Train Your Brain is presented to third grade classrooms across Central Oregon. Prompted by an alarming increase of preventable head injuries in young people, The Center Foundation pioneered Train Your Brain as part of the Brain Trust initiative.

 

This elementary school outreach provides innovative, research-based curriculum on the importance of helmet use and brain and spinal cord injury prevention. The program reaches more than 2,000 students each year and distributes more than 1,000 helmets annually to those in need. These helmets should always be worn when participating in any non-motorized wheeled sport, including bicycling, skateboarding, roller blading and scooter riding.

Please help kids stay safe and healthy by encouraging them to be active and take all possible precautions to prevent injury – like wearing a helmet. 

Helmet Safety Tips

If you would like more information, or know of a child in need of a helmet, please call Stuart Schmidt at 541-322-2323 or email [email protected]. 

2025 Presentation Schedule

Bear Creek ElementaryApril 1
La Pine ElementaryApril 2
Tumalo Community SchoolApril 3
Steins Pillar ElementaryApril 4
Vern Patrick ElementaryApril 7
Westside VillageApril 8
Lava RidgeApril 9
Amity CreekApril 10
Crook River ElementaryApril 11
Three Rivers K-8April 14
Ensworth ElementaryApril 15
Barnes Butte ElementaryApril 16
Madras ElementaryApril 17
MA Lynch ElementaryApril 18
High Lakes ElementaryApril 21
Juniper ElementaryApril 22
Ponderosa ElementaryApril 23
North Star ElementaryApril 24
John Tuck ElementaryApril 25
R.E. Jewell ElementaryApril 28
Sisters ElementaryApril 29
Buckingham ElementaryApril 30
Tom McCall ElementaryMay 2
Terrebonne Community SchoolMay 5
Silver Rail ElementaryMay 6
Hugh Hartman ElementaryMay 7
Pine Ridge ElementaryMay 8
Rosland ElementaryMay 12
Elk Meadow ElementaryMay 13
Miller ElementaryMay 14
Culver ElementaryMay 15
Buff ElementaryMay 16
Sage ElementaryMay 27

Train Your Brain is brought to you with the help of our generous sponsors! Thank you! 

How Train Your Brain got started

Years ago, a young Bend boy was struck by a car while riding his bike without a helmet. He was rushed to the ER where one of The Center Foundation’s board members, a neurosurgeon, was on call. Tragically, and in spite of our board member’s best effort, the boy did not survive.

As a result, and with the intention of preventing further tragedies, The Center Foundation adopted programs to educate our grade school kids on the importance of protecting their brain and spinal cord by learning and using good safety skills.

Today, St. Charles continues what The Center Foundation started by offering educational presentations to youth organizations in Central Oregon, including: elementary schools, boy scouts, pre-schools, summer camps, and English as a second language class. The presentations include age-appropriate discussions of brain and spinal cord anatomy and injury prevention techniques such as street, car, and bike safety. These active and fun sessions conclude with a melon drop helmet demonstration.

Students are asked to bring their helmets for a fit and function assessment. If a child’s helmet is ill fitting or damaged, or if they do not have a helmet, a new helmet will be properly fit and provided by our team of helmet experts at no cost.