Youth Outreach

Why Youth Outreach Is Important

  • An estimated 20 percent of children do not meet the physical activity recommendation of 60 minutes per day. Physical activity decreases with age.
  • North Carolina ranks 5th worst in the United States for childhood obesity, with 19.3 percent of children 10 to 17 years old being obese. The national average is 14.8 percent.
  • On average, children 8 to 18 years old consume more than seven hours a day of screen media (televisions, video games, smart phones), which has been proven to contribute to a decrease in physical activity and an increase in unhealthy eating.

There is a positive relationship between physical activity, such as cycling, and appropriate weight and fitness measures in children. Participation in physical activity is positively related to academic performance in children. Cycling is not easily available to children from underresourced homes due to the cost of the equipment and limited safe places to ride.

The NCC Youth Outreach Programs

While professional and developmental cyclists may be the foundation upon which the idea of the NCC is built, the NCC will do so much more:

Bicycle Training

Bicycle training and safety education – The NCC will provide classes and instruction to elementary schools and local children’s organizations, teaching kids how to ride a bike, fitting them with helmets and educating on the “rules of the road.”

Intramural Access

Intramural access – The NCC plans to provide bikes to local schools to supplement their existing physical education programs with cycling, providing thousands of children exposure to an active, outdoor sport and encouraging them to “unplug.”

Earn A Bike

Earn a bike – Kids will have the opportunity to work in the “shop” of the NCC, learning how to repair bikes and also earning credits toward a bike of their own. For many underprivileged children, a bicycle can be not only their only mode of transportation but can create a more active and healthy lifestyle.

Local Hub

Local hub – The NCC will be a focal point for the community’s cycling-related activities, providing information and support to local clubs, rides and riders.