of Boston says it's got a special event planned for girls age 7-12: the All-Girls Sports and Wellness Festival! Jennifer Misiaszek from Boston Parks and Recreation joins Nichole this week to talk about everything the event has to offer in hopes of empowering Boston's girls.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week we come together here and talk about all
the topics important to you and the place where you live.
Thanks for joining us again. I'm Nicole Davis. It's kind
of a perennial question when it's school vacation time coming
up and you're not going anywhere, You're staying home, what
do I do with the kids? Well, if you happen
(00:29):
to have young girls, you live in Boston and they
like to run around and learn new things that he says,
it's got an idea for you called the All Girls
Sports and Wellness Festival. This is a few days long
event where girls can go learn all kinds of skills, empowerment,
play games, take wellness courses. There is a lot going
on here, so let's learn all about it. Jennifer Mishazek
(00:51):
is a program director at the Boston Parks and Wreck Department. Jennifer,
great to have you here on the show. So what
do we need to know about this event?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, so Mayor and Michelle, will you know she has
an emphasis on the importance of creating more opportunities for
young women within the city of Boston. One fantastic way,
you know, to meet this challenge is by making the
All Girls Sports and Wellness Festival available to them during
April break. So the festival offers a great chance for
a young women to get outdoors, stay active, try new sports,
(01:19):
you know, in a fun and inclusive environment. So not
only are we encouraging physical activity, but it helps foster teamwork,
you know, build confidence, inspire them to explore new interests
and in time where many are looking for ways to
make most of their break, and this is exactly the
type of opportunity that we need to ensure a young
women have access to. And you know, like you mentioned,
(01:41):
it's throughout the city of Boston, so we have multiple
locations that will be bringing girls together indoors and outdoors.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
And it's important too because I think that when you're
on vacation, you might want to just sit back and relax,
but when you're that age, you've got a lot of energy.
You've got to get out right, and you're growing and
you're trying to develop your body and your mind, and
so it seems like you've got something to cover all
of those factors.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
We do we make an enrichment opportunity. We have an
indoor portion to this event, and then the second day
or some locations, it would be their first day. We
have them outdoors all day exploring and trying you know,
new sports. So we break them up into workshops. When
they're indoors, they also you know, get to try things
(02:24):
like the pool, softball, baseball, kickball, sports that they never
maybe have the opportunity to try. They'll have that you know,
over this week.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
And who are you bringing in to help with these
programs because obviously you've got three different locations for the
first couple of days, that requires a lot of adult supervision.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
We do so throughout the whole event. It's four different
locations for three days. So the first two days of
the festival is April twenty third and twenty fourth. It
will take place at various BCYF centers in park locations.
And the wouldn't be possible without you know, nonprofits and
City of Boston agencies coming together. So this is with
(03:06):
partnership of the Boston Center for Youth and Families b
CYF and like I said, local you know nonprofits in
the area coming in to teach the girls. You know,
Frisbee and you know, we wellness and you know, fitness activities.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So where exactly are the specific locations that we're talking about.
I see Dorchester, I see Mission Hill, I see East Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
So this is open for all girls citywide. But the
four locations that we do have during break the indoor
locations are the b CYF Lahy Hall and Community Center
in Dorchester as well as Garvey Park. We have b
CYF Parish Street Community Center in East Boston as well
as East Boston Stadium, b CYF Curtis Hall and Jamaica
(03:48):
Plaine as well as English High School will be using
the failed there b c y F Tobin, b CF
Johnson in Mission Hill and we'll be using the Mission
Hill Playground for that outdoor.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Low okay, and there's a pool element as well. There
is swimming, so of course make sure you have your
bathing suit. I know it's a little bit early to
think about swimming, but find the bathing suit, get the
towels out just in case.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Absolutely, that's one of the funnest portions of this event
is the kids getting in the pool.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Absolutely got to splash around. So if there is any
sort of question about accessibility, is this going to be
open and accessible to anybody? Or are there accessibility concerns
that parents need to worry about.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Nope, it's open and accessible. If anyone does have concerns,
please do not hesitate to reach out. Pre Registration is
required for the event and they can pre register by
visiting Boston dot gov slash Parks, hyphen Sports.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And again, this is free, so parents don't have to
pay a dime for this. You just got to get
your child there and get them home.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And what about food? Is there going to be lunch provided,
breakfast provided? How will that all play out?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yep? So the event is it starts at ten ten
am in the morning and lunch will be provided.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
If parents have any questions, if they maybe want to
sign their child up, if they want to learn more
about the festival, where can they find you.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Pre Registration is required for this event, and to pre
register please visit Boston dot gov slash Parks, hyphen Sports.
Important pieces. It is accessible, free and accessible to all
and free being a big part of it. And the
event is from ten am to three pm.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
All right, great, so, Jennifer, I appreciate your time and
enjoy the festival. It's going to be a great week.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
We're excited, have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join
me again next week for another edition of the show.
