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Trips for Kids National is in the process of completing a transfer of its programs to the League of American Bicyclists. Started 1988, Trips for Kids has built a movement around the principle that young people of all communities, especially those most in need, should be able to experience the transformative nature of bicycling. Through the leadership of its chapters across North America, Trips for Kids has reached more than 230,000 kids over the course of its history. Its programming, which will continue to be offered by Trips for Kids chapters and supported by the League, includes promoting healthy lifestyles and environmental awareness through biking opportunities, bike-related STEM learning curriculum, and personal empowerment with positive adult role models and mentorship. “The League is honored to integrate Trips for Kids’ resources into our own and we are thrilled to be able continue supporting the work of Trips for Kids chapters as members of the League’s network of more than 1,000 member organizations,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “We will offer Trips for Kids’ resources through our programming and platforms and we know the experience and expertise of TFK chapters will encourage and inspire more organizations and communities to reach more youth with the life-transforming power of biking and strengthen the movement to make bicycling safe, comfortable, and accessible for all.” The League of American Bicyclists is the national grassroots advocacy organization working to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. Founded in 1880, the League now counts more than 200,000 members and supporters and over 1,000 state and local advocacy groups and bike clubs as well as thousands of businesses, universities, and communities as part of the movement for better biking. “The League’s demonstrated commitment to equity in bicycling is what drew us to them as we considered the future of Trips for Kids National. We share their vision of a nation where everyone, whether they bike or not, recognizes and enjoys the many benefits and opportunities of bicycling and where everyone can experience the joy of bicycling,” said Patricia Gallery, former president and CEO of Trips for Kids National. “With their large national membership and influence, the League is in a unique position to bring youth cycling, education and opportunity to more kids and communities. The Trips for Kids movement is not going away – our momentum is stronger than ever!” Now member organizations of the League, Trips for Kids chapters will continue to operate as independent organizations aligned with the League’s mission to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. “The opportunities we are able to offer kids in our communities through Trips for Kids has been life changing for so many young people,” said Charise Stephens, executive director of U Create Macon, a Trips for Kids chapter and an awardee of the League’s Bicycle Friendly Business award. “I’ve seen the impact both Trips for Kids and the League have had in empowering young people through cycling education, advocating for safer roads so everyone can more easily get around, and connecting communities through the joy of bicycling – through combining these efforts, the bike movement is going to grow stronger and larger than ever.” "Giant Bicycles, Inc. is excited to see the important programming of Trips for Kids acquired by the League of American Bicyclists so that Trips for Kids chapters may continue to bring the joy of cycling to youth around the country," Bill Miller, GRA Program Manager at Giant Bicycles USA. "This new structure will help bring the Sprockids program to a larger audience and, of course, we will continue with our ongoing support of Trips for Kids chapters through annual equipment donations." Continue following the League of American Bicyclists’ blog and social media to learn about the Trips for Kids member organizations, their work on the ground in their communities, and how to support those groups in building a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. About the League of American Bicyclists Since 1880, the League of American Bicyclists has been people-powered, with a goal to make bicycling safer and easier as a means of transportation and recreation. Today, the League continues to improve lives and strengthen communities through bicycling. We are more than 200,000 members and supporters strong with more than 1,000 state and local advocacy groups and bike clubs as well as thousands of businesses, universities, and communities together leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.

