This summer we held our largest Bicycle Day Camp with 115 participants. Campers aged between 7 and 14 years of age. Our two program leaders, Katherine Wilson and Daurie Mangan-Dimuzio spent 5 days a week with the campers. Mornings focused on bicycle safety and maintenance, learning to assess the condition of bicycles and perform repair work. They also had riding drills in the parking lot and learned rules of the road.
Day Camp afternoons were spent riding safely through Portland streets as the campers learn to be responsible in traffic.
On one of the most special days of camp, the group spends the morning learning to dismantle bicycles and examining the parts. In the afternoon, they load up a trailer full of old bike rims and ride to North Interstate for a tour of Resource Revival, a leading source for unique recycled gifts and home furnishings, and a great supporter of the CCC. They learn how bicycle parts, such as the rims they've brought along, can be turned into functional and decorative artwork. From beginning to end, these "recycling days" are a powerful way to illustrate first hand the importance of reusing old materials.
For a few campers, this is their second or third year and it is great to have them back with us for the summer. Some campers also come for multiple sessions. Returning campers delve deeper into bicycle mechanics. Jonathan, 13, won the award for the most weeks at bike camp – he attended for five weeks! In his second week, Jonathan put to use his new knowledge of hubs, headsets, & bottom brackets and completely overhauled his Dad's bike - which had lived in the basement for more than a decade. Jonathan has also taught other returning campers the finer points of bearing adjustment. After completing his camp sessions, Jonathan moved on to become a dedicated CCC volunteer.
Simone was one of our Bike Camp Super Stars. She celebrated her seventh birthday during camp and managed to keep up with kids twice her age for two weeks of camp, on a single-speed bike. On top of her strong riding skills, Simone can fix her own flat tire. At age 7. Wow!
With a maximum of 16 participants in each session, campers receive individual attention allowing them to learn skills at their own pace. Our instructors can also cater each activity to the skill and interest level of the participants, making our Summer Camp a truly unique experience.
