I just signed up — again — for a fun program offered through the Webster Recreation Center. Unlike most of the programs you’ll find there, it doesn’t involve a whole lot of (well any) physical exertion, but does help some very special young people exercise their minds and practice their writing skills.
It’s the Recreation Center’s annual Pen Pal Program, which invites Webster 55+ folks to become pen pals with Autumn Lane (Greece Elementary School) second graders.
Remember back to the days when we would write letters instead of emails? And, as kids, how excited we got when a letter addressed to us would show up in the mailbox? The Pen-Pal Program provides that thrill for almost two dozen young people.
Here’s how it works:
- Community members who are interested in participating first sign up through the Webster Recreation Center. Call 585-872-7103 (ext.0) to register.
- Each participant will be assigned a second-grade student, to whom you’ll write a letter each month (give or take a week or two). The first letters from the students should arrive by the end of September. That’s when you find out who your special pen pal is.
- Throughout the next several months, you can expect five or six more letters. In the past, my pen pal has written about things like her favorite part of school, her favorite sports, favorite colors and that she DOESN’T like to read. Once I found out about her family’s toothless dog.
- In May, we all take a trip to Autumn Lane Elementary to meet our second-grade pen pals in person. We have a nice chat, they serve us cookies and juice, and sing songs.
- We already have a nice cadre of adult pen pals who sign up for the program every year, but I know that the Rec Center would like to have even more adult friends! Remember, you must be committed to this program for an entire year … but it’s really easy and fun.
- There’s no cost, just your commitment to help some students fall in love with writing.
So please consider joining; you won’t regret it.
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(posted 9/13/2026)
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