In addition to the traditional holiday greetings and new year wishes, I am writing to announce several exciting and significant changes at Trips for Kids (TFK). New management model Our new volunteer-driven business model ensures that every dollar contributed is purposefully spent. As a result of the reformation, TFK’s board of directors has elevated the role of longstanding Director of Partnership and Resources to the well-deserved seat of Managing Director. To assist RJ, we have assembled a highly-skilled, service-oriented and purpose-driven team dedicated to meeting the unique and ever-changing needs of the TFK member community. Be sure to update your contacts; for support or inquiries, email team@tripsforkids.org, and we will route your email to the appropriate person for help. A fond farewell After five years of dedicated service to the organization, Amy Carver, Director of Community and Development, has transitioned from her role with Trips for Kids. We also wish board member, Therese Davis, the best as she stepped down from her position in November of 2022. We are grateful for Amy and Therese’s contributions and value them as members of the Trips for Kids extended family. New site, same great work With all the changes that have been happening at TFK, it was time to give the website a much-needed update. Visit the new website to stay updated on TFK news, volunteer opportunities, events and more. More in the pipeline Coming soon, we’ll launch an open membership program so that qualified organizations, including schools, government agencies, youth development programs, cycling groups and even bike shops can start a Trips for Kids program in their area. Also, in 2023, we are delivering the following: A new, easy-to-use member resource portal Our first mobile App that provides member resources on the go Additional tools and programs to support new members and growing programs As you can see, 2023 is a pivotal year for Trips for Kids. Thanks to our thriving partnerships with community members, sponsors and supporters our movement to put more kids on bikes continue to grow. With these changes and initiatives, we are laser-focused on growing our member base and community partnerships while developing essential new resources and services. As these exciting changes come to life, we look forward to sharing them with you. If you would like to learn more about our 2023 plans, please contact me directly. Here’s to a transformative New Year! Patricia Gallery President, Board of Directors Trips for Kids National

ESI Grips head of media, marketing and sponsorships shares how family, and organizations like Trips for Kids, can influence the future of the cycling industry by Sarah Packard, Trips for Kids Chief Storyteller Anastasia Ulibarri has been involved with Trips for Kids sponsor ESI Grips, the original silicone grips producer, since she was 10 years old. The daughter of founders Gary and Maria Stewart, Anastasia says the family business is her passion...but that wasn’t always the case. “I was really shy when my parents started their business,” Anastasia remembers with a laugh. “They didn’t have a logo, a website or anything…just a canopy at races…and I remember being really concerned about the early feedback they got: ‘These will never work.’ “These are pool noodles.’ ‘These look terrible.’ My parents would put a blanket down, and I’d curl up under the table where they worked and just go to sleep.” But as time went on, Anastasia, and even those early doubters, realized that ESI Grips was here to stay. Moreover, it has solidified itself as the premier producer of silicone grips and as a favorite amongst racing champions around the world. In fact, it’s hard to believe that the idea of silicone grips came to Gary almost by accident. An aerospace engineer, innovator, and newfound mountain bike racer (he traded motorcycle racing for cycling after having kids), Gary initially came up with the idea of a steering stabilizer to help with speed and cornering stability and they named their business Extreme Steering Inc. While prototyping and designing the stabilizer (and going for test ride after test ride), his hands began to hurt…and he installed some silicone foam from his machine shop on the bar. Fellow cyclists began to show more interest in the new soft grips and not the stabilizer, so he realized there was a need in the industry for a more comfortable grip. Thus the idea to create lightweight, shock absorbing grips was born. As Gary and Maria launched their business, now as E.S.I. Grips, word spread amongst the racing community quickly. As ESI Grips grew, Anastasia grew up too, and after her husband’s military service ended in 2011 she decided to join the family business. She started out making packaging, and her responsibilities grew to include working in the shop to manufacturing to supervising the shop. Now overseeing media, marketing and sponsorships, Anastasia has found herself back under the canopy at races, this time with her own children. Only now she’s running the table, not hiding beneath it. The Trips for Kids Partnership Anastasia says Trips for Kids is one of ESI Grip’s most meaningful organizations to support and has been since the partnership began in 2008. “My parents weren’t wealthy, but they raised four kids with a deep love for cycling…from digging in the backyard and building jumps to passing down bikes from family member to family member,” Anastasia shares. “Trips for Kids was a first-of -its-kind organization focused solely on kids, and that meant something to them personally.” As a parent herself now, Anastasia feels that same connection to the organization, and says it’s hard to understand the full impact of Trips for Kids programming until you see it firsthand. What’s more, she believes Trips for Kids programming is helping to level the playing field and promote more diversity in cycling -- a shift she says, that is badly needed. “Trips for Kids programming gives kids the opportunity to experience something they might otherwise never have access to,” she says. “From the Earn-a-Bike program to group rides to the relationships they build along the way…these experiences are building confidence, promoting healthy lifestyles and shaping who these kids grow up to be. And that, in turn, is shaping the future of the cycling community.” Anastasia says one of the most rewarding parts of her job is supporting organizations that support other people. That, and working with family -- her parents, as well as members of the cycling community that share the same values. “My parents and I feel so blessed that we’ve had so many supporters and that we can support them in return,” she explains. “We believe in the Trips for Kids mission and in the impact they make every day…and we’re so grateful to have them as part of our extended family.”

