Paradise U Community Project
Paradise U (Physical Activity Reduces Anxiety and Depression, Improves the Stress-response and Energizes U) is a program that was created to provide free physical activity classes for Camp Fire survivors and quality physical education lessons for displaced students at Paradise Ridge Elementary School. It is a research-based program with the main objective of helping people of all ages and abilities affected by the Camp Fire find a way to use physical activity as a tool to help them cope with the related stress/anxiety and to energize them to continue their healing journey.
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Our program was created for the survivors of the November 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County, which devastated the beautiful mountain town of Paradise, CA. We have created a positive social exercise environment with moderate to vigorous, and complex physical activities for children and adults. Classes are catered to participants interests, fitness and skill, and ability levels. A variety of exercise modes are offered such as: yoga, cross training, step aerobics, dance, inline skating, and walking; as well as physical literacy development for the students.
In May 2019 we conducted a needs-assessment survey for the community program, as well a pilot for the in-school physical education supplement program that we now run at Paradise Ridge Elementary School. The results from the survey (200+ respondents) showed a great need and desire for this program. Residents of Butte County indicated that they wanted "anything" that will help them get moving, and especially "with others affected by the fire." Suzanne White, a Paradise resident who is an American Council on Exercise certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer, is leading the community classes. She lost her employment in Paradise because the fitness club where she worked burned down. Suzanne and her family also lost the use of their house because of extensive smoke damage, but they have moved back to Paradise and are currently renting a house while repairing/rebuilding their house.
Katie Rusten, a multiple subjects credentialed teacher with a supplemental authorization in physical education, is teaching physical education to all the students at Paradise Ridge Elementary school. The school does not have a Physical Education specialist. She is also providing assistance to the teachers, staff and administration to help them create more physical activity opportunities for the students during recess, and in the classroom, in addition to modeling quality physical education lessons which the teachers are encouraged to repeat or extend. From the pilot program in the spring of 2019, the teachers reported that "the students had not smiled and laughed like that since November 8th". Many of these teachers were also directly affected by the fire, and the short break in their day to focus on their own well-being was welcomed. First grader Dixon told us in a letter: "(sic) I fell calm and relaxed after we finished all of the xrsisis. They make calmer so I can liston and not be crazy in class!".
The research is clear on the connection between physical activity and improved focus and attention in the classroom. We believe the PARADISE U program will help the children and adults survivors of the Camp Fire cope with the stress, anxiety and depression they may face. They will also learn how physical activity can be one of their mental health tools for self-help.
The PARADISE U fitness program will run from August 2019 through January 2023. It will provide about 20 physical activity classes per week in Paradise and Chico, serving up to 600 community members per week.
The Paradise U School program at Paradise Ridge will serve all of the classrooms (K-6) through June 15th, 2023.
In May 2019 we conducted a needs-assessment survey for the community program, as well a pilot for the in-school physical education supplement program that we now run at Paradise Ridge Elementary School. The results from the survey (200+ respondents) showed a great need and desire for this program. Residents of Butte County indicated that they wanted "anything" that will help them get moving, and especially "with others affected by the fire." Suzanne White, a Paradise resident who is an American Council on Exercise certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer, is leading the community classes. She lost her employment in Paradise because the fitness club where she worked burned down. Suzanne and her family also lost the use of their house because of extensive smoke damage, but they have moved back to Paradise and are currently renting a house while repairing/rebuilding their house.
Katie Rusten, a multiple subjects credentialed teacher with a supplemental authorization in physical education, is teaching physical education to all the students at Paradise Ridge Elementary school. The school does not have a Physical Education specialist. She is also providing assistance to the teachers, staff and administration to help them create more physical activity opportunities for the students during recess, and in the classroom, in addition to modeling quality physical education lessons which the teachers are encouraged to repeat or extend. From the pilot program in the spring of 2019, the teachers reported that "the students had not smiled and laughed like that since November 8th". Many of these teachers were also directly affected by the fire, and the short break in their day to focus on their own well-being was welcomed. First grader Dixon told us in a letter: "(sic) I fell calm and relaxed after we finished all of the xrsisis. They make calmer so I can liston and not be crazy in class!".
The research is clear on the connection between physical activity and improved focus and attention in the classroom. We believe the PARADISE U program will help the children and adults survivors of the Camp Fire cope with the stress, anxiety and depression they may face. They will also learn how physical activity can be one of their mental health tools for self-help.
The PARADISE U fitness program will run from August 2019 through January 2023. It will provide about 20 physical activity classes per week in Paradise and Chico, serving up to 600 community members per week.
The Paradise U School program at Paradise Ridge will serve all of the classrooms (K-6) through June 15th, 2023.