ON A ROLL
A new bike fleet is igniting possibilities in Southern Alberta
Do you remember the first time you rode a bike - pushing off without training wheels, wind in your hair, and a whole world of adventure beneath your tires?
A beautiful day to be on bikes at Chief Big Belly School with youth from the Tsuut’ina and Bearspaw Nations.
One of our Spirit North team members calls a bike a “vessel of freedom.” In communities where access to recreation can be limited, a bike opens a world of possibilities.
Biking programs are becoming a highlight for Spirit North programs. In the communities where we have access to bike fleets, they’ve become an invaluable tool for outdoor education, allowing kids to access trails and activities far beyond the schoolyard, providing new opportunities for exploration and creativity in our programs.
“Getting bikes and a storage solution set up for our school was one of the proudest experiences I think I’ve ever had as a teacher.”
The Southern Alberta team learning basic bike maintenance from the pros at Ridley Cycle.
This past year, a fleet of bikes and a trailer was donated to the Southern Alberta travelling team, thanks to a generous donations from the Daryl K. Seaman Canadian Hockey Fund through the Calgary Foundation and the Government of Alberta’s Community Initiative Program, as well as the help of Ridley’s Cycle in Calgary. Now, students in Eden Valley (Bearspaw Nation), Tsuut’ina Nation and other schools in Treaty 7 territory will be able to reach hiking trailheads, climbing walls, and other outdoor adventures that were previously out of reach.
Community Program Leader Anika Moran says, “All of the hiking spots we explore are on reserve, and when we launched our programs in Southern Alberta, most of the kids had never been to these hiking areas before. But when they realize they can bike to a hiking spot, or down to the river, they’re more likely to do that in their spare time. When we’re getting to these areas by bike, the kids are out on the land, looking around, and learning the route. It makes those places feel more accessible so they can imagine going on their own or with friends.”
“Even in the rain, the kids said, ‘Can we go anyway?’ That’s exceeding expectations.”
Our goal now is to bring this magic to as many kids and as many communities as possible. “The aim is for this travel fleet to be available to all of the schools that don't currently have a permanent set of bikes,” says Carla McGruer, a Community Program Leader with the Southern Alberta travelling team. “And we're hoping to pull together some full-day summer bike days, too, during our summertime programs.”
Longtime volunteer, Dave, helped set up the trailer needed to transport the Southern Alberta bike fleet.
This is just one example of how the demand for the bike program is growing as Community Program Leaders look for new ways to encourage youth to participate in movement and land-based activities year-round. Bikes provide a powerful way to encourage youth to explore and feel the freedom that sport can bring.
Thanks to our donors for helping youth shred.