KUMANI BLACKWELL SHARES HOW SHE’S BLAZING A TRAIL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF GIRL BIKERS Written by, Sarah Packard, Trips for Kids Chief Storyteller As Trips for Kids works to get more girls on bikes, one girl clearly stands out from the pack. Kumani Blackwell is one of the most active riders through their program at UCreateMacon, a nonprofit youth organization serving the seven counties surrounding Macon, Georgia. While she’s only been with the organization for two years, she's put in more than 400 miles in total. And if that wasn’t impressive enough -- she’s just 11 years old. Kumani’s stamina was in full force during the group’s visit to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the Freedom Tour, which was packed full of many places to see and explore besides the actual bike ride. The group of 30 kids and 20 adults boarded a bus and made the 13-hour drive overnight, barely stretching their legs before embarking on the ride. Rather than the 15-mile ride, Kumani opted for the more challenging 35-mile ride, which she did with her older brother. “I was the only girl in my group,” Kumani recalled. “But when we reached the finish, I was in front of all the boys that were in her group.” While 35 miles is a lofty goal, even for many adults, Kumani says it’s a breeze. In fact, she earned her first cruiser riding more than 50 miles as part of the Trips for Kids Learn + Earn-a-Bike program, and is now the proud owner of two cruisers and a mountain bike. Kumani riding along side Trips for Kids and UCreateMacon’s Coach Janet Grier. “She’s a beast on the bike,” said Kumani’s mom, Tiffani. She adds that meeting Charise Stephens with the UCreate Macon program was “divine intervention” and credits Ms. Stephens, founder of nonprofit and leader of the Middle, Georgia Trips For Kids program, for creating an environment where all participants can thrive! While Kumani enjoys both road biking and mountain biking, she says she prefers to ride in the wilderness because it is peaceful and quiet. While she frequents the well-known “Pig Trail,” an eight mile singletrack with planted pines and hardwood trees, she has big aspirations for where she’d like her wheels to take her, with both Hawaii and Paris on her “must-ride” list. But Kumani’s dreams don’t stop there. On the Freedom Tour, Kumani had the opportunity to stay at The University of Tulsa (TU), and she now plans to attend either TU or Valdosta State University in Georgia. Kumani hasn’t missed a day of school and says she knows a good education will ensure she has a good future. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, Kumani promptly answers “veterinarian.” “I like running,” she added, “so I might want to be a track star.” Kumani also plays football, softball and was the first person on her wiffle ball team at the Boys and Girls Club, CDT location, to score a home run. But if there’s one thing Kumani is sure of, it’s that she’ll be a cycler for life. Her mom hopes she’ll serve as an inspiration for other girls in the program, as well as for her friends who have expressed an interest in cycling. When asked what she’d tell other kids who are thinking of trying cycling, Kumani says “if you want to do it, you can. Just follow whatever your heart says.” Whether you realize it or not, Kumani, you’re already an inspiration. Keep riding!

