Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) is a public health initiative of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), with the goal of reducing the major risk factors of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases throughout communities in New York State with high needs. NYSDOH awarded two consecutive five-year grants to CCE Sullivan from 20152020 and 2021-2026 to increase access to healthy, affordable foods and improve opportunities for daily physical activity. Sullivan County communities covered by CHSC programs included Bethel, Bloomingburg, Fallsburg, Forestburgh, Town and Village of Liberty, Mamakating, Monticello, Thompson, Woodridge, Wurtsboro and Sullivan County Government.
Through CHSC funding, CCE Sullivan has provided technical support, equipment, supplies, and mini-grants to eligible schools, childcare providers, municipalities, worksites, and businesses working to make healthy choices easier for Sullivan County residents.
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission here at CCE Sullivan is to share research-based education, outreach, and opportunities in response to Sullivan County’s needs in the areas of Agriculture, Nutrition, Family, and Environment. Our local vision is for Cornell Cooperative Extension to be a key partner with the community in improving the quality of life in Sullivan County by employing the latest technology, research-based education, and inclusive programming.
Our Commitment
CCE Sullivan actively supports equal educational and employment opportunities. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination. CCE Sullivan remains dedicated to serving ALL of our neighbors, and creating an environment where folks in our workplace and programs feel valued, respected, and empowered. e
Sullivan County Parks, Recreation, and Beautification
Sullivan County Public Health Services
Sullivan Co. Planning, Community Dev. & Environmental Mgmt.
Sullivan O & W RailTrail Alliance
Sullivan West Central School District
Sunshine Hall Library of Liberty
SUNY Sullivan
Thompson Highway Dept.
Thompson Sewer, Water, & Parks
Tianguis Tengo Deli Grocery, Corp. D/B/A A La Mexicana
TLC for Young Children
Town of Bethel
Town of Fallsburg
Town of Forestburgh
Town of Liberty
Town of Mamakating
Town of Thompson
Trailkeeper.org
TreeHouse Daycare
Tri-Valley Central School District
Valley Daycare
Village of Liberty
Village of Liberty Town Board
Village of Monticello
Village of Woodridge
Village of Wurtsboro
Western Sullivan Public Library System
Winterton Farms
WJFF Radio Catskill
Wurtsboro Village Board
CHSC Project Locations
Communities & Municipalities
Sullivan County Government
Town of Bethel
Town of Fallsburg
Town of Forestburgh
Town of Liberty
Town of Mamakating
Town of Thompson
Village of Liberty
Village of Monticello
Village of Woodridge
Village of Wurtsboro
School Districts
Eldred Central School District
Fallsburg Central School District
District
Liberty Central School District
Monticello Central School District
Rockland Central School District
Sullivan BOCES
Sullivan West Central School District
Tri-Valley Central School District
Babies n Tots Daycare
Devon’s Daycare
J & C First Steps Daycare
Jessica’s Daycare
Kidz Clubb Daycare
Land of the Little People
Luz Quinones
Rachel’s Angels Daycare
Early Childhood Education Centers & Daycares
Bright Eyes Child Care Center
St. John Street Community School
TLC for Young Children
TreeHouse Daycare
Valley Daycare
Meet the CHSC Team
Dear Tr
Dear Travel Diary
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Can you pi inspiration, yp in the Sulli nsp is the CC members ha have moved to ensure th recognized to care. Withou g as much as w c
Can you picture it? Ten years of collaboration, inspiration, and action towards improving wellness in the Sullivan Catskills! At the heart of it all is the CCE Sullivan CHSC team! Some team members have been involved since day one - others have moved on to different initiatives. We want to ensure that these integral team members are recognized for their leadership, commitment, and care. Without them, we couldn’t have accomplished as much as we did in just a single decade! d j g
We’ve teamed up to educate schools one step at a time.
All smil annual
All smiles while attending the annual CHSC Convening. ng .
It all started here about a decade ago...wow!
Fresh and delicious salad bars in schools. We are all working towards a shared purpose: wellness!
