Grant Provides 10 Free Bike Camping Slots for BIPOC Riders on OOFD Bike Camping Adventures

Photo by Ramsey Lujan Riders on Flock Off the Block 2023

On the Road to Barrier Free Bike Camping
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Out Our Front Door won a grant from New Belgium Brewing thanks to the work of OOFD volunteer Haley. The Bicycle Advocacy Grassroots grant awarded us $1600 to provide free spots on our bike camping trips for 10 BIPOC riders that self-report financial need. 

As New Belgium says, “the whole idea behind this grant is that not only is the bicycle all kinds of fun to ride, but it allows us to experience our communities and our world at the speed of discovery: to connect with the world around us in a way that simply cannot be achieved when a car door is separating us from our surroundings.” 
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And OOFD knows that time spent outside is connected to a plethora of physical and mental health benefits, such as reduced risk of chronic disease, decreased anxiety, and increased social interactions. In Chicago, though, access to green space is not always made equal.
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We always are working as an org to change this picture. We believe everyone deserves access to exploration in their region. Our community knows the beauty that comes from feeling connected and being outside, and we want everyone to experience these benefits. The reality, though, is that people face barriers and cost is sometimes one of them. 

Photo by Glenn Schneider Youth from Blackstone on a bike camping trip to Camp Shabonna in 2018

OOFD’s value number one is to be Welcoming, and we often talk about this in terms of being Radically Inclusive. One way we do this is by keeping our overnights super affordable. Though we do recognize paying $100+ for a weekend bike camping trip is tough for some folks.  
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That’s why our new grant funded program, On the Road to Barrier Free Bike Camping, will allow us to waive the cost of our bike camping adventures for 10 BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) identifying individuals as these communities have experienced systems that serve as barriers to accessing natural spaces.

Photo by Ashley Lyons 2024 Adult Day Ride Crew for an early Juneteeth Celebration Ride to DuSable Black History Museum

We always strive to have our OOFD rides better represent the diversity of our fine city, from race, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, economic status, to the types of bikes our riders use. We know that representation in outdoor recreation has lagged to include people of color, who have historically and systemically been left out. And a big part of our mission is to inspire individuals to try new things, grow confidence in overcoming challenges, be a part of a supportive and encouraging community, and create a deeper reverence for the nature and history of our home region.

So, how can you claim these free slots?
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Any BIPOC identifying adult (21 years or older) who has a financial barrier to signing up for our overnight rides (no “proof” necessary) can simply email OOFD Co-Founder and Executive Director, Glenn Schneider, [email protected], and let him know which ride you are interested in signing up for. One ride per individual. If you are interested in using the grant funds for a Family Overnight, we can certainly work that out. 

Or you can simply sign up for our big Flock Off the Block Ride, August 10-11, to Camp Sullivan by using promo code - newbelgiumgrant promocode at checkout, and your ticket price will be $0. 

Photo by Ramsey Lujan Riders on 2023 Flock Off the Block Overnight