Dotty Nygard shares how members of a community can come together for the greater good. by Sarah Packard, Trips for Kids Chief Storyteller Community outreach is part of Dotty Nygard’s DNA. Her parents were active in their community and instilled in Dotty at a young age the importance of giving back to the world -- and that one’s community goes beyond their city boundaries. Tracy Earth Project Director, Dotty Nygard, poses with an Earn-a-Bike program participant. As Dotty grew up, she found herself drawn to healthcare and the environment, which she says go hand in hand. “After all, your personal health depends on you surrounding yourself with a healthy community,” Dotty explains. She became an ER nurse, served on the city council for Riverbank, California, and eventually, wanting to make an even bigger impact, planned an Earth Day event for her immediate community, the city of Tracy, California. To maximize her impact, Dotty submitted for 501c3 status and established Tracy Earth Project, a group of community volunteers advocating to educate, empower and inspire responsible environmental practices that start at home. But just as the organization was getting off the ground, COVID-19 hit. As a healthcare professional and person who thrived off of connections with her community, Dotty felt lost. “It was a devastating time. Being in healthcare, I saw personally the effects of covid and how unprepared we were, especially with the basic needed personal equipment to keep ourselves and our communities safe. The isolation was difficult, and took an emotional toll on so many, riding my bike gave me an escape” Dotty, who had purchased a new bike right before the pandemic hit, decided to start biking as an outlet. She stumbled upon a local bike group, Tracy Bike Life, by accident. “There is a local group of about 100 people that rides every Thursday night,” Dotty recalls. “Unbeknownst to me, the first ride I decided to participate in was shared with a much larger network, so when I arrived, I saw there were about 2,000 riders!” The community aspect of the ride wasn’t lost on Dotty, and she knew she had discovered a new passion. Just a few months later, the Thursday night biking group expressed an interest in doing more, and wanted to build a bike park, and a bike program, for the community. “The wheels were put into motion…literally!” Dotty laughed. Tracy Earth Project started doing research and came across Trips for Kids online. “It was the perfect fit,” says Dotty. “Trips for Kids offered everything we were looking for… structure, curriculum, resources…it was the perfect template.” Dotty, a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, says things started falling into place from there. Her biking group organized a drive to have a pump track built at a park in Tracy. After attending planning commission meetings, transportation commission meetings and finally bringing a local petition to city council, the group was awarded $1 million under a City Improvement Project. Shortly after, the Housing Authority of San Joaquin County donated a unit on their compound free of charge, and the Tracy Bike Life Youth program, under the umbrella of Tracy Earth Project’s 501c3, launched in March utilizing Trips for Kids Earn--a-Bike STEM curriculum. The kids in the housing complex were the first to participate, with a large cookout to celebrate. “The launch was phenomenal,” Dotty recalls. “The Mayor, every city council member, chief of police and several representatives from elected offices came. A lot of the families that ride in our group came to support, and of course, we invited the entire housing complex. It really felt like an expansion of our new family.” The first cohort, which lasted six weeks and was composed of around 15 kids with four instructors, was a great success. And two cohorts later, and the program is still going strong, with organized rides and repair workshops twice a week. “Some of our kids have never ridden outside their neighborhood,” said Dotty. “You can see the excitement on their faces every time we go out. And of course, after we ride, we usually end up at an ice cream shop,” she adds. “It’s the grandma in me…we have to reward our kids for their hard work!” Dotty says one of the most rewarding aspects of the program are the kids who return after completing their cohort to coach other kids, and seeing the kids help each other learn tricks, as well as the proper names and usage of the various tools used to repair bikes. She has also seen participants fixing bikes up for their friends or siblings -- an experience she says is particularly heartwarming. “This has been a once-in-a-lifetime life experience,” says Dotty. She credits the instructors with the program’s success, and says her community connections and experience in public office have also given the organization a leg up. Dotty acknowledges that she’s busy, but says she wouldn’t have it any other way. While she plans to retire as an ER nurse later this year, she has no plans to walk away from her community, and especially the bike community, any time soon. “This has been an incredible joy,” Dotty said. “It takes a village, and this is a village I’m just thrilled to be a part of.”