STOP #1
Proactive Policies & Planning
Dear Travel Diary
g team. We are to” resource when effective, innovative the go t p ty solutionsaresought! communi
Our journey begins with...planning! The CHSC team has empowered municipalities, schools, workplaces, and daycare homes and schools to prioritize wellness initiatives. CHSC’s work has ensured wellness is embedded in policies and planning documents, from organizational guidelines to comprehensive plans. CHSC team members have served in an advisory capacity to a wide range of planning teams. We are the “go-to” resource when effective, innovative community solutions are sought!
CHSC Shout Outs
“We benefit from the knowledge that Wanda and CHSC bring to the table on policies. We are proud to have adapted many policies Wanda has presented to us, and look forward to a continued relationship to build a healthier community.”
-Nathan Steingart Town of Fallsburg Supervisor (pictured with paper in hand)
Destination: so utions are sought uni
Municipal Pla
Destination: Municipal Planning Teams
For a decade, the CHSC team has helped implement policies and sustainable systems to improve access to physical activity, healthy foods, and safe alternative forms of transportation.
Policies included Comprehensive Plans (Towns of Mamakating and Fallsburg), Complete Streets Resolutions (Towns of Mamakating, Fallsburg, Bethel, Liberty and the Villages of Monticello, Woodridge, Wurtsboro and Liberty), and the adoption of Planning and Design Guidelines (Town of Thompson and Village of Monticello Grow the Gateways).
The influence of CHSC is evident in the Town of Fallsburg including Complete Streets in its top five visions for the Town’s future: “enabling access to healthy, safe, livable spaces” while accommodating “all roadway users including...pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and citizens of all ages and abilities.”
CHSC is a trusted advisor, working closely with municipalities to provide valuable, evidence-based guidance and insight into resources and funding opportunities.
Pictured Above Right: Mamakating Town Supervisor Peter Goodman
Destination: Early Childhood Education
The CHSC team partners with the Sullivan County Child Care Council to improve child wellness at daycare provider homes and centers, by weaving nutrition and physical activity opportunities into wellness planning, policies, and everyday activites.
The right equipment encourages active play indoors & outdoors!
CHSC Shout Outs
-Devon Conklin, Devon’s Daycare (Pictured Left) and activites.
“[Thanks to CHSC], our program is more engaging and provides an outdoor environment that supports physical development.”
-Teresa Pinto, Land of the Little People Daycare (Above)
“I wanted to send a huge thank you for the grant I received. Especially for the outdoor gross motor equipment. I was able to update my entire playground and my kids cannot be more excited about playing on everything! We are also so unbelievably thankful for all the indoor equipment we received especially on rainy days because we can still get our energy out and learn at the same time.”
Destination: Shaping How Schools Integrate Wellness
From wellness committee meetings to technical assistance, CHSC is at the table and partners with Sullivan 180 to bring fresh strategies for incorporating nutrition and physical activity into the school environment.
For example, Rockland Central School District has integrated a large commercial food dehydrator purchased with CHSC funds last spring into ongoing curriculum development. High school students engage in hands-on learning by preparing harvested herbs and operating the dehydrator. This is experiential education in action!
Students benefit from working with real commercial equipment. g t.
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Pictured Left)
STOP #2 Safe Routes to School
Destination: Emma C. Chase Elementary School
Sometimes the safest route to school isn’t on a road…it’s on a path! CHSC worked with the Town of Mamakating on the signage and infrastructure needed to complete sections of the D&H Canal Pathway in Sullivan County (learn more about the canal in the next section). The D&H Canal does not allow motor vehicles, and connects many residential communities with Emma C. Chase Elementary in Wurtsboro via a series of wellmarked access points. There are also bike repair stations and bike racks, encouraging kids to try biking to school in addition to walking!
Dear Travel Diary
As we all travel along our shared roadways, we must be mindful of students trying to safely arrive at school! Unfortunately, motor vehicles pose a serious risk to students, one that the CHSC team has worked to mitigate with smart solutions. Check out how we empowered communities and schools to better protect kids en route to school...
Destination: South Fallsburg Orthodox Community
CHSC and the Town of Fallsburg partnered with an Orthodox school community to provide solutions to improve safety on campus. People were parking where the bus dropped off students, and students biking to school had nowhere to store their bikes. CHSC, in partnership with Fallsburg, installed a NO PARKING sign where buses drop off and pick up students along with a bench and bike racks. CHSC has also performed many walking audits (pictured below).
