I Challenge Myself Inc

I CHALLENGE MYSELF ENCOURAGES AND SUPPORTS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO EMBRACE CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AND GROW, TO DEVELOP HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND THE WORKFORCE.

I CHALLENGE MYSELF'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR BODIES, MINDS AND SPIRITS. OUR FIVE NONCOMPETITIVE SPORTS-BASED-YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ARE CYCLING SMARTS, 4TOFIT, HEALTHY HEIGHTS, YOUTH CYCLING APPRENTICESHIP, RANDALL'S ISLAND KIDS CAMP BIKE PROGRAM. IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, I CHALLENGE MYSELF FITNESS, CYCLING AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS SERVED APPROXIMATELY 387 6TH-12TH GRADE STUDENTS, AGES 10-19, ENROLLED IN 6 PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTH BRONX, WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND THE LOWER EAST SIDE. THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERED WITH FOUR NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SITES LOCATED IN MANHATTAN AND THE SOUTH BRONX. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO EVERY STUDENT ENROLLED AT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS REGARDLESS OF ATHLETIC OR ACADEMIC ABILITY. IN SCHOOL YEAR 2021-2022, THE ORGANIZATION MADE CHANGES TO ITS 4TOFIT PROGRAM BY INTEGRATING ELEMENTS OF GAMING, SPECIFICALLY, THE PROGRAM INTRODUCES STUDENTS TO THE FIVE ELEMENTS OF GAME DESIGN TO CREATE A HACKED VERSION OF THAT GAME THAT IS THEN SHOWCASED AND PLAYED BY THEIR PEERS DURING SCHOOL FIELD DAYS. ICM PROVIDES A CURRICULUM, COACHING SUPPORT TO THE PE TEACHER(S), AND ORGANIZES THE FITNESS FIELD DAYS WHERE STUDENTS GET TO BETA TEST THE FITNESS GAMES THEY DESIGN. STUDENTS COLLECTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN AN ESTIMATED 513 SESSIONS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SERVED 237 STUDENTS. THE 4TOFIT PROGRAM WAS FUNDED WITH GRANT FUNDS FROM THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN SPORTS (YES) GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE GOAL OF THE YES GRANT WAS TO INCREASE SPORTS PARTICIPATION AND NUTRITION OUTCOMES AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF WASHINGTON HEIGHTS AND INWOOD, IN NORTHERN MANHATTAN. ICM SERVED 81 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE HEALTHY HEIGHTS PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDED CYCLING, GARDENING AND HIKING. THE GRANT CAME TO AN END IN SEPTEMBER 2022. THE YES GRANT REQUIRED THE ORGANIZATION TO COLLABORATE WITH YOUTH SPORTS AND NUTRITION ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE A ROBUST PROGRAM. AS A RESULT, THE ORGANIZATION SUBCONTRACTED A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE SPORTS AND NUTRITION PROGRAMMING. THE YES GRANT ALSO INCLUDES A RESEARCH COMPONENT. CYCLING SMARTS INTRODUCES OUR STUDENTS TO ENDURANCE BICYCLING AIMED AT HELPING STUDENTS INCREASE PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ENDURANCE, IMPROVE SAFE CYCLING SKILLS AND INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF NUTRITION. STUDENTS COLLECTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN AN ESTIMATED 201 SESSIONS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, CULMINATING IN THE PARTICIPATION OF METRIC CENTURY RIDE IN JUNE. THE PROGRAM SERVED 75 STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. THREE CYCLING SMARTS STUDENTS WERE HIRED AS YOUTH CYCLING APPRENTICES (YCA). THE YCA PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO CYCLING SMARTS STUDENTS TO TAKE ON LEADERSHIP ROLES AND EXPLORE COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHS. STUDENTS ASSIST ICM CYCLING COACHES DURING PROGRAM SESSIONS IN LEADING WORKOUTS, BIKE DRILLS AND TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES. APPRENTICES ALSO PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TO HELP THEM EXPLORE THEIR POST SECONDARY OPTIONS AND HOW TO SHOWCASE THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCES THAT WILL HELP THEM STAND OUT WHEN APPLYING FOR JOBS OR COLLEGE.EACH OF OUR SEMESTER-LENGTH PROGRAMS ARE INTENDED TO TEACH STUDENTS TO REACH BEYOND THEIR PERCEIVED PHYSICAL AND MENTAL LIMITS AND EMERGE ON THE OTHER END CONFIDENT, WITH A GREATER SENSE OF SELF-WORTH, READY TO TAKE ON THE OTHER CHALLENGES AWAITING THEM IN LIFE. EACH PROGRAM, BY HAVING THE SEMESTER CULMINATE IN A PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY CHALLENGING EVENT, GROUNDS ALL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER. THESE END OF SEMESTER CHALLENGES (1) PROMOTE EFFORTFUL CONTROL AND TEST STUDENTS PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ENDURANCE, (2) ALLOW STUDENTS TO SET GOALS AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND TACTICS TO PERSIST IN REACHING THEIR GOALS, (3) TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO WORK AS A TEAM DURING INDOOR ACTIVITIES AND OUTDOOR BIKE RIDES, AND (4) RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE OUR STUDENTS' PERSEVERANCE, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PERSONAL GROWTH.THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT HOST A COLLEGE BIKE TOUR IN SUMMER 2022 DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED A CYCLING PROGRAM AS PART OF RANDALL'S ISLAND KIDS CAMP AND SERVED 31 CHILDREN OVER 6-WEEKS FROM JULY TO AUGUST 2021. DATA FROM CYCLING SMARTS STUDENT FOCUS GROUPS CONDUCTED BY AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR REVEALED THAT STUDENTS WERE VERY VOCAL ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM HAS IMPACTED THEM POSITIVELY IN MANY WAYS STUDENTS REPORT FEELING STRONGER BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FROM THE CHALLENGES THEY FACED IN THE COURSE STUDENTS HAVE BECOME MORE MOTIVATED TO STAY FIT, EAT HEALTHIER, AND WORK HARDER CYCLING SMARTS HAS CLEARLY BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON STUDENTS' LIVES. THE 4TOFIT STUDENT FOCUS GROUP CONDUCTED BY AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR REVEALED THAT STUDENTS LIKE THE GROUP DYNAMIC AND VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES PROVIDED IN 4TOFIT AND THINK THE CLASS IS MORE FUN AND USEFUL THAN PRIOR PE CLASSES. THEY REPORTED THAT THE WORKOUTS THEY LEARNED IN CLASS HAVE HELPED THEM WITH OTHER SPORTS AND TO RELIEVE STRESS, THAT THEY ARE MAKING BETTER FOOD CHOICES, AND THAT THEY ARE MORE CONFIDENT. A SURVEY OF I CHALLENGE MYSELF ALUMNI CONDUCTED BY PRO BONO EXTERNAL EVALUATORS SUGGESTS ICM HAS POSITIVELY AFFECTED THE ATTITUDES TOWARD UNDERTAKING CHALLENGES, PERSISTENCE IN LEARNING NEW THINGS, AND THE VALUE OF TEAMWORK AS WELL AS THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEALTHY NUTRITION AND FITNESS.