Brain Bikes made possible by $3,750 Rotary Foundation Grant & $8,700 raised by Shuswap Rotary Club's Auction
The Shuswap Rotary Club recently purchased, assembled and delivered 9 Brain Bikes to 7 local schools in cooperation with School District 83.
There are now 110 Brain Bikes in 25 local schools. Some schools have funded the cost of bikes, and the remainder was funded by the Shuswap Rotary Club.
The genesis of the Club’s project evolved from the University of British Columbia's study on ‘Early Development Indicators’ of children in SD83. A pilot program was developed in 2017 with the Club’s purchase of 3 Brain Bikes placed in an elementary school and analysis of this initiative affirmed increased educational outcomes for a broad spectrum of children.
A critical component is ensuring teachers receive instruction on the effective use of Brain Bikes in the classroom.
Brain Bikes, which are available for students to use in the classroom, provide significant benefits for
learning and health. Exercise raising the heart rate stimulates the brain in a way that improves
memory, concentration, and attention. Exercise also helps to put the ‘feel good’ brain chemicals into
balance, which benefits children who are hyperactive, sad, or otherwise not in a learning mood.
When children discover that exercise helps with learning, feeling good, and self-esteem, they will choose to make exercise, a lifetime habit.