Destination: The Village of Liberty School District
There has been a speeding problem around the streets near Liberty Middle and High Schools, especially when traffic peaks at student arrival and dismissal. In fact, CHSC assisted in gathering data that revealed these dangerous trends.
The CHSC team and the Village of Liberty Chief of Police partnered with the Village of Liberty and the Liberty School District leadership to give a presentation on safety solutions to the Liberty School District Board, the community, and municipal officials to ensure a coordinated approach.
Early efforts included portable traffic-calming measures that demonstrated the need for permanent solutions. Ultimately, four solar-powered, digital radar signs displaying drivers’ speeds were installed alerting drivers to slow down while also collecting data like vehicle count and speed. The initiative also sparked student engagement, inspiring a group of students to form a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) committee!
CHSC Shout Out
S“These improvements not only make our streets safer but also show what can be achieved when community partners work together. We’re grateful for CHSC’s partnership in creating safer streets for everyone.”
-Steven D’Agata
Liberty Chief of Police (pictured above and below with CHSC team member Wanda Vionet Cruz)
STOP #3
Promoting Alternative Modes of Transportation
Dear Travel Diary
Destination: The D&H Canal Trail
Sullivan County is a largely rural area, with most folks using personal vehicles or the limited public transportation available to get to their destinations. CHSC has worked with municipalities to create opportunities for safe alternative forms of transportation such as walking and biking. This is less harmful to the environment and promotes fitness for residents!
The D&H Canal Trail provides a safe alternative form of transportation for pedestrians, cyclists, and people in wheelchairs thanks to numerous flat sections of pavement and/or packed stonedust surfaces. What makes the D&H Canal Trail so important is the many points of access, connecting this vital pathway to “everyday destinations” - the key goal of the trailway!
The first access point is located behind Mamakating Town Hall and it connects to a small shopping center with a grocery store, bank, and pharmacy.
Next to this access point is the NYS Police barracks, located near a daycare center, hotel, and a park-and-ride bus station. Currently, there are nine access points either completed or in progress, serving several residential communities, Emma C. Chase Elementary School, the Village of Wurtsboro business district, and other local trails.
The D&H Canal Trail is open year-round during daylight hours. CHSC has also provided message boards, benches, bike repair stations with racks, and signage along the trail.
Paved sections are ideal for wheelchairs, bikes & strollers!
FUEL YOUR JOURNEY
Creating Connections in Your Community
Think beyond the road: How can you physically connect points of interest in your community? Are there pathways that could cut through a wooded area? Or, are there already existing walkways that could be enhanced with pavement, clear signage or amenities like bike stations?
Pictured: August 2024 ribbon cutting for the Sullivan O&W “Dog Patch Trailhead” in South Fallsburg. CHSC provided benches, signage, bike racks and repair stations, dog stations, accessible picnic tables and more.
Destination: Sullivan O&W Rail Trail
Over the past decade, CHSC has been a key partner in moving the Sullivan O&W Rail Trail forward as a community asset. Building on a pivotal 2016 Sullivan O&W Rail Trail feasibility study, the project turned a long-standing vision into a coordinated effort to transform the former Ontario & Western Railroad corridor into a multi-use trail connecting communities. In addition, CHSC helped create access points along the trail. The trail is designed not just for getting from place to place, but as a destination itself with features like “The Overlook,” with scenic views, picnic tables, and a tunnel. CHSC has provided resources to support community engagement, data collection, and local coordination that help guide improvements and encourage use. By adding amenities like dog stations, bike infrastructure, message boards, signage, and benches, the trail offers safe access to local destinations.
CHSC Shout Out
“Wanda Vionet Cruz has left a forever footprint on our town and changed the quality of life for our community. Her dedication and support have helped us reach many goals of healthier, safer lifestyles. We have been on a journey that has brought us hope for change by providing equipment and signage for a healthier workplace and community. We will be forever grateful for her hard work and dedication.”
-Peter Goodman, Town of Mamakating Supervisor
We can’t wait for everyone to experience the Rail Trail!
STOP #4
Improving Community Wellness
Dear Travel Diary
As we traveled across Sullivan County, the CHSC crew identified unexpected touchpoints for wellness. Places that were currently sources of health challenges, became opportunities. For example, working in an office is not typically associated with “wellness.” However, the Worksite Wellness initiative turned many offices into thriving hubs of increased physical activity and nutrition. Think ballpark concession stands are destined to just serve hot dogs? CHSC envisioned a healthier alternative...and made it reality.
