Alumni Spotlight: Lisa Roberts Brings Nature to Students

She’s transforming how children experience physical activity through a community health initiative gaining traction across New York’s Chautauqua County

When Lisa Roberts (EdD ’22) noticed that many children where she lived weren’t spending enough time outdoors, she saw an opportunity to make a difference. As the Youth and School Health Program Coordinator for the Chautauqua Health Network in western New York, she’s leading an innovative program to get hundreds of local students and their families outside and active.

“Hit the Trails and Parks,” now in its second year, transforms outdoor activity into an accessible and gamified adventure for families across Chautauqua County’s 18 school districts. The program began as an adaptation of a Wegmans grocery store initiative, which Roberts and the county Department of Health reimagined for children facing barriers to outdoor recreation.

“We found that a lot of our rural and urban kids were not getting out in nature enough; they didn’t have the access and the means to do that or the family support to do so,” Roberts said.

What makes the program unique is its focus on accessibility and family involvement. First, schools introduce students to hiking or biking at nearby parks and trails; then children continue the adventure at home with their families through a scavenger hunt-style activity where they locate specific spots on trails and upload selfies with their parents.

“Our secret mission is to not only expose the children to exercise but maybe expose their families to healthier lifestyles,” Roberts said.

Roberts’ approach addresses barriers specific to each community. For urban areas like Jamestown, New York, safety concerns and limited green space pose challenges, while rural families often face transportation issues despite their proximity to nature. Roberts found many rural children were uncomfortable outdoors due to safety concerns, parental work schedules, and the influence of technology competing for their attention.

Prepared by Pitt

A former health and physical education teacher, Roberts’ passion for connecting physical activity with mental and emotional well-being was refined during her time at Pitt.

“Going to Pitt was one of the best experiences of my life,” Roberts said. “I felt like I could really pursue what my passions were, and I was so supported in what I was doing.”

Roberts credits the Pitt EdD program‘s interdisciplinary approach with preparing her for her current role, particularly by exposing her to diverse perspectives from educational leaders including principals, psychologists, counselors and teachers from various disciplines.

“Pitt really prepared me for working with the health department, because I didn’t have any public health experience, but the education and public health kind of came together in a nice mix,” she said.

Sharon Ross, associate professor of health and human development and Roberts’ former advisor, said she was impressed by Roberts’ commitment to promoting health and wellness in communities.

“She has a natural ability to connect with others, engages in active listening, and is good at identifying problems and bringing people and resources together to devise solutions,” Ross said about Roberts. “When I heard about the ‘Hit the Trails and Parks’ program, I just smiled because I know this is very much in her wheelhouse and is a testament to the hard work and effort she puts in to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”

Beyond the trails program, Roberts collaborates with municipalities to improve infrastructure, including creating bike lanes and fixing sidewalks, to make communities safer and more conducive to physical activity.

After a successful test launch with two schools last year, the trail program has expanded with in-kind support from Wegmans, UPMC, Walmart, and many local businesses. For Roberts, this work represents a perfect integration of her personal passion for physical activity and her professional mission to improve student well-being.

“It’s always been just a part of me to be a problem solver, not that I figure everything out,” she said. “But I always think, ‘what can we do?’”