Out Our Front Door Newsletter - April 2022

Hootenanny Fundraiser This Sunday

Out Our Front Door is hosting our first in-person fundraiser in over two years! This time at one of the best spots in Chicago, The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia). Come out and help us celebrate the coming bike camping season.  All ticket and raffle proceeds go to supporting OOFD’s mission of immersing and educating in local history and nature via bike adventures.         

The Party
With the entry fee, you get: 

• 2 drink tickets - beer and/or shot
• All you can eat chili mac with vegan and veggie options
• Live bluegrass music performed by local band Mulefoot
• A great party with on of the greatest adventure communities in the region           

​The Raffle

Chicago bike and outdoor community showing up so so huge for OOFD! $3500 in raffle prizes which include:

• Outdoor gear including amazing bags from Arcteryx and Patagonia
• Bike service/supplies/gift cards from local bike shops JC Lind, Specialized, Trek, Roscoe Village Bikes, Boulevard Bikes, Bike Lane Chicago, Cog Cycles,  and even a skateboard from Working Bikes
• A free cake donated by Betty Bot Vegan Bakery and a Binny's gift card donated by The Chicago Beer Experience
• A few handmade feed bike bags that our very own Jordan Evangelista built from repurposed camping gear
• A myriad of cool outdoor stuff from Fjallraven, All Trails, Bike Lane Uprising, and some Abus folding bike locks
• OOFD Shirts, swag, and a free overnight ride

The Real Deep Why
Yes. It is to party with excellent people and kick off the season in fine fashion. But the real deep why is to support the OOFD mission to lead bike adventures to immerse and educate in local nature and history. The proceeds of the event will go towards us going our programming including our Youth and Adaptive Programs this year and into the future which will help us become an even more excellent local bike camping non-profit here in very own City in a Garden, Chicago. 

Early bird tickets are $30 and $35 at the door. We're on a mission to get 70 folks out! We're at 45 already.  Tickets available here.

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The Ride Season Begins in 21 Days

More than 16 rides happening this year! Everything from 35 miles slow rolls out to Shabonna in South Holland to 110 miles out to Starved Rock and everything in between. We got that exciting first ever SWMI ride into South West Michigan and the ever famous Valhalla Ride in Door County. Not to mention our 4 family rides to our local park districts and county preserves. 

The first one is April 30-May1 out to Shabonna. A chill 35 mile ride with a van to help carry gear. A great distance to kick off the season and get those legs back pumping. This one is a bit of a party with a stop at 18th Street Brewery before camp. And we'll be rolling with about 30 riders! There are about 10 tickets left, so snag yours now because it very likely is gonna sell out! More details and tickets here. 

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​The Adaptive and Youth Program Update

Last year we broke new ground on our mission towards radical inclusivity. We got 8 families with their children with disabilities out on 4 rides including the bike camping trip at the South Shore Cultural Center. These trips included moms, dads, grandpas, and siblings. Check out more about the Adaptive Program. And this year we are integrating folks with disabilities into our normal family program to further breakdown the typical segregation that happens with adaptive sports. 

As for the Youth Program, this year we are making it happen thanks to a grant from the Skokie Community Foundation and partnering with Emily Oaks Nature Center for a series fo day rides culminating in a bike camping trip. The idea is to get under resourced youth out into nature and breaking down the isolation that the last couple years have brought. If you know a Skokie youth that might be interested in this program, let us know!
Beyond excited to get all of these excellent bike adventures rolling with you all this year!
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Much love,
Glenn and all of your OOFD pals