Destination: Worksite Wellness Program
Walking together at lunch. Friendly office competitions. Signage to remind employees to drink water. This is just a snapshot of initiatives launched at dozens of worksites during the Worksite Wellness program, powered by CHSC.
CHSC hosted annual summits to award active worksites and educate new ones on resources. Wellness Champions were trained to bring nutrition and physical activity strategies back to their workplaces. In fact, 70 Wellness Champions were trained at a single summit in 2019!
Start a Worksite Wellness program at your organization. It could be a friendly competition between employees - or even another workplace! Below: a CCE Sullivan Worksite Wellness walk.
A Worksite Wellness team shows their water station and signage.
FUEL YOUR JOURNEY
CHSC hosted annual Wellness Summits to empower workplaces.
Destination: Foodservice Guidelines at Local Cafés and Eateries
CHSC helped the Town of Fallsburg transform municipal eateries and cafés into places where healthy choices are accessible and appealing.
Across golf clubhouse cafés, youth-focused ballparks, and park cafés, CHSC worked with town leaders to create practical, customer-friendly foodservice guidelines. The strategy focused on promoting healthier options in ways that naturally attract customers.
A key approach was providing equipment to prepare and showcase healthier foods. CHSC supplied air fryers to replace deep fryers, along with salad and sandwich prep stations to increase healthier options, and blenders for smoothies. For example, a hanging basket fruit display was placed near the register and an A-frame sign highlighted nutritious graband-go items like wraps and salads.
At sites like Tarry Brae Golf Club and Lochmor Golf Course, strategic merchandising strategies were used: Menu boards were updated to feature healthier items more prominently and at lower prices, making them more appealing!
Does your location have a vending machine?
Consider making smart swaps: baked chips, more juice and bottled water options, and even fresh items, if that’s an option!
FUEL YOUR JOURNEY
Fitness Made Fun! Places for Physical Activity
STOP #5 l i
Dear Travel Diary
CHSC has collaborated with communities and schools to create or enhance existing destinations to promote physical activity. The best part? This is fitness made fun! It’s meeting a friend for a walk on a lunch break. It’s kids exploring nature at their own school. And it’s adding strength training equipment along a community trail for all to access and enjoy.
CHSC Shout Out
S
“Mamakating has had the pleasure of working closely with Wanda Cruz for 10 years. Wanda demonstrates remarkable dedication and expertise to improve resident quality of life: from exercise trails, to employee wellness, to trail benches and markers.”
-Michael Robbins
Mamakating Town Supervisor
Destination: Mamakating Fitness Trail
The Mamakating Fitness Trail was envisioned nearly a decade ago as a destination for free, accessible physical activity. In partnership with the Town of Mamakating, CHSC transformed an undeveloped space into a one-mile community fitness trail complete with 10 outdoor exercise stations for different muscle groups. Open to the public at no cost, the trail provides a place to walk, jog, and stay active.
Since its creation, the trail has evolved with a strong focus on accessibility, safety, and community use. Improvements include an ADA-accessible bridge connecting both sides of the Mamakating park, additional mulch for smoother walking surfaces, and multiple access points. Features such as a scenic waterfall access overlook, dog and bike stations, clear “you are here” maps with QR codes, and trail markers enhance usability. The CHSC team continues to assess the trail for safety (pictured is a 2024 trail assessment).
Trails have been named for those involved since day one!
Destination: Benjamin Cosor Elementary School
CHSC helped build a nature trail on school grounds. Accessible to staff and students during school hours, the trail promotes physical activity, education, and wellness! The public can access the trail outside school hours. CHSC provided entrance and directional and emergency exit signage in Spanish and English, a message board, and even benches that turn into student desks!
Little Learners preparing for a walk along the trail.
Destination: East Mongaup River Park in Thompson
The Town of Thompson’s East Mongaup River Park is home to beautiful trails that meander through woods and meadows. However, several emergency extractions occurred when hikers couldn’t find their way out of the trails! CHSC worked with the Town of Thompson to map out trail routes and install directional signage identifying each trail by color and fitness level.
