2014 was a real year of growth for us. Throughout the year we served 1756 youth participants in our Bike Clubs and Earn-A-Bike/Bike Shop program plus 913 additional students during Bike Rodeos.
Overall during the Fall we provided:
– 11 weekly Bike Club and Earn-A-Bike programs
– totaling 17 hours a week of in-depth after-school bike programming
– which means we have delivered 109 sessions
– serving 839 youth participants
– plus 747 additional students during Bike Rodeos
We were able to hire our second full time employee, Noni Jarnagin, who is an Instructor as well as the Instructor and Volunteer Coordinator.
We hired our first Apprentice Mechanic, Se’Daruis Rogers, in April and then expanded his position over the Summer via a partnership with Austin B-Cycle. He was able to work 8-10 hours a week with us assisting at our Bike Shop at Boys and Girls Club as well as on rides and then an additional 16-20 hours a week learning fleet maintenance and other skills at B-Cycle.
We offered three great Summer programs at Martin Middle School, Dobie Middle School and Boys and Girls Club East Club.
Expanding in the Fall into additional schools including Consuelo Mendez Middle School and Blackshear Elementary, we also began offering in school PE based Bike Rodeos so that we could teach introductory bicycle skills to a wide audience of 3rd through 5th graders. Students continued to learn and earn their Cycle Academy merit badges for bicycle skills proficiency, becoming skilled riders and peer mentors.
Additionally, Cyclocross Project 2015 partnered with us to perform two months of free Cyclocross Clinics in East Austin based out of the Boys and Girls Club. In December some of the riders from these clinics attended a free Cyclocross race and Denzel, one of our Shop Assistants, won his age group. All of the kids had a great time.
This Spring (2015), we will further expand to provide after-school programs in 10-12 Elementary, Middle and High Schools plus the shop at a Boys and Girls Club East Club resulting in 13-17 programming sessions a week. All programs are bicycle based and focus on skills development to produce self-sufficient youth riders.
Thank you for all the support last year. These programs are made possible by supporters and donors like you!
Martin MS exploring the Boardwalk:
Maplewood ES PE Bike Rodeo:
Diego at showing off his Cycle Academy merit badges:
Kealing MS weekend field trip on the Southern Walnut Creek Trail:
Martin MS ride to the Fun Fun Fun Fest:
Zerrianna couldn't be more excited about her new bike:
Blackshear ES riding to and exploring a park and creek:
