Community and Service Programs — Chico State Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico

Community and Service Programs

Chico State’s Kinesiology Department offers six community programs that provide services, support, and learning opportunities to Chico and the North State: Adapted Physical Education Sports Day, Autism Clinic, BE:WEL Program, Community Fitness Assessment, Mental Skills Training Lab, and Paradise U Project.

These programs are a valuable resource to the community and offer Chico State students real-world experience that makes a difference.

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Adapted Physical Education Sports Day

Children and young adults playing in a gymnasium with a giant rainbow tarp during adapted physical education sports day.

The mission of the Adapted Physical Education Sports Day is to promote disability sports and competition for individuals who are deaf, blind, or have physical disabilities. This event provides a venue for competition and community connections of individuals from multiple counties around Northern California. It is intended that these student athletes will be the future paralympians of tomorrow.

Contact: Marci Pope
Email: mjpope@csuchico.edu

Autism Clinic

The Autism Clinic is housed in the Department of Kinesiology and vendorized through Far Northern Regional Center. The program provides autistic children with 1:1 and small group motor skill development in a sensory rich environment.

Our clinicians engage autistic children in movement and object control skills. Utilizing evidence-based practices that meet unique instructional needs, our clinic strives to provide clients with the motor skills needed to not only engage in, but enjoy physical activity in educational, community, and individualized settings.

Contact: Dr. Josie Blagrave
Email: autism@csuchico.edu
Phone Number: 530-898-4756

BE:WEL Program

Beyond Exercise: Wellness Enhancement for Life (BE:WEL) is an assisted physical activity program on Chico State's campus. The program is designed to provide an accessible facility for health promotion as well as provide individualized support for adults with disabilities within the community.

The mission of the BE:WEL Program is to provide an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to take personal responsibility for their well being in an accessible supportive environment.

Contacts

Marci Pope
mjpope@csuchico.edu
530-898-6069

Cam Lesslie
clesslie@csuchico.edu
530-898-5863

Environment and Personal Goal Development

The program also facilitates personal goal development with a positive sense of well being through exercise. The environment is specifically designed for:

  • participant interaction and support
  • access to ongoing personal wellness education
  • hands-on learning opportunities for university students

Curriculum for Chico State Students

KINE 197 Adapted Physical Activity
This course provides individualized activity programs for adults with disabilities. Individuals participate in weight training, stretching and relaxation, lap swimming, water jogging, or walking programs to meet their personal wellness goals.

Community Fitness Assessment

A person laying on an x-ray table

Students perform fitness assessments on volunteers from the CSU, Chico community and surrounding areas, while also providing educational feedback to volunteers regarding their performance. Community members can participate in the fitness assessment as part of the Fitness Assessment and Community Testing (FACT) study. Volunteers can have of the following assessments:

  • blood pressure
  • blood glucose
  • body composition (DEXA)
  • handgrip strength
  • lower body strength and power
  • cardiovascular fitness assessment

Contact: Dr. Ryan Perkins
Email: rperkins2@csuchico.edu

Mental Skills Training Lab (Yolo 258)

In the Mental Skills Training Lab, qualified graduate students (trained in sport psychology practices) offer mental skills training for athletes at Chico State and throughout the Chico community. Mental skills training harnesses the power of the mind to improve athletic performance and support exercise adherence. We offer one-on-one sessions and team presentations customized to individual and team needs.

Mission Statement: Our mission is to empower athletes to consistently perform at a high level by providing education in mental skills training. We are committed to offering high-quality, evidence-based workshops and individual sessions for athletes and coaches that develop resilience, focus, and confidence. We aim to help each athlete unlock their full potential by teaching self-talk, arousal regulation, imagery (visualization), concentration, and routines.

Contact: Aubrey Newland
Email: anewland1@csuchico.edu

Paradise U Project

Teacher teaching elementary students in a gymnasium

Paradise-U was created after the November 2018 Camp Fire to provide free fitness classes to local survivors and physical education lessons for displaced students in Paradise. The program has expanded greatly since then. Today, Paradise-U is facilitated by Physical Education student volunteers at Chico State, who gain experience in leadership, lesson planning, and community networking. They use physical activity, teamwork, and play to help children build physical strength, emotional resilience, and self-confidence. The mission of Paradise-U is to collaborate with schools in the community to provide joyful and supportive experiences that empower youth to feel and perform at their best physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Email: paradiseu.csuc@gmail.com