Students near Kennewick discover the joys of cycling
After a year of working with mentors and learning the ins and outs of cycling, middle students near Kennewick got to show what they were made of during a 25-mile race, part of the Inland Empire Century.
The students were participants in an after school cycling program at Stevens Middle School. The program was a pilot initiative that began in the fall and there is talk of expanding it to other schools in the Tri-City Area.
The organizers of clubs and after-school programs for students can use printing services to generate interest and to encourage people to sign up.
So far, the cycling club has been a hit with the kids. One seventh grader, Luis Fierro, told the Tri-City Herald that he appreciates the chance to work out his lungs and legs, and that he loves spending time in the fresh air.
Along with helping kids get ready to ride 25 miles, the cycling club also familiarizes them with the rules of the road and bike safety. Students are taught hand signals and how to inspect their bikes before a ride.
The idea for the cycling club came from Mike Watkins, a certified instructor. He got the idea after seeing young cyclists riding from Seattle to Portland. Funding for the club came from a $11,000 donation from the local rotary club. Whitney Allstate Insurance provided helmets and Tri-Cities Sunrise Rotary supplied bike tools.
The students were participants in an after school cycling program at Stevens Middle School. The program was a pilot initiative that began in the fall and there is talk of expanding it to other schools in the Tri-City Area.
The organizers of clubs and after-school programs for students can use printing services to generate interest and to encourage people to sign up.
So far, the cycling club has been a hit with the kids. One seventh grader, Luis Fierro, told the Tri-City Herald that he appreciates the chance to work out his lungs and legs, and that he loves spending time in the fresh air.
Along with helping kids get ready to ride 25 miles, the cycling club also familiarizes them with the rules of the road and bike safety. Students are taught hand signals and how to inspect their bikes before a ride.
The idea for the cycling club came from Mike Watkins, a certified instructor. He got the idea after seeing young cyclists riding from Seattle to Portland. Funding for the club came from a $11,000 donation from the local rotary club. Whitney Allstate Insurance provided helmets and Tri-Cities Sunrise Rotary supplied bike tools.