The Benefits of Active Transportation -- The Value of Athletic Trainers -- CHSC Convening in Binghamton -- Spring Activity Spotlight: Mental Health and Exercise -- Local Programming/Upcoming Events in the CHQ

The Benefits of Active Transportation

During the month of May, Chautauqua County and City of Jamestown recognized Active Transportation Week. Why is active transportation important? Walking or riding a bike to work or school increases our time spent in physical activity and is better for our environment. In our climate, some days this may not be so appealing, but what if we were able to walk and bike most days? What would be the impact be on our physical and mental health (not to mention the environment). Studies show that active transportation facilitates more engagement with our community and improves our social health!

Employer incentives? In all the discussion around active transportation, a county man shared that his employer would incentivize active transportation with vouchers for the company cafe and other perks. What are our local employers doing in this area. Would incentives or small random prize drawings or rewards motivate your colleagues? Healthy employees are more productive and happier! In an article below, the normal ride or commute is also evaluated and asks us the question - how do you view your commute? Even if it's in a car, what can you do to make it a more positive experience? Time to organize your thoughts or listen to inspiring podcast? The article flips the script and can potentially be a new way to view the commute.

Many local communities are working on Complete Streets projects and safe transportation for all: Sherman, Dunkirk/Fredonia, and Jamestown are all putting forth efforts to improve the safety of all vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists to improve the health and safety of their citizens. Please see the article below on Fredonia. In Jamestown, a fall event is being planned to highlight how the health corridor and educational entities in the city can be connected and routes improved for students, residents, and the entire community.

Schools are also promoting active transportation. Recently in Sherman they held a bike to school day and had an amazing turnout. Many faculty rode into school and modeled healthy behaviors for students wearing lots of smiles and had a great day! Sherman also hosted a wellness day that same day for all! See the Facebook post here:

🚴 In addition to Wellness Day, today is... - Sherman Central School | Facebook

Active Transportation | US Department of Transportation

That “Dreaded” Commute Is Actually Good for Your Health (hbr.org)

Promote Active Transportation | Transportation Recommendations | CDC

A safer path: Project in works to redo downtown Fredonia crosswalks | News, Sports, Jobs - Observer Today

The Value of Athletic Trainers and Sport Conditioning

From elementary school through college, youth are still growing and all at varying developmental levels. Proper preparation for their activities is a necessity to prevent injuries, keep them in the game, and as well to support mental health. The proper number of coaches, athletic trainers and staff with access to professional development and support from the district and families is essential. Having more trained and knowledgeable staff at school along with full time certified athletic trainers is a priority.

Much like our coaches, athletic trainers play a vital role in a young athlete's life as a positive role model, a caring ear, and mentor. The value that they bring to high school athletics and overall health is tremendous. To have appropriate staffing and training is an expense that is often hard to achieve with many competing priorities within schools. Many conversations with our community support increased funding to better equip our students with these valuable professionals. Here are a few articles that highlight the role of athletic training professionals as well as the importance of proper conditioning and injury prevention.

The Crucial Role of Athletic Trainers in School Sports - Covenant Health

Importance of Having Athletic Trainers in High Schools (uidaho.edu)

Athletic Trainers' Effect on Population Health: Improving Access to and Quality of Care - PMC (nih.gov)5 Reasons Why Every High School Should Have an Athletic Trainer. (medstarhealth.org)

CHSC Convening in Binghamton Demonstrates How to Add Safety and Beauty to Communities

At the recent convening of the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant in Binghamton NY, attendees could see first-hand the work being done within the city to provide safe access to physical activity, safer and active communities, as well as adding beauty, nature, and art to their town! The City of Binghamton added colorful crosswalks, art, gardens, and the city is also adding parking and provides training for those with disabilities to practice navigating city streets safely. Thank you to CHSC for this great learning experience. The convening also offered insights into ecofriendly construction, community gardens, increasing physical activity in many settings, as well as nutrition guidance for food pantries, schools and childcare settings. Here are some photo examples of the great work happening in Binghamton.

