Nonprofit

I Challenge Myself

Logo of I Challenge Myself

About Us

I Challenge Myself provides opportunities for New York City middle and high school students to strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirits. Our fitness, cycling, college, and career readiness programs encourage and support youth to embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, to develop healthy lifestyles, and prepare for college and the workforce. Since 2005, we have served over 3,200 students in communities with the highest obesity and diabetes rates, and some of the lowest graduation rates. 

Through its bicycling, fitness and career readiness programs ICM leverages the power of cycling to promote active living, cultivating a culture of cycling in underserved communities and the use of alternate transportation; contributing to systemic reform of NYC physical education; and diversifying health and fitness career pipeline. ICM's programs include:

Cycling Smarts helps students increase self esteem, physical fitness and endurance, improve safe cycling skills and increase their knowledge of nutrition.  We do this by helping students prepare for two challenges during the school year: a service learning active design project and a 100-mile 1-day bike tour. 

Youth Cycling Apprenticeship provides opportunities to Cycling Smarts students to take on leadership roles and explore college and career paths.  Students assist ICM cycling coaches during program sessions in leading workouts, bike drills and teambuilding exercises.  Apprentices also participate in professional and personal development workshops to help them explore their post secondary options and how to showcase the skills, knowledge, and experiences that will help them stand out when applying for jobs or college.

Community Rides is targeted to adult cyclists 18 and older looking to improve their cycling skills and meeting like minded community members.  The program runs in 6-week cycles of riding, seeing and tasting the wonders of Washington Heights, all while getting fit, having fun, and learning to cycle on the streets of NYC. Citi Bike access and helmets are provided for every ride.  All rides will end with free food from a local neighborhood vendor. 

The College Bike Tour allows Cycling Smarts particpants to explore their college options within New York City and upstate New York to experience life on a college campus.  The inner-city college bike tour allows students to visit CUNYs throughout five boroughs, for campus tours and student panels. The overnight college bike tour challenges students to cycle 100+ miles over 3 days as they visit out-of-city colleges, sleep in dorms, meet current college students, and engage with college admissions staff.

4toFIT Gamification partners with schools interested in supporting their physical education (PE) teachers to use PE to increase students' social and emotional learning (SEL) and fitness levels.  Gamification as we know it involves sitting down and being in front of a screen.This program is unique to other gamification programs because it integrates physical games instead of digital ones.  By gamifying PE, the program empowers students by giving them a voice and choice; fosters a growth mindset that there is always room to learn something new and improve; engages and motivates at-risk and low-effort learners; and increases student engagement.  PE gamification also blends well with autonomy, mastery, socialization, and learning.


I Challenge Myself provides opportunities for New York City middle and high school students to strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirits. Our fitness, cycling, college, and career readiness programs encourage and support youth to embrace…

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Location

  • 712 W 184th St, New York, NY 10033, USA
    Suite C
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