Out Our Front Door Newsletter - July 2019

Illinois Beach State Park on our June camping trip. One of the most bio-diverse areas in the country.

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Greetings and Season 4 Update

Bike camping season is in full swing! Last you heard from us, we were dropping our 2019 camping dates and registration. 5 months later and . . . BAM! We have sold out every ride of the year to this point. Most of them were filled 2 months in advance. We have a major goal to fill every ride of the year, and we will do it! Help us get there by signing up for those last couple of tours with spots available including the ride where it all began, The North Loop Ride this coming weekend which will take you to one of the most bodacious prairies you ever did see. You'll earn it with nearly back to back century rides - July 27-28.

So far in 2019, we have led 4 Adult Overnights totaling 106 paid participants and 18 guide slots not to mention the 4 Where the Wild Things Grow rides to service, and two sold out Family Overnight Rides. Plus, that huge 70 person ride to The Indiana Dunes National Park that we did in partnership with the big dogs, Adventure Cycling Association. We blew some socks off with how awesome that event was. Truly something special and took OOFD to next level status for sure. Picture 70 folks camping on top of a dune being serenaded by a blue grass band while they sipped some beverages and roasted s'mores.  So many thanks to all that came out, to ACA for the professional level partnership, and to the stellar team of OOFD and ACA volunteers that made it as special as it was. 

Youth Where the Wild Thing Grow in Jackson Park with Blackstone Bikes. Photo: Marijke Wijnen

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And ya wanna know what the coolest part of that is? This all was done completely by volunteers! We are a volunteer run organization filled simply with a bunch of folks that believe in adventure and believe in connecting others to their local nature and history. Our volunteer base has more than tripled this year with an incredible and feisty group of solid new volunteers contributing huge over the past 6 months. ​

And while I am mentioning volunteers, we gotta give a huge shout out to the OOFD Board! We have lost a few members in 2019, and this team has really rallied together. The organization has only grown stronger thanks to their perseverance and belief in our mission. That said, we do have a couple of board positions open so if you are interested or know someone that has board experience that might be interested, please get in touch with us by emailing Glenn Schneider at [email protected].

And if any of this at all sounds like something you want to be a part of, come join the 20 or so folks each first Tuesday at On Tour Brewing to discuss bikes, camping, adventure in general, and even discuss OOFD plans and events. The next one is Tuesday, August 6 at 7:30pm.

Earth Day Service with Friends of the Major Taylor Trail

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Featured Adult Overnight:
The North Loop Ride

​​This is where it all began when we led 5 brave souls on our first ever ride back in April of 2016. The route is basically a century sandwich with a night camping in one of the loveliest wetlands and prairies in Northern Illinois. We are on pace to sell out every ride this year though this one still has a number of slots left. It leaves on Saturday and returns on Sunday, July 27-28. A true Chicago weekend adventure cycling about 200 miles, 90% of which are on bike paths. So take this opportunity to have a truly memorable adventure this coming weekend. Even if you can't make it, please be sure to hype it to help us fill the final remaining slots. We've even added this route to our Classic Routes page, so you can learn more and explore this incredible Chicagoland loop.  

​Sign-up or share the event HERE.  

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Upcoming

​We will be leading the 3rd Annual Sun Harvest Ride to camp at Illinois Beach State Park on October 26-27. This ride will be a great time with about 60 folks pedaling through the fall colors of Illinois. Tickets are going fast so if you wanna be a part of this end of the season adventure, be sure to grab a slot asap.

Also, we have had a stellar year so far with a few great artists stepping in to create some designs and merch for us, so keep an eye out for the soon to be dropped OOFD T-Shirts and camping mugs!

Last but not least, non-for-profit status is filed!  Here’s to hoping for a quick and seamless response from the IRS. We will keep you posted. And on that front, keep an eye out for an evening fundraiser in Chicago sometime in September/October. We will hopefully be celebrating the receipt of our non-profit papers as well as gathering funds to help pay for those pricey next steps we took this year such as the huge expense of insuring all of our rides. 

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The 70 person bike camping trip to the dunes in collab with ACA! Photo cred: Breanna Bertacchi

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As always, happy Prairie State summer, and much love from the entire Out Our Front Door crew!