CHSC
helped to create exit trails & bilingual exit signs. C
Destination: Turtle Spring Trail at CCE Sullivan
CHSC has purchased and installed dozens of on-trail fitness stations and equipment at parks and along trails in Sullivan County. The equipment turns a simple walk or run into a strength-building opportunity. In fact, the first fitness equipment CHSC installed was along the Turtle Spring Trail at CCE Sullivan!
STOP #6
Early ChildhoodEducation
Dear Travel Diary
All of us on the CHSC team LOVED supporting daycare homes, centers, and preschools on our 10year journey! We partnered with the Sullivan County Child Care Council to empower them with resources to make a positive impact on a child’s early learning experience. Research shows that these efforts will continue to pay off as children grow and develop: so we invested in early childhood education initiatives. Our goal was to provide daycares and preschools with tools and programs that integrate nutrition, physical activity, and wellness into their daily lives.
Even indoors, there are fun options that get kids moving.
Destination: Healthy Fun at Jessica’s Daycare
Jessica’s Daycare is a home based daycare in the heart of the Village of Monticello. Early on, CHSC focused on improving indoor resources by providing play food that included healthy choices.
The next phase of support for Jessica’s Daycare involved both indoor and outdoor assets to encourage physical activity and gross motor skill development.
Research shows that gross motor activities like running, climbing, balancing, and hopping set the stage for learning fine motor skills - ultimately setting kids up for success when they enter school.
Find ways to get kids moving at your ECE Center. Indoors, consider trampolines, climbing sets, over-thedoor basketball hoops, bean bag toss games, and more. Outdoors? The sky is the limit! Try tie-on tree climbing equipment (at left), balance beams, and if you have pavement, consider using stencils to paint a four-square, hopscotch or basketball court!
FUEL YOUR JOURNEY
A litte boy tries (and loves) the lettuce he grew.
Kids experience vegetable gardens: from planting to plate!
Destination: Veggie Gardens at Valley Daycare
Valley Daycare in Mongaup Valley was one of the first ECE facilities that CHSC partnered with. Initially, CHSC supplied a wheelbarrow, galvanized steel raised beds, and items for an onsite vegetable garden at this nature-focused daycare.
Recently, Valley Daycare expanded their garden with help from CHSC and involved the kids in every step. The children took part in planning, planting, watering, and harvesting...and then ultimately, eating the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor!
STOP #7 Farm to School & Community
Dear Travel Diary
Local farms have been a main focus for CHSC over the past decade. Connecting kids and adults with fresh, nutritious food grown on nearby farms has many benefits. It tastes better - making it more likely to be eaten, leading to improved health. Plus, supporting farms boosts the local economy, leading to a stronger, more connected community.
Destination: Sullivan Fresh Mobile Market
In Sullivan County, 1 in 10 residents experience food insecurity, including 1 in 5 children in households relying on SNAP. With CHSC funding, the Sullivan Fresh Market on the Move began years ago with the purchase of a refrigerated mobile market van. The goal was to make fresh, local food affordable and accessible...by bringing it to communities across Sullivan County.
The mobile market brought farm-fresh food to weekly stops in Wurtsboro, Fallsburg, Loch Sheldrake, Woodridge, Monticello, Woodbourne and Liberty. The van was outfitted with a pop-out awning that created the look and feel of a traditional farmers market. Each season, the van is wellstocked with “complete meal” offerings sourced from nearby farms: milk, yogurt, cheese, meat, and eggs are available in addition to fresh, local fruits and vegetables!
As part of the broader Sullivan Catskills Farmers Market initiative, these markets have increased the use of SNAP, WIC, and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program benefits.
Since 2019, CCE Sullivan and the CHSC team have reached over 25,700 customers through market programming, which included initiatives like FreshRx, Sullivan Fresh Bucks, and Kids Club, as well as nutrition education, recipes, and community events for all ages.
CHSC Shout Out
“I started coming to the farmers market this year...it’s not just a community, it feels like a family getting together at the market.”
-Sullivan Fresh Farmers Market Customer
Destination: Big Apple Crunch Across Sullivan County
In 2017, we introduced the Big Apple Crunch program to local schools as a fun way to promote healthier habits. Each October, students across New York bite into a locally grown apple at the same time! For nearly a decade, the Big Apple Crunch has brought schools in the Catskills together to celebrate healthy choices.
