Where The Wild Things Grow 63rd St Beach Ride

June
21
June 21, 2025
Spend a half-day with Out Our Front Door on a short bike ride and service day to 63rd St Beach!

Join us for a day ride to 63rd St Beach for 2 hours of environmental service. We will join with regular volunteers from Shedd Aquarium Action Days to assist in litter pickup and coastal habitat restoration.

We will meet at Cafe Jumping Bean in Pilsen (1439 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608) at 9 am. At 9:10 am, we will head out on bikes to arrive to 63rd St Beach by 10 am. The ride will be roughly 9 miles primarily on the lake front trail. If you can't make the ride, but want to volunteer for the day, we love that! Meet us on the lakeside of the 63rd St Beachhouse (6300e E Hayes Dr, Chicago, IL 60649).

Our service day will end at 12 pm. Afterwards, we'll have an optional hangout to get lunch and a drink nearby.

What to Bring:

  • A water bottle (portable by bike) that you can fill up for our day!
  • Your bike in good working order, a spare tube, and a bike lock.
  • Water and snacks.
  • Gardening gloves (if you have them!).
  • Clothes to keep you protected and dry. We'll be riding rain or shine and this is an outdoor event so prepare for the weather!
  • Any knowledge you'd like to share about local ecosystems, flora or fauna and why you love them!

Your $5 donation holds your space on the ride and allows us to support to the community partners that we work with. All proceeds from the $5 RSVPs will be donated to our partner Shedd Aquarium and their Conservation Action Program.

Free event

Where The Wild Things Grow 63rd St Beach Ride

Spend a half-day with Out Our Front Door on a short bike ride and service day to 63rd St Beach!
June
21
June 21, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone ride your tours?

Yes! Some are easy and others are a challenge, but just about anyone who has ridden a bike for a day can do the tours. If you are not an avid bike rider already, you should build up your riding distance/endurance. Not sure you can ride it? Check out other people who completed our tours here

What happens if my bike breaks?

First, always bring a spare inner tube. Our prepared Guides are always ready to help, are trained for emergency repairs, and carry extra tools and supplies.

How fast do you ride? What is the pace of your tours?

The pace we ride at is around 12 miles per hour. This is to accommodate everyone riding the tour, to be able to take in all the views and to be able to ride a second day. You have to remember their is a second day and you should pace yourself. (We are bikers but we are not running a Tour de France). Family, Youth and Adaptive Rides roll at a slower pace to accommodate those along from the ride oftentimes dropping to the range of 8-10 mph.

What happens if it rains, is the event cancelled?

No. We still ride if there is rain. Some of the best views are after a rain storm. Though safety is our top priority, so if there is extreme severe weather we will break and wait it out in a provided shelter, then continue on our journey.

What happens if I'm too slow? What happens if I'm too fast?

We do our best to ride together as a group. That said, if some space occurs in the group, the OOFD guides will not leave anybody behind. A guide will always be riding at the back and at the front.

What should I bring for the bike trip?​

Always bring two spare inner tubes and a bike tool kit if you have one. Dress for the season, during spring and fall make sure to bring gloves for your hands and layer your clothing. Even when the weather is nice, when riding your bike the wind can make you chilly really quick.

What if I get tired?

We champion perseverance and the challenge. We encourage to push on, the reward of completion is great. But if turning around is an absolute must, there is always a train station relatively close by throughout the entirety of the tours.

What kind of bike do I need?

It's really up to you. But we recommend a Touring, Road, Urban or Hybrid bike. These types of bikes make for a more comfortable ride. Attaching a bike rack will help carry your daily supplies and keep weight off your shoulders. Almost all of our routes are on paved paths/lanes or crushed packed limestone.

Do you rent bicycles out to the public?

At the moment no. Our goal as we continue to grow we will be able to provide bicycles for participants.

How long does it take to complete your tours?

Most of our rides are 2  days though we have some that are 3, 4, and even 5 days.

Radical Inclusivity

Our number one value at Out Our Front Door is to be Welcoming. And we often think, talk, and act on that through something we call Radical Inclusivity.
Read our statement

Radical Inclusivity and Non‑Discrimination Statement

We at Out Our Front Door believe in the radical inclusion of all people on our bike camping trips. Regardless of your race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, economic status, or even the types of bikes you ride, we want you rollin’ with us. We want everyone to feel welcome. As a participant of an Out Our Front Door event, you are inherently agreeing to Ride and Let Ride.
If you exhibit any micro-aggressions observed by leaders, such as being judgmental of another’s bike, touring experience/skill, mansplaining, or generally being unfriendly you will be politely yet firmly corrected by OOFD leaders. If you commit any serious offense such as repeated unwanted flirtation, sexual harassment, overt racism, etc., you will be asked to leave the tour without a refund and will no longer be welcomed on future rides.
If you feel you are a victim of any of the above or have observed it, please raise the issue with one of our ride leaders, and they will handle the issue accordingly and with appropriate discretion.
We have this policy in place because we want everyone to feel safe and welcome. Out Our Front Door is an open community of bike campers, and we will forever work to bring all sorts of folks into the fold. Thank you for being a positive contributor to that community.

Land Acknowledgement

We recognize that every path we travel is on Native land, and we offer this land acknowledgment with respect for those who came before us.
Read our statement

Land Acknowledgement

Chicago is the traditional homeland of the Council of the Three Fires: The Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi Nations. Many other Tribes like the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Sac, and Fox also called this area home. Located at the intersection of several great waterways, the land naturally became a site of travel and healing for many Tribes. American Indians continue to call this area home, and now Chicago is home to the third largest Urban American Indian community that still practices their heritage traditions and cares for the land and waterways. Today, Chicago continues to be a place that calls many people from diverse backgrounds to live and gather.
This land acknowledgment is from the American Indian Center of Chicago.