Spring Activity Spotlight: Mental Health and Exercise

We have all heard about runners high and that exercise helps with anxiety and stress and improves mental health... but what forms of exercise are best- does it matter? An article below from Berkeley indicates that high intensity exercise seems to provide the best results for mental health. Many physicians are also writing exercise prescriptions which is a part of the Exercise is Medicine campaign by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Since the pandemic, there has been a lot of attention on the benefits of exercise on mental health and how exercise can support other therapies such as medications and counseling. The pandemic gave people more time to exercise and to try new things to break the boredom.

Now many people are seeing the benefits for their mental health and are more engaged in exercise than ever. This is especially evident among those 11 to 26 years old (Gen Z). Smart watches and apps are very easy for them to navigate and bring awareness to their activity levels. You can often hear many middle and high school students talking about their steps and time in physical activity. What about other generations -- are they engaged as well?

See the link to data on this below:

Help & FAQ | Statista

Home - Exercise is Medicine

What Type of Exercise Is Best for Mental Health? (berkeley.edu)

Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: For Depression and More (healthline.com)

How sport can have a positive impact on mental and physical health (olympics.com)

Gym usage surpasses pre-pandemic levels, thanks to Gen Z | Fortune Well

Exercising in a Post-Pandemic World: New Motivations for Fitness | U.S. News Health (usnews.com)

Local Programming and Events

Northwest Arena Programming:

Northwest Arena/TheZone

(Grades K-12): Activity Circuits and Educational Programming

What is TheZone?

TheZone is a 6,200 square ft. indoor, interactive play space housed in Northwest Arena. (178-person capacity). TheZone is a part of a 3-story 15,000 square ft. expansion to Northwest Arena. This unique play venue will take up the entire second floor of the addition. JRA and Cortina Productions, two world renown design agencies, are the masterminds behind the conceptual and architectural design of TheZone. (Also designed the National Comedy Center in Jamestown). While TheZone will primarily serve as a recreational facility that requires a general admission fee, there will also be the added benefit of educational and recreational programming, opportunities for school trips, birthday party rentals, as well as other youth developmental endeavors for kids ages toddler through high school.

Activity Stations: Ice Bumper Cars, Backyard Curling, Ice Skating, European Handball, Broom Ball, Fitness Exercises, Team-Building Games, and Free-Play.

Workshop Categories- Health and Wellness, STEAM Learning, Character-Building, Mental Health, Social Etiquette, Stress Management, Self-Awareness, Public Speaking, Communication, Survival Skills, Basic Home Maintenance, Personal Finance Nutrition and more…

*These workshop categories present opportunities to collaborate with community leaders, educators, and youth organizations. Northwest Arena has the resources and physical space to curate these programs and accommodate user groups on an individual basis. All our activities can be modified and adapted to meet the needs of all populations and we strive to create tailor-made experiences for all our guests.

Cost: Pricing may vary depending on length of stay, number of students attending (NW Arena staff needed for support), room rentals, ice time and whether we are providing lunch. Northwest Arena/TheZone is considered a BOCES-aidable venue under the Arts in Education Coser, making these fieldtrips reimbursable for school groups throughout New York State.

If you have any questions or interest regarding program offerings at Northwest Arena/TheZone please contact:

John Kinder: Program Director of TheZone at john.kinder@northwestarena.com

Upcoming MOVE events in the CHQ:

Races and Events - Coach Mark Wilson: Triathlon series and other multi- sport events:

Awesome youth triathlon- see flyer below!

Cycling resources:

Loud Performance | Bike Shop & Snowmobile Outfitter | Bemus Point, NY

Home | Pearl City Cycle

Warren Cycle Shop | Warren PA | Facebook

Jamestown Cycle Shop

Local running events/locations:

Striders Athletic Club (runsignup.com)

Rosie's run 6/9/24: Rosie's Run (runsignup.com)

Audubon Community Nature Center - Jamestown, NY (auduboncnc.org)

Event Space Available (doubleknot.com)

This e-newsletter is for any group or anyone who wants to maintain or become more active in Chautauqua County. We'll discuss what's being done to connect communities to physical activities, improving health and wellness and overall quality of life in the Southern Tier; please forward this email freely!

Your feedback is important. Drop us a line and let us know what you want to hear more about.