Kids and instructors got their pedals up for last month’s Bicycle Adventure Camp led by the Safe Routes to School team in partnership with Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks. Now in its fourth year, the program teaches students ages 8-12 how to ride safely on local roads, how to navigate hazards, and how to perform general bike maintenance such as oiling a chain and patching a flat tire.
For five days in June, campers had a ton of fun riding their bikes while learning street skills to help them ride safely around town. The rides were specifically designed so the kids could experience a variety of situations. They practiced essential skills like navigating an intersection, using hand signals, communicating with drivers, riding outside of the car “door zone” and knowing when to “take the lane” — increasing their visibility by moving to the center of a travel lane.
Daily rides around Santa Rosa took campers to places like Luther Burbank Gardens and A Place to Play. On the last day of camp, the group rode the Joe Rodota Trail to Sebastopol and back to Santa Rosa for a total of 14 miles. Altogether, the 15 campers rode a total of 27 miles through Santa Rosa and Sebastopol during the week.
Highlights from this year’s camp included decorating bikes with colorful pipe cleaners, pom-poms and googly eyes; getting thoroughly soaked at a stop by the fish fountain on the Prince Memorial Greenway; and helping a rider learn how to handle a minor spill and find the courage to get back up and continue riding. We were thrilled that five children loved last year’s camp so much they returned this year.
We look forward to offering Bicycle Adventure Camp again next summer. Visit the Santa Rosa City website for more information. Camp registration opens in February – sign up early so you don’t miss out!
–Danielle McElwee, Safe Routes to School Educator