I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
Each week we come together here and talk about all
the topics important to you and the place where you live.
Thanks for joining us again. I'm Nicole Davis. It's kind
of a perennial question when it's school vacation time coming
up and you're not going anywhere, You're staying home, what
do I do with the kids? Well, if you happen
(00:29):
to have young girls, you live in Boston and they
like to run around and learn new things that he says,
it's got an idea for you called the All Girls
Sports and Wellness Festival. This is a few days long
event where girls can go learn all kinds of skills, empowerment,
play games, take wellness courses. There is a lot going
on here, so let's learn all about it. Jennifer Mishazek
(00:51):
is a program director at the Boston Parks and Wreck Department. Jennifer,
great to have you here on the show. So what
do we need to know about this event?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Yeah, so Mayor and Michelle, will you know she has
an emphasis on the importance of creating more opportunities for
young women within the city of Boston. One fantastic way,
you know, to meet this challenge is by making the
All Girls Sports and Wellness Festival available to them during
April break. So the festival offers a great chance for
a young women to get outdoors, stay active, try new sports,
(01:19):
you know, in a fun and inclusive environment. So not
only are we encouraging physical activity, but it helps foster teamwork,
you know, build confidence, inspire them to explore new interests
and in time where many are looking for ways to
make most of their break, and this is exactly the
type of opportunity that we need to ensure a young
women have access to. And you know, like you mentioned,
(01:41):
it's throughout the city of Boston, so we have multiple
locations that will be bringing girls together indoors and outdoors.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
And it's important too because I think that when you're
on vacation, you might want to just sit back and relax,
but when you're that age, you've got a lot of energy.
You've got to get out right, and you're growing and
you're trying to develop your body and your mind, and
so it seems like you've got something to cover all
of those factors.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
We do we make an enrichment opportunity. We have an
indoor portion to this event, and then the second day
or some locations, it would be their first day. We
have them outdoors all day exploring and trying you know,
new sports. So we break them up into workshops. When
they're indoors, they also you know, get to try things
(02:24):
like the pool, softball, baseball, kickball, sports that they never
maybe have the opportunity to try. They'll have that you know,
over this week.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
And who are you bringing in to help with these
programs because obviously you've got three different locations for the
first couple of days, that requires a lot of adult supervision.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
We do so throughout the whole event. It's four different
locations for three days. So the first two days of
the festival is April twenty third and twenty fourth. It
will take place at various BCYF centers in park locations.
And the wouldn't be possible without you know, nonprofits and
City of Boston agencies coming together. So this is with
(03:06):
partnership of the Boston Center for Youth and Families b
CYF and like I said, local you know nonprofits in
the area coming in to teach the girls. You know,
Frisbee and you know, we wellness and you know, fitness activities.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
So where exactly are the specific locations that we're talking about.
I see Dorchester, I see Mission Hill, I see East Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
So this is open for all girls citywide. But the
four locations that we do have during break the indoor
locations are the b CYF Lahy Hall and Community Center
in Dorchester as well as Garvey Park. We have b
CYF Parish Street Community Center in East Boston as well
as East Boston Stadium, b CYF Curtis Hall and Jamaica
(03:48):
Plaine as well as English High School will be using
the failed there b c y F Tobin, b CF
Johnson in Mission Hill and we'll be using the Mission
Hill Playground for that outdoor.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Low okay, and there's a pool element as well. There
is swimming, so of course make sure you have your
bathing suit. I know it's a little bit early to
think about swimming, but find the bathing suit, get the
towels out just in case.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Absolutely, that's one of the funnest portions of this event
is the kids getting in the pool.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Absolutely got to splash around. So if there is any
sort of question about accessibility, is this going to be
open and accessible to anybody? Or are there accessibility concerns
that parents need to worry about.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Nope, it's open and accessible. If anyone does have concerns,
please do not hesitate to reach out. Pre Registration is
required for the event and they can pre register by
visiting Boston dot gov slash Parks, hyphen Sports.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
And again, this is free, so parents don't have to
pay a dime for this. You just got to get
your child there and get them home.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
And what about food? Is there going to be lunch provided,
breakfast provided? How will that all play out?
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yep? So the event is it starts at ten ten
am in the morning and lunch will be provided.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
If parents have any questions, if they maybe want to
sign their child up, if they want to learn more
about the festival, where can they find you.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Pre Registration is required for this event, and to pre
register please visit Boston dot gov slash Parks, hyphen Sports.
Important pieces. It is accessible, free and accessible to all
and free being a big part of it. And the
event is from ten am to three pm.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
All right, great, so, Jennifer, I appreciate your time and
enjoy the festival. It's going to be a great week.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
We're excited, have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join
me again next week for another edition of the show.
I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio
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