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| Boise 2012: Courtesty MFS |
Hello,
my name is Ben Chaddock and I live to connect and inspire those in my
community. What started as a single bicycle safety rodeo for Kay Barga’s grade
two class at Edison Elementary in Walla Walla, Washington in 2008 has undergone
a five year metamorphosis into Bicycle-Inspired Kinetics in Elementary Schools.
Combining the personal accounts of my professional cycling career with academic
insights from professional guest speakers centered upon environmental and
economic issues, I aim to develop BIKES 2013 into a learning and inspirational
tool for elementary school classes in locations within North America where I
train and compete.
As the name B.I.K.E.S. and its capstone message 'Dream Big' suggests, I aim to get young people moving and inspired. Whether it's bicycles or any sport, I believe the self-confidence a young person gains through a healthy and active lifestyle is critical to discovering that they do have the power to dream goals and then pursue them. With this program the students see and hear from people who have dreamt then pursued their goals successfully, across a wide assortment of possible pursuits. The aim is to illustrate that, like others have done, the students can pursue their passion interest and achieve their dream goals.
For 2012, we started with a basic model that worked very well. I visited Kay Barga’s class during the autumn months for a 30 minute presentation and question session. This introductory session provided first hand the most significant lessons I'd learned through my cycling this past season in the context of me pursuing my own dreams. Questions and answers engaged the students to help them relate to their own dreams and goals. It was also a time to cover bike riding safety, and share some sponsor-supplied gifts: a framed photo and a team jersey, as well as Team Exergy stem caps, sponsor stickers and other swag. Throughout the school year, I then posted and sent videos to the class that highlighted various topics related to the pursuit of goals, such as the importance of learning, teamwork, taking pride in what you are doing, and enjoying your successes.
Heading into 2013, I am seeking to expand the program with the help of a title sponsor. Having already confirmed interest from multiple schools throughout British Columbia and the western United States (in Whistler, Richmond, Boise and Walla Walla), I am developing a broader framework for the program to provide insight to the students from not only the world of professional cycling but short, guest-speaker guided and location-specific topics selected to pique interest and highlight first hand examples of people pursuing their passions and realizing their dreams. Candidate topics include the aurora borealis, San Francisco’s protected redwood forests, Jim Thorpe’s monumental athletic career, water use in Santa Barbara’s vineyards, and how precipitation in the Northwest corresponds with salmon migration.
Beyond 2013, I aim to add bike safety awareness and bike safety rodeos, building upon the already successful bike safety rodeos Kay and I coordinated in the Walla Walla Valley starting in 2008. These initiatives would facilitate connections between elementary school staff and local cycling safety organizations. Each province and state has different cycling regulations, some of which include free helmet programs that all students should have access to where available. This extension of the BIKES program would broaden the reach of bike safety with young cyclists, as well as the market reach and community services opportunities for related sponsors.
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| Edison Elementary Dec.2011 |
BIKES 2013 has two distinct parts: the initial classroom visit and the inspirational video series. Due to my journeyman schedule, I travel between many different cities throughout the year. When I am in your area, I can be available to visit with a group of your students (usually grades 2-4) for 30-40 minutes provided it matches harmoniously with my training/racing schedule commitments. As a follow-up, your school class will be added to my list of bi-weekly video recipients where I cover a wide range of inspirational topics. An estimated travel schedule can be found in the appendix.
BIKES Classroom Program
The classroom visit segment is undoubtedly the most
powerful element of BIKES. Each 30-40
minute visit can include a wide collection of activities depending upon the
teacher’s preference. I like to start the session with a movement activity
before sharing Team Exergy’s 90 second teaser video. From there, I am happy to offer
insights from the racing season which usually morphs into a Q&A period. To
cap the visit, I like to present an autographed photo to the class, as well as show
some of the cycling equipment (bicycle, helmet, and how they work etc). This
year I am requesting a small monetary donation of $100 in exchange for the
presentation of a signed 2012 Team Exergy jersey to the class or school. All
other costs of my visit are covered by BIKES’ sponsors.
I also hope to take a few photos at the event (similar
to the ones pictured in this proposal) to appease the advertisement
requirements of my sponsors via online posts on my personal blog @Cyclinginatoque and @BIKESBC social media outlets. However if this is not appropriate at your school,
please let me know and I’ll keep the camera at home.
To keep the students engaged after the initial visit, I
am pursuing the continuation of the Helmet Tag initiative that we implemented in
2012 at Edison Elementary. With the help of Team Exergy Pro Cycling and the
Trademark Sign Company of Boise, Idaho, we created individualized helmet name
tags (just like the Team Exergy riders) for all of the students. The BIKES Video Program (described next) also
provides an ongoing information flow to the students, and can be a catalyst for
responses from the class (video or otherwise) that can be incorporated in
communications within or beyond your school.
BIKES Video Program
The inspirational video segment of BIKES is fundamental
to reinforcing the topics discussed during the inital classroom visit and
provide a powerful educational tool that teachers can utilize in their lesson
plans. The videos incorporate topics in environmental
sciences and sports.
Sixteen video updates are currently scheduled for the BIKES
2013 8 month curriculum, to be released every two weeks while taking into
account school vacations. Once a month, a BIKES video update will include a
guest speaker from the environmental science profession. By introducing the
students to an environmental issue at that week’s training/race location (for
example: a Redwood forest specialist during Palo Alto, CA stay in Nov-Dec),
students will gain exposure to issues outside their town while providing
teachers with a reference point for further lessons. Alternating with these will be video updates
‘from the road’ that will incorporate reflections from my time as a
professional athlete similar to the topics discussed in 2012 (daily goals,
teamwork, resilience and respect).
To captivate my target audience (7-11 yrs old) and reinforce
the kinetic nature of my BIKES message, updates will incorporate movement,
exemplifying the act of pursuing
passion interests and passion goals as opposed to just sharing their
significance. For example, athletic
reflections ‘from the road’ will incorporate on-board footage while BIKES’
guest speakers can guide us through
the most exciting elements of their environmental profession (e.g., walking
while talking). So in general, these
2013 updates will focus on: 1) Capturing the enthusiasm and energy of striving
towards one’s passion interest, 2) exemplifying the relationship between an
active lifestyle and self-confidence and 3) the importance of dreaming big in
the pursuit of one’s passion interest.
Enrolled classes will receive video updates via Dropbox
according to the schedule listed in the appendix. I aim to deliver the videos
by 9am on the scheduled day, however difficulties with uploading occasionally
occur due to unforeseen internet accessibility issues while away on racing
trips. The videos will also be availabe for public viewing via youtube and
shared on @BIKESBC (twitter & facebook). I am
hopeful that these videos and the topics covered can spur the creation of video
replies from the class which will help develop the long term impact of the BIKES
program.
Although the cost breakdown of these community-service
events is about $200 / video and $300 / school visit, I do not ask for your
financial support. Instead I ask for your support in making bicycling and
athletism a continued focus at your school by providing an inspirational model
that can be utilized by the teaching staff to complement their existing
teaching plans.
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| Edison Elementary 2008 |
If this kinetic-inspiration program sounds like a good
fit for your school, please feel free to contact me to schedule a phone
conversation. During this conversation, I can address any questions you may
have and share contact references from currently enrolled classes. I travel
with most of the items required for initial visits, so check the schedule below
to see when I'll be in your area; I can usually visit given a bit of lead time to
firm up logistics.
I look forward to hearing from you and working with you
to bring movement and the power of good health to our schools.
Sincerely,
Ben Chaddock