Behind This Post:
Stories from the Trail is a blog series focused on capturing and retelling special moments from our Trail Rides program. We will highlight lessons learned, unexpected discoveries, and moments of pure joy our program youth experience on the trail. These stories convey a variety of perspectives including those of our dedicated ride leaders, volunteers, and youth.

​A Milestone Ride for One Youth
By Adam Smith, Ride Program Manager
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We always start our trail rides with an opening circle where we ask our young riders to tell us their name, the last time they rode a bike and what they are looking forward to during the adventure. You might imagine that most kids have been on a bike at least somewhat recently, but you’d be surprised to hear that this is quite often not the case. As much a part of childhood as riding a bike is for most youth in America, it isn’t uncommon to hear ours say they haven’t ridden a bike in many years, if they can remember at all. On this particular Friday afternoon we heard something different, however, “Hi, I am Victoria. I have not ridden a bike…”

​There was silence for a moment as everyone looked around. Since this happens from time to time, I asked a follow-up question, “Hi Victoria, so do you know how to ride a bike?”
“Oh yes,” she replied, “I have not ridden a bike in America. I am from Nicaragua.”
“Que bien! Y que son tus deseos para este dia, Victoria?” I asked in Spanish, “ What are you looking forward to today?”
“To have fun!” she said and smiled.
And fun was had indeed. When we arrived at Ocean Beach, she immediately pulled out her cell phone and made a video call to her mother to show her where she was and how beautiful the ocean looked. Her mother sounded thrilled. She wanted to go on the beach, so we took a group down and let them play in the sand where a spontaneous game of tag broke out immediately. Laughter abounded.

​“How was your first ride in America, Victoria? Will you come back and ride with us again?”
“Yes, of course! Me gusto mucho! (I loved it!)
From Victoria’s first bike ride in America to the tens of thousands of similar youth we’ve served throughout our 30-year history, this is why we do what we do. Trips for Kids Marin provides transformative cycling experiences for underserved youth that build self-esteem, inspire healthy lifestyles and instill environmental values. Today’s ride was a beautiful reminder of why what we do matters and why we couldn’t be more thankful to share our love of bikes and nature with deserving youth like Victoria.

​Leslie Eichenberger has been involved with Trips for Kids Marin (TFKM) for 30 years. An avid mountain bike rider, Leslie joined TFKM as a ride volunteer in the late eighties and soon after, started supporting the organization as a donor. Later, she married, now she and her husband Jim are both involved. “We give to Trips for Kids Marin because it provides simple joy for kids,” she said. “As a grassroots, get-it-done organization, we know the money is not being wasted on frivolous projects. Helping Trips for Kids Marin just makes us feel good.” In her work with TFKM, Leslie has led rides, helped with fundraising bike swaps as well as the Earn-a-Bike program. Leslie shared her thoughts about being a long-time volunteer and enthusiastic supporter.

What would you share with anyone considering getting involved with Trips for Kids Marin?

Remember when you were a kid and what a joy it was to learn how to ride a bike and the freedom and the absolute delight that you experienced? That’s what you can give underserved kids today by getting involved with Trips for Kids Marin. It’s simple happiness. It’s that wide grin that comes on a kid’s face -- that pure elation - he or she gets to experience.  

It’s especially true for kids that are underserved and don't have bikes. There are many kids who participate with TFKM who have never been outside the City, let alone to Marin. They haven’t ever experienced the rush that comes with being outdoors, the fresh air, the smells and the absolute freedom that being on a bike brings. You can change that by getting involved.

I hope every kid gets to experience that joy, that all-of-a-sudden feeling that you can now go places and you can have independence for the first time. Plus, just being in the wilderness experiencing things for the first time: the smells, the sounds, the physical challenge of exertion and all those sensations, it's just pure fun.

Nature feeds your soul more than anything else can. Especially now with kids being so absorbed in devices, or television, or other things that don’t enrich their lives, that don’t nourish them. Being outdoors can deliver kids to a different place that’s healthy and pure and just good for them.

What would you tell someone who's thinking about donating to Trips for Kids Marin?

It's money well invested. It's not going to be wasted. If you ever saw TFKM’S headquarters, if you saw the office, and if you knew the founder Marilyn Price... thrifty is one word that would come to mind.

There are many worthwhile charities out there to give to, many non-profits that are doing great work. However, carving out a little bit of money for providing a simple joy for underserved kids delivers dividends down the line because the kids are healthier and happier because they've been outdoors.

If you think about your first trip outdoors, your first camping trip, your first bike ride, your first picnic, and how great that made you feel… and now multiply that by the thousands of kids TFKM serves every year, that's how your money is being invested. It’s pure joy.

You Have the Ability to Make Children Smile
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If you would like to spread the joy of riding a bicycle with underserved youth in your community, please donate today. If you would like to find out about how to volunteer with Trips for Kids Marin, please read our volunteer page.

