I Challenge Myself Inc

Programs: I challenge myselfs youth development programs provide youth opportunities to strengthen their bodies, minds and spirits. Our three non-competitive sports-based-youth development programs are: cycling smarts, 4-to-fit and college bike tour. In fiscal year 2017 i challenge myselfs afterschool and in-school programs served 5259th-12th grade students, ages 14-19, enrolled in seven public high schools in the south bronx, washington heights and the lower east side. This enrollment represents an increase of 47% over fiscal year 2016 enrollment of 356 students due primarily to the expansion of the 4-to-fit program. Programs are offered free of charge to every student enrolled at participating high schools regardless of athletic or academic ability. 4-to-fit is a physical education class that guides students through 4 phases:control, movement, strength and power, providing them the building blocks to lead and maintain a fit and healthy lifestyle, and culminates in a two-hour cross trainingchallenge in each of january and may. Students collectively participated in an estimated 564 hours of program hours during the school year. Cycling smarts introduces our students to endurance bicycling aimed at helpingstudents increase physical fitness and endurance, improve safe cycling skills andincrease their knowledge of nutrition. Students collectively participated in an estimated 501 hours of program hours during the school year, culminating in apresentation of active design projects in january and 100-mile bike tour in june. Each of our semester-length programs are intended to teach students to reach beyondtheir 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 awaitingthem in life. Each program, by having the semester culminate in a physically andmentally challenging event, grounds all program activities throughout the semester. These end of semester challenges: (1) promote effortful control and test studentsphysical and mental endurance; (2) allow students to set goals and develop strategiesand tactics to persist in reaching their goals; (3) teach students how to work as ateam during indoor activities and outdoor bike rides; and (4) recognize and celebrateour students perseverance, accomplishments and personal growth. The college bike tour is offered to a subset of our cycling smarts students, over atwo-week period in july, and combines long distance cycling, college preparatorysessions and visits to colleges in upstate new york. During fiscal year 2017 (july2016), participating students rode approximately 400 miles over 7 days while visitingand staying at 7 colleges: syracuse, cornell, binghamton, suny oneonta, sunycobleskill, bard and west point. The program is designed to expose our students to,and educate them about, the college application and financial aid process, whilecreating a connection in their minds between undertaking and achieving the physicalchallenge of the tour with setting and accomplishing the goal of applying to andattending college. All five seniors of the july 2016 college bike tour graduated high school injune 2017, four are currently enrolled in college and one enlisted in the military. One student enrolled at suny cobleskill as a direct result of visiting the college during the tour. Data from cycling smarts student focus groups conducted by an external evaluatorrevealed that: students were very vocal about how the program has impacted thempositively in many ways. Students report feeling stronger both physically andmentally from the challenges they faced in the course. Students have become moremotivated to stay fit, eat healthier, and work harder. Cycling smarts has clearlybeen very successful in having a positive impact on students lives. The 4-to-fit student focus group conducted by an external evaluator revealed thatstudents like the group dynamic and variety of activities provided in 4-to-fit andthink the class is more fun and useful than prior pe classes. They reported that theworkouts 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 evaluatorssuggests icm has positively affected the attitudes toward undertaking challenges,persistence in learning new things, and the value of team work as well as theirknowledge about healthy nutrition and fitness.