Farm to School Day at Sullivan West Elementary.
In partnership with Sullivan 180, we’ve deemed October as Farm to School Month. On Farm to School Day, farmers and non-profits celebrate agriculture with a school-wide event (pictured). 4-H brings farm animals, and our team and community partners run activities and farm-fresh food tastings. We help students make the connection between the food they eat and the farmers behind it!
Local produce prepped and vacuum sealed for lunches.
CHSC helped schools in the Rockland Central School District expand their use of local food with equipment like blast chillers and vacuum sealers. The District’s chef then froze local produce for year-round use in nutritious meals, enabling participation in New York’s 30% Initiative, which reimburses schools for sourcing at least 30% of ingredients from NY farms.
Taste Test Thursdays are held at many local schools.
Taste Test Thursdays spark student interest in healthy cooking and NYS farm products! The CHSC team and local school districts partner to cook up a healthy recipe featuring in-season produce from a local farm that students can taste, right in the cafeteria! Students can take a printed recipe home to share with their family, and many are excited to do so.
Pictured Below: Fallsburg students take a big, healthy apple bite...together!
Dear Travel Diary
STOP #8 Encouraging Movement in Schools S E in Schools
We’ve really been on the move these past l0 years: Intentionally integrating movement into the school day in creative ways! The CCE Sullivan CHSC team seeks out proven programs and products that get kids excited about moving their bodies. From stenciled blacktop to Sumo wrestling, yoga to jumbo jousting...school districts embraced the new moves!
Destination: Snowshoes for Kids at Benjamin Cosor Elementary School
To boost physical activity for kids during snowy winters, we partnered with Sullivan 180 to purchase child-sized snowshoes for kids from Morgan Outdoors, whose owner provided lessons. The snowshoes were used on the Benjamin Cosor Elementary School trail in Fallsburg. The program was a success, and schools in Livingston Manor and Liberty adopted similar efforts.
Dozens of educators are participating in yoga training.
Destination: Yoga in Classrooms Across the County!
Yoga in Sullivan County classrooms began nearly a decade ago when the CHSC team introduced the Yoga4Classrooms program to local schools. Another CHSC grant supported educator training in Monticello, Fallsburg, and Liberty School Districts, where students enjoyed the sessions and teachers observed improved focus and calm.
Today, yoga and mindfulness are offered countywide through Childlight Education Company. The CHSC team has trained more than 100 educators and recently expanded offerings to include Yoga and Mindfulness for Diverse Abilities.
Destination: Large-Scale Stencils at Liberty Elementary
CHSC acquired stencils for Liberty Elementary that turned playground pavement into activity stations using just a little paint! Stencils included hopscotch, foursquare, yoga poses, basketball courts and more. Fallsburg, Monticello, Livingston Manor, and Sullivan BOCES Districts have since rented the stencils from us or purchased them.
“The kids were so excited to see all the colorful stenciled activities, like the new lines for the basketball court. One boy said “Wow, we finally have a basketball court!”
-Sharon O., Teacher
Benjamin Cosor Elementary School in Fallsburg
Fuel for Fun: Making Movement One Big Game!
While there are serious benefits of physical activity for kids, take a playful approach to promoting it! For example, why not host a special fun night on school grounds? Liberty Elementary has recently purchased a large inflatable obstacle course with CHSC funds to use for special events.
Destination: Jousting at Monticello High School
Students were all smiles while they playfully challenged each other to a jousting contest with inflatable and foam equipment acquired through a CHSC grant. They almost forgot they were improving balance, strength, and coordination in the process!
Healthy habits start in childhood, which means the school environment can help set a strong foundation of wellness, nutrition, and physical activity for kids. CHSC brought fresh ideas to schools that got children excited about choices that were good for their minds and bodies. How? By putting FUN at the forefront: from bikes that blend smoothies to party carts for classroom celebrations!
Destination: Smarter School Celebrations
Move over, cupcakes and candy! Thanks to guidance and funding from CHSC, schools are embracing smarter celebrations that prioritize wellness. One standout example is the Blender Bike (pictured left), which turns birthdays into high-energy events as students pedal to power a blender that makes smoothies for the class using yogurt and fruit. Schools in districts such as Fallsburg, Liberty, Monticello, Sullivan West, Livingston Manor, and Tri-Valley are using the bikes!
