A little imagination, a desk cycle and a virtual trip around the world have earned Camarillo Health Care District its fifth innovative program award in 11 years.

The District’s Pedaling the Planet virtual reality fitness program was named Innovative Program of the Year by California Special District’s Association in the Small District category.  It’s also the second award recognizing our innovative use of virtual reality.  In 2023, Adventures in VR received the same honor.

Blair Barker, the District’s CEO, accepted the latest honor on behalf of the District on August 26, 2026, during the association’s Annual Conference, with nearly 1,000 members in attendance. A video featuring interviews with staff and class participants was shown during the event.

Where Fitness Meets Adventure

Pedaling the Planet grew from the District’s exploration of how virtual reality can support health, wellness and connection.  After launching the award-winning Adventures in VR program in 2022, the District took technology one step further in January of 2025 by combining virtual travel with physical activity (like bike riding).

The idea was simple: What if exercise didn’t feel like exercise?  What if it felt like an adventure?

Using desk cycles and virtual reality headsets, participants could pedal through lush pine forests, past lighthouses at sunset, along ocean boardwalks and through rocky landscapes, all without leaving Camarillo. They could even visit familiar destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Rocky Mountains.

The result was a low-impact workout that brought together movement, exploration and a healthy dose of fun.

The program could be adapted for a variety of fitness and mobility levels and incorporated physical exercise, hand-eye coordination, cognitive activities and socialization. Research has shown that regular physical activity supports cardiovascular and brain health, while staying socially connected contributes to overall well-being and healthy aging, both which are strong indicators of longevity. Additionally, the program

Virtual reality can add another benefit by making exercise more engaging and interactive.

But some of the program’s most meaningful moments happened after the headsets came off. Participants talked about where they had “traveled,” compared experiences and shared plenty of conversation and laughter, turning a fitness class into an opportunity for connection and community.

Funded in part by a Community Development Block Grant from the City of Camarillo, the program offered free classes through June 2026 to eligible participants identified through community outreach. The initiative continued to build on the District’s award-winning Adventures in VR series, which has provided more than 1,000 individual virtual experiences, to participants ages 22 to 101, since its launch in Fall 2022.

The Adventure Continues

While the grant for Pedaling the Planet has ended, the District is offering “Off to the Races & More,” which continues the combination of virtual reality and movement with experiences like paddleboarding and an opportunity to draw on an infinite canvass.

Classes are $5 for in-District and $9 for out-of-District residents.

Ready for your next Virtual Adventures?  Register online.