LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk | Community From Dodgeball to Dirt Bikes by: Dave McCahill How a teacher in Lake Placid, NY is shifting the elementary physical education class paradigm, one muddy sprocket at a time. IT must be a daunting task taking over the reins of a physical education program in a community like Lake Placid. We're talking, of course, about the village in the heart of the High Peaks which has earned itself the tagline, "Winter Sports Capital of the World." And while Placid hasn't lost its reputation as a winter sports Mecca since holding the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, the Olympic Village and its neighboring communities have begun catering to summer athletic events, and increasingly, ones revolving around cycling. Lake Placid has played host to the Ironman Triathlon every July since 1999, and, more recently, served as a hot bed for off road cycling events including the X-Terra Triathlon and the Northeast qualifier for the illustrious Leadville 100 mountain bike race. In a place that holds sacred athletic activity of all shape and season, it is only logical that the job of teaching physical education is not one to be taken lightly. Meet phys ed teacher Matt Young: a young, outspoken outdoor enthusiast with black curly hair and an upper body which clearly alludes to a passion for whitewater paddling. Young's garage and basement serve as a testament to his status as Renaissance man of the outdoors: half a dozen whitewater boats line the rafters, a quiver of Nordic and backcountry skis lay waxed in the corner, and an eclectic handful of cycles hang neatly from well worn s-hooks. "Enjoying the outdoors is such a huge part of my life," says Young. "I wouldn't have it any other way. Occasionally I choose to challenge myself by competing or pushing my limits in some sports, but as an athlete, I'm really just pushing myself to stay physically active for life," he says. "I'm proud to call Lake Placid my home because there's such a multitude of ways to enjoy the outdoors." Linking local students with their Adirondack playground When Young took over the Lake Placid Elementary School (LPES) P.E. program in the fall of 2005, he immediately realized that despite the region's illustrious athletic pedigree, the generic PE curriculum currently in place failed to link youngsters with the 34 LOCALadk Magazine Spring 2013 wealth of outdoor opportunities available in their own backyards. "Traditional gym class activities such as rope climbing, dodgeball, and games of 'Steal the Bacon' just don't get kids excited for outdoor activity," explains Young. So from the get go, Young's guiding philosophy on physical education became one that mirrored his own athletic pursuits: "'Inspiring students to become physically active for a lifetime' has been the single sentence that has guided my program for the last seven years. The best part is that we're educating kids about activities that'll increase their appreciation of the area they live in." Young's revised curriculum meshes perfectly with the region's slew of outdoor offerings: fall activities in the LPES Phys-Ed class were updated to include rock climbing on an indoor wall, touch rugby, and gym curling. Once snow started to fall, Matt reallocated his budget and assembled a fleet of over 50 sets of youth cross country ski poles, skis and boots, transforming the snow covered soccer field and playground area into a scene reminiscent of a Swedish Ski Gymnasium. Students now hone their skills on short loops, build small kickers to perfect their tricks, and churn out laps behind the school. "We live in the mountains and near fresh water," explains local parent Jennifer Ledger, who has three sons enrolled at LPES. "By introducing these types of non-traditional Phys-Ed sports into the curriculum, kids are really able to connect with their surroundings. When they're connected with what's happening around them, they'll inevitably feel more comfortable." But merely introducing his students to cherished local sporting endeavors wasn't enough. Matt routinely organizes regular school visits from the best in the business: the local heroes currently duking it out on the world stage. Olympians, World Cup stars, and World Championship team members are routine guest lecturers in Matt's classes, and it's not uncommon to see members of the U.S. Biathlon team giving slideshow recaps of their European campaigns, or members of the U.S. Ski Jumping Squad packing the lips of tiny kickers behind the school. "Exposing students to role models such as [local Biathlete and Olympian] Haley Johnson provides them with concrete examples of what, exactly, they can accomplish when they pursue something they're passionate about," says Young. Getting the knobby-tired wheels in motion A community effort An active member of the local mountain bike organization, the Barkeater Trails Alliance (BETA), Young was quickly inspired by the enormous strides made by the local mountain biking community. X-Terra racing, the Wilmington Pump Track and Dirt Jump

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