2023 Recap - Youth Program

The Youth Program was finally back this past summer after 3 years off from Covid! We reignited some awesome former partners and made really great new ones all under the leadership of our new Youth Program Director Claire Meyers.

Greencorps Chicago had us present to their summer program staff during their training which led to us leading a Boulevard bike ride from Westinghouse School on the West Side to Douglas Park with over 20 of their young folks. We also led a fix a flat clinic for one of their groups at Chicago Vocational Academy on the South Side. We connected with the young people in the Chicago Green Ambassadors Program at the Field Museum and led them on an educational day ride along the lakefront to the Caracol Gathering Space on the lake. ​

We got some of the Bikes N’ Roses youth in front of some sowing machines for a bike bag making workshop. We also tabled, made s’mores and rode with Boxing Out Negativity a couple of times on the West Side. We were a part of Patagonia's family friendly anniversary party where we instructed some of the kids there on how to build a tent. And this weekend, we will be supporting The Recyclery on an educational day ride to Northerly Island and the Shedd Aquarium. ​

We are excited to grow these partnerships as well as re-engage some other partners in the offseason as we plan to lead a number of youth day rides and a couple of youth bike camping trips next year!