Let’s get this party...carted! Schools in Fallsburg, Liberty, Monticello, and Liberty are shifting focus from food to fun with the CHSC-inspired Celebration Cart. This cart arrives in the classroom for a child’s birthday and is loaded with parachutes, jump ropes, board games, party props, and more.
Destination: Lunchroom Makeovers
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S
CHSC Shout Out
“I like our new salad bar. The first reason is because of my favorite vegetable. My favorite one is cucumbers. The salad bar is fun because I can pick my own vegetables. The salad bar is awesome!!!”
-4th Grade Student at Sullivan BOCES
FUEL YOUR JOURNEY
About a decade ago, a push for healthier school lunches began across New York as research showed cafeterias needed more nutritious, appealing options. CHSC partnered with Liberty, Fallsburg, Sullivan BOCES, and Monticello to assess and improve lunchrooms using a detailed scorecard, examining everything from food choices to presentation. Simple changes made a big impact: healthier items were placed first and within easy reach, fruit was more visible, and low-fat milk was promoted over sugary options. Bright signage highlighted fresh foods, and some schools added salad bars to give students more choice and make healthy eating more engaging (see left). After implementation, CHSC and school staff evaluated results and provided ongoing training to support healthier, more appealing meals!
er school lunc owed cafeterias ions CHSC partnered hes ias
Destination: Cooking with Cornell
We are your trusted resource of choice for recipes and nutrition information. Our team can provide best practices for programs similar to Cooking with Cornell. Just reach out and let’s cook up a plan.
CHSC and Fallsburg Central School District taught seventh through ninth graders nutrition, cooking skills, and food safety after school. Once a week, students donned red aprons and prepared recipes featuring fruits or vegetables as the star ingredient. Beyond cooking, the program fostered camaraderie, as students shared meals together. Each session ended with students taking home recipes, kitchen tools, and the confidence to recreate healthy meals on their own - and to share their knowledge with family!
STOP #10
Prioritizing Accessibility
Destination: The Sensory Room at Sullivan BOCES
To support children with a wide range of sensory needs, CHSC brought the idea of a room filled with sensory toys and equipment to a Sullivan County Occupational Therapist at Sullivan BOCES. She agreed, a sensory room would be a great asset for students!
Together with CHSC, Sullivan BOCES created the room: from swings to a sensory wall, and an inflatable bubble ball to scooters for indoor use, everything was thoughtfully selected and arranged so experiences can be customized to each child’s unique sensory input needs.
Dear Travel Diary
The CHSC team keeps accessibility in mind at all times when collaborating on projects. The team has helped to thoughtfully create or modify spaces to be welcoming and responsive to those with different needs! From a sensory room at Sullivan BOCES to paved, wheel-ready spaces along the Mamakating Fitness Trail, see where we went on our accessibility journey!
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Tunnel time! A child explores the room at Sullivan BOCES.
Sights, sounds, and textures come alive on a sensory wall.
Sensory on a Smaller Scale
If you’re not able to devote a room to sensory items, create a sensory “corner” in a room - or create a sensory “kit” on a wheeling cart that can be brought to different rooms in a school or healthcare facility.
FUEL YOUR JOURNEY
Destination: East Mongaup River Park in Thompson
CHSC worked with the Town of Thompson to improve accessibility for those with mobility challenges. Together, they created ADA-compliant parking with clear signage. This parking was located next to the new pavilion and connected to a paved walkway that meanders through the park with a pergola, benches, picnic spots, and a river path.
Destination: Town of Mamakating Fitness Trail
Mamakating has prioritized accessibility in improving its park and Fitness Trail. Thanks to guidance from CHSC, an ADA-compliant bridge now safely connects both sides of the trail and includes a bench to provide rest for individuals with mobility challenges.
Enhancements such as improved trail surfaces with mulch and thoughtfully designed access points ensure people of all abilities can navigate some portions of the trail comfortably and safely. These upgrades reflect the Town’s commitment to inclusive outdoor spaces where everyone can enjoy the natural environment!
New ADA parking spots were created near the pavilion.
