Activ8Kids! Promotional Bike Ride - Harlem
The sun continued to shine on the Active8Kids! cyclists as they made their way up the Westside Highway bicycle path to Harlem and PS154 elementary school. PS154 had a lot to celebrate with the New York State Department of Health representatives. The dynamic staff and parents have initiated a Wellness Council that has started the following activities and programs:
- a basketball program
- a track team
- after school cooking classes
- a school vegetable and herb garden
- free aerobic exercise program for parents, and
- a staff exercise room.
The Active8-tors were challenged by the students in a game of "Clean Your Room" – an aerobic game of pick-up. In preparing for the event, the students created posters to capture the Active8Kids messages:
- eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
- get at least 1 hour of physical activity a day, and
- limit sedentary screen time to 2 hours or less per day.
From among the 7 semifinalists, the Active8Kids team selected the one poster that best reflected the key messages, and the student-artist won the grand prize of a bicycle and helmet.
From Harlem the Active8Kids! cyclists crossed the George Washington Bridge, the second of four landmark bridges on the route, and followed a scenic course along the Palisades. Traffic challenges were replaced by the challenge of rolling hills and the Palisades. Riders stopped at Piermont Bicycle Connection for tuning up and equipment additions. For the final refueling, riders stopped for fresh fruit smoothies. Tuesday's hills were just a warm-up for bigger and better climbs ahead…Bear Mountain, here we come.