In 2017, we received a unique request from a young man who wanted to volunteer with the Trail Rides program as part of his Bar Mitzvah project. He told us that he was an avid mountain biker and wanted to help share the joy of riding with underserved youth by joining our rides and raising money for the cause. How could we not be impressed?
Over the year, Solomon, along with his mother Allison, joined us on several trail rides and even had a starring role in our Trail Rides film you can see here. His ever-present smile, enthusiasm and mad skills on the bike gave our beginning riders someone their age to look up to and connect with. Additionally, Solomon raised money for us by promoting giving through his Bar Mitzvah invitations and taking a collection after the service.

​Part of becoming a Bar Mitzvah is giving a Drash (speech) during the ceremony about your service project, your Mitzvah.  Solomon’s Drash was beautifully written and delivered and in it, he gave one of the most heartfelt descriptions of mountain biking and its importance that we’ve ever heard. He reflected on a portion of the Torah known as, Parashat B'shalach. In this text, Moses leads the Jews out of Egypt and away from slavery, as the Pharaoh is chasing after them. Meeting a roadblock, Moses must split the Red Sea to lead the Jews to freedom, but at first, the Jews are hesitant to proceed when they thought their lives were endangered, saying they would rather be slaves than die escaping.
Solomon analyzed why the Jews might have hesitated, preferring slavery over the pursuit of freedom and what it means to be free, both the concepts of having freedom FROM and freedom TO. For Solomon having "freedom from your mind" is most important, and for that reason, he rides bikes.
Here is an excerpt from Solomon's Drash:

I know for me, one of the ways I get freedom from my mind is by mountain biking.
This brings me to my bar Mitzvah project…I decided to volunteer for Trips for Kids, a non-profit, national organization based in San Rafael. Trips for Kids brings underserved kids onto bikes and out into nature. I have helped lead some of their mountain bike rides this past year. I think biking is a fantastic tool that gives the participants freedom from their minds which may be holding stressful things. I believe mountain biking can be used as an outlet to free your mind.
And, biking is sort of like Moses—how he helped the Jews get free from slavery---Just like biking can help free you from stressful thoughts.  

Solomon closes by saying:

So, I want to leave you with a feeling of how great it is to feel free!
For me, it is on the bike. But for you, what is that thing that clears your mind? Is it surfing? Playing hoops? Doing something creative? Being with friends? Listening to music?
Do it! Doing something you love can help bring freedom to your mind.
So, think of what makes you free and I invite you to make it part of your day today and every day…  

Congratulations Solomon, we are grateful for your dedicated volunteer work and decision to support our organization. We couldn’t be more proud of you and look forward to having you join us on the trail to help others free their minds from the seat of a mountain bike!   ​

Offshore storms over the Pacific Ocean had triggered a high surf warning for the Bay Area during the third week of January 2018. Waves 15 feet tall were recorded crashing ashore along the coastline, too rough for even the saltiest surfer. Fortunately, being a youth mountain biking organization, the high surf warning wasn’t much of a concern as we began our first ride of the year with the Mission Graduates/Good Samaritan after-school program, our most frequent riding partner.
When a group vote was taken whether to ride to the ocean or the beautiful playground at the opposite end of Golden Gate Park, all hands rose for the Pacific. Little did we know what an excellent decision that would prove to be.
As we neared the shore, we stopped in awe as the Big Blue came into view. Waves higher than I had ever seen at Ocean Beach rolled in an angry surf. The kids were just as excited as I was, their mouths wide open as we pedaled up to the sand.  “Look how big they are! I’ve never seen waves so big!” they said.

After assessing that the waves were breaking far enough from shore that it was safe to proceed, we parked the bikes and ran down to the water’s edge to find a heavenly scene. Sea foam, whipped up by the churning saltwater, scattered the beach like tiny cumulus clouds floating over the desert. It was magical. The kids ran around kicking and jumping in the foam appearing as though they were flying as the water reflected the sky and clouds above. ​

It was one of those special moments that you live for as an outdoor educator. Not distracted by their phones or the stresses of life, the kids were immersed entirely in the moment experiencing the wonders of nature.
This is why we do what we do. These are our moments in the clouds.

Growing up in the Canal District of San Rafael, Alex participated in Trips for Kids Marin's Earn-a-Bike afterschool program for three years. Fast forward 15 years, Alex is professionally employed as an auto mechanic, "working with his hands," a passion he discovered in his early days tinkering with bikes.
For Alex, Earn-a-Bike was about more than learning skills. The program filled a need within his community, offering a safe space to gather, off of the streets, and under the watchful eye of Trips for Kids staff. Curious kids would drop by to problem solve and help one another, as well as, to watch over "the next generation" of participants who they could now teach.
We sat down with Alex to gain insight into the lasting impact of our Earn-a-Bike Program on his life and career:

How It All Began:
​Celebrated annually around the United States, Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day (TKMBD) is a day of bike advocacy and celebration recognized by the U.S. Congress and founded in memory of Jack Doub. Organized by IMBA, bike groups around the country host events designed to introduce the next generation of kids to the sport of mountain biking. This year, Trips for Kids Marin (TFKM) participated in the fun by hosting their own Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day event free of charge to local youth. The event took place in China Camp State Park in Marin County.

