Empowering youth with exciting new skills
Five weeks into school year, 650 kids gain cycling skills
Back to school season means back to work for the Youth en Route team. And although it’s only six weeks into the school year we’ve already reached 650 students with our powerful cycling education programs. Every new class opens our eyes to the power of bike riding to create independent youth. We’ve been at eight schools, and empowered kids of all ages and abilities.
Our Lady of the Rockies has been our biggest program to date. Over two weeks, we reached 10 PE classes and 260 students.
There were many non-riders
“I think the last day when we took the 3-credit PE kids around the dry pond at Kingsland was probably my best day ever in this role,” said Stuart Saavedra, the most experience cyclist in residence. He’s been working for Youth en Route for two years.
“They were so keen and engaged, all taking turns setting the pace and leading the group. They did three laps (over 3 km) and wanted to keep going.”
So many of the girls in PE 10 classes were not confidant riders. “I feel we really inspired a few if them. And when they heard they could get a bike, they really put in the effort,” said Sam Hargreaves, who is new to the Cyclist in Residence Role.
Inclusive and safe learning
A couple of the students admitted that they hadn’t returned their activity forms because they didn’t know how to ride a bike and didn’t think they wanted to try. Both came back before the end of the week with the forms. And both figured it out.
When asked about the impact on her students, PE teacher Renee Russel said:
“Youth en Route has created an inclusive environment that promotes confidence, perseverance, and teamwork. They encourage physical fitness and environmental awareness, inspiring kids to choose biking as a sustainable mode of transportation. Youth en Route have not only introduced the joy of cycling to students but has also fostered essential life skills and values.”
Grade 7s knock off 6 km
Over at Queen Elizabeth, the Grade 7 and Grade 8 Outdoor Education classes learned about safety, built up skills in the field and on short rides to Riley Park and a nearby playground. On the last day, Youth en Route supported a 6.5 km ride to Prince’s Island Park along the Bow River Pathway. At the park, they were able to blow off some extra steam at the playground.
“It was a glorious day,” said Laura Shutiak, executive director of Youth en Route, who tagged along for the ride. “We were so fortunate that the weather cooperated with our programs this fall. It meant all the schools could tackle a decent trip.”
Wheeling with special education kids
Many special education classes need a few more weeks of school to learn about their students and prepare for a new activity. But not at William Aberhart. He CSSI class was out riding on Oct. 4. A number of students were new to the activity. One boy, we’ll call Paul, was kind of interested in the trikes, particularly the orange Mobo, a type of recumbent bike.
When we asked if he wanted to try it, he said no. “I don’t do that.” Then, I asked him if he’d just like to sit on the bike. Tentatively, he gave it a try. “I had to go attend to another student, but just a few minutes later, he had helmet on and was riding with his aide close by,” said Shutiak.
Remembering the ‘bike lady.’
But the best story from Abe was a young woman we’ll call Amira. We first met her when she was in Grade 9 at another school. Now in Grade 11, she was very keen to be biking on our new specialized Rifton, a more supportive model. She rose from her wheelchair, and with support, put a leg over the bike. With her feet secured to the pedals, the smile as she started to move was radiant. More, she signed again and again.
But the best part of the day for Shutiak, was the realization that Amira remembered her name from two years earlier. “Laura, Laura she said as Shutiak worked to get the bike adjusted.
All thanks to sponsors
We couldn’t do what we are able to do without the help of grants from Alberta Eco-Trust Climate Innovation Fund and Jumpstart Canadian Tire Charities.