By Adaire Fit Fish reporters | A recent survey of sixth and seventh graders at Adaire showed that most students participate in a group activity. Out of 59 responses, 54 kids reported they are involved in a group activity.
Of those who participate in a group activity, 39 said they’re involved in a sport.
Students reported spending anywhere from 45 minutes per week to 26.5 hours per week in their activities. Fifty-one of 59 students said they’ve made friends or strengthened relationships through their group activities.
Out of all of the responses, only two people answered that they wouldn’t recommend their activity to others.
Research reported on the ScienceDaily website has found that group activities are good for your health. Being social and having a sense of belonging can help you manage stress and make you feel less alone, according to the Mayo Clinic, a healthcare and research center. Also, you may be more likely to participate in exercise activities if the people doing it with you make it more fun, say researchers at the National Institutes of Health.
“Some of my classmates were on my soccer team, (and) we kind of bonded over the fact that we were on the same team and go to the same school. I enjoy it because there’s a whole community around it,” said Franklin Reilly, a sixth grader. “Especially in Fishtown, there are a lot of soccer teams and it’s fun to play a sport that’s pretty popular around here.”
“I play volleyball with Fast Break Philly and Starlings, I swim at the YMCA, and I act at plays inside and outside of school,” said sixth-grader Vivienne Murray. “In volleyball, I meet a lot of people and we all have in common that we love volleyball. It’s easy to build a friendship when you have something in common. I like how it’s a team effort and we all get to when we pass it, it depends who it goes to. So everybody is a part of it.”
“I know a lot of the girls on my softball team from school, but they’re in different grades so I never really talked to them before, but it’s fun because now I see them in school and at softball,” said Lena Avellino. “The game is fun but also if you’re in the dugout you can hang out with your team and talk.”
Illustration by Aubree, Adaire, 2025-2026.