With Special Thanks:
​TKMBD would not have been possible without several key partnerships in addition to IMBA. Members from Norcal High School Cycling Leauge a local youth cycling league rode with us at the event and handed out goodies to participants. Friends of China Camp generously let us use Miwok Meadows for the day for free. The local natural food company, Navitas Organics donated boxes of healthy snack bars. Marin's community grocer, United Markets contributed boxes of fresh fruit to keep our young riders fueled.
Additionally, we would not have had such an impactful day without the generosity of the Dino J Ghilotti Foundation, who provided a grant for the purchase of an additional van. Because of our van, we could supply every rider with a mountain bike and helmet so that they could participate. Our van fleet is key to allowing us to bring equipment for children who lack their own bikes or who are exploring bicycle riding for the first time.
Special thanks to all volunteers and staff who spent their valuable weekend time with us transforming lives. You rock and are integral to Trips for Kids Marin!

Trips for Kids Marin would like to highlight the phenomenal contributions of our volunteers who support our organization and its mission in so many ways, including aiding our admin operations, fixing up donated bicycles, tagging and organizing our apparel,  fundraising for us, and leading trail rides. Their skills are diverse and astonishing. Each month we hope to honor individuals or organizations who do so much for Trips for Kids Marin.

Meet This Month's Wonderful Volunteers:

Marko
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Marko joined us a volunteer in August and brought his professional video production skills on a trail ride in Pt. Pinole. He created an amazing film that captures the true essence of the Trail Rides Program. The video debuted at the Moving Kids Forward event on September 9.  Thank you, Marko, for your professionalism and dedication to our work. We hope to have more films to show you all soon!

Watch Marko's Video

San Rafael Elks Lodge

The San Rafael Elks Lodge Moving Kids Forward Committee hosted the 2nd annual benefit concert for Trips for Kids Marin and raised over $10,000 for our Mobile Bike Workshops. This all-volunteer group coordinated music, food, decoration, photography and much more to make the event a success for us. Thank you, Jenn, Haden, Loring, Jeff, Cammie, Michael, Kathleen, Jeanine and Chuck for truly Moving Kids Forward! We are looking forward to the third annual event in 2018!

Kurt

Kurt has been volunteering at the Re-Cyclery Bike Shop for over 12 years and has served as an outreach volunteer for our numerous community events. "Kurt's enthusiasm is infectious and he brings so much fun and laughter when he helps us out at the shop," said Brian, Re-Cyclery Shop Manager. Thank you, Kurt, for your dedication and support!

Why Not Get Involved?
Love bikes? Have a special skill that might benefit our organization? Want to be a part of a movement to get #morekidsonbikes? We want to hear from you!

Volunteer with Trips for Kids Marin

Behind This Post
Stories from the Trail is a blog series focused on capturing and retelling special moments from our Trail Rides program. We will highlight lessons learned, unexpected discoveries, and moments of pure joy our program youth experience on the trail. These stories capture a variety of perspectives including those of our dedicated ride leaders, volunteers, and youth.

Umm, meta, metammmmm
By Adam Smith, Ride Program Manager

Our Trail Rides aren’t only about mountain biking. During the ride, we often incorporate environmental ideas and nature moments whenever we can. Recently on a visit to Point Pinole, we stopped and took a short hike to a secluded beach filled with marvelous rocks and shells.

When I picked up a particularly interesting rock, Jeremy said: “Oh, that’s a sedimentary rock!” He was right; you could see the layers of sand compressed over eons in the stone.  I picked up another rock. “And what’s this one,” I asked. “Umm, meta, meta, metammmmm.” “You got it, metamorphic! Well done. Ok, and lastly?” I picked up a crystal stone. “Igneous!” He yelled! “I never thought I’d be learning about rocks on a bike ride” he joyfully said with a big smile.

Well said Jeremey, "you never know what you might learn on a bike ride with Trips for Kids." I had a big smile too!

​On Monday, April 25, 2017 Trips for Kids set an organization record by teaching mountain bike skills to 90 freshmen students from Galileo Academy of Science and Technology in one day!
The unique mountain bike skills program was delivered by four Trips for Kids Ride Leaders (Adam Smith, Tim Long, Michael Rogers and Cat Welch), along with one faithful TFK volunteer, Calvin Pon, to 30 kids per hour, for three periods during the school day. Taking place on their AstroTurf football field in downtown San Francisco, the program focused on mountain bike basics like helmet fitting, ABC Quick check, braking, shifting, IMBA’s three essential riding skills, riding as a group and more.

Originally proposed by Galileo P.E. teacher, Muszetta Jones, the program was intended to build basic biking skills before taking each class on a two hour bike tour of the San Francisco waterfront as part of the Safe Routes to School biking initiative in the city.

“The kids loved it,” Muszetta said, “They were really excited to get on the bikes and I told you we were going to figure out a way to make it happen.”

Muszetta was right, and the day was a great success for the students of Galileo Academy and Trips for Kids, one that could be a model for future programming in the TFK Trail Rides Program.