Trips For Kids Metro New York Chapter Director Andree Sanders -- also known as “The Bike Whisperer” -- discusses the transformative power of the bicycle Like many of the Trips for Kids participants, chapter leader Andree Sanders credits the bicycle with changing her life. She learned how to ride a bike when she was five, with her father running alongside her, holding the back of the bike. Her parents bought her a road bike when she was 10, and when her mother passed away shortly after, Andree looked to her bike as an escape and an outlet for her grief. But Andree’s real connection with the bicycle happened in her 20s, when she moved to New York and met her future husband. “We went for a bike ride, and I was smitten -- not only with Eugene, but with the bike as well,” Andree recalled. When her child Cam was born, Andree knew she had to find a way to keep riding. She bought a Chariot for the back of her bike and took to the trails. (Luckily, Cam loved it!) On one of their rides together, they met the founder of the Trips for Kids Metro New York chapter, and Andree began as a chapter volunteer, with Cam in tow. Her first ride with the chapter was to a beach -- an experience she’ll never forget. “I really connected with one of the participants on that ride,” Andree recalled. “He was resistant to the program, saying things like, ‘I’m not going to like this’ and ‘This is stupid.’ So I challenged him to a game of tag. We raced each other for the entire ride and ended up leading the group. When the ride was over, he was so full of joy. I knew immediately that I wanted to do more.” Shortly after, Andree began leading rides, and when the organization’s founder moved two years later, Andree stepped up to be executive director. This year is her 20th year working with the organization, but Andree says the job still feels new every day. She has transformed the chapter, expanding volunteers to include both mountain and road bikers and developing programs to encourage repeat riders, including family rides and an interscholastic mountain bike race team. “We do everything we can to help the kids succeed,” Andree said. “We teach them proper technique for bike body separation, climbing and descending , how to turn and how to overcome obstacles. We talk about the physics of the bike, as well as the environment and the history behind the places we see on our rides.” Andree’s leadership and unique teaching methods have earned her the nickname “The Bike Whisperer,” a name coined by one of the thousands Trips for Kids participants she taught to bike. Andree speaks proudly about the lasting impact on program participants. “An associate at my local bike shop was recently helping me, he shared with me his memory of going on a ride with Trips for Kids in 2014,” said Andree. “He told me that he remembered me and that the experience changed his life. He had been failing out of school, but after that ride, he joined the bike club at school, got a job at the bike shop and started racing.” Andree hopes that there are a lot more of these stories out there as she know first hand the power of the bike to change lives. “Before I met Eugene and started cycling as an adult, I never thought I’d consider myself an athlete,” said Andree. “But now I’m a Trip for Kids leader, private coach, a LCI (League Certified Instructor) and National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) coach. I ride road bikes and off road mountain bikes. I’m 57 years old, but I don’t look it or feel it -- and it’s all because of the bike.” In addition to leading the Metro New York chapter, Andree recently started a private bike coaching company, called Bike Whisperer NYC, to teach adults and children to ride and navigate New York City on a bicycle. Additionally, she is leading the new Trips for Kids More Girls on Bikes committee. Through it all, Andree is guided by a philosophy she learned at a seminar for women in biking -- Keep your heart to the world, look to your future and move forward. “Heart to the world refers to your body position on the bicycle, but it’s about attitude as well,” explains Andree. “If more people had their hearts to the world, more love and joy would be spread. And what better way to achieve that than on a bike.”

Learn how Colin Parker is raising funds for Trips for Kids National from the seat of a bicycle Millions of jobs were lost in 2020. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic inspired people around the world to reassess what’s most important to them and how they spend their time, resulting in one of the biggest years for bicycling in decades. This experience rings especially true for Colin Parker. In February, he lost his job when the data science company he worked for was shut down. Around the same time he and his girlfriend of seven years broke up. And a month later, the world went on lockdown. Colin found himself sleeping on an air mattress in his friend’s apartment. He had little privacy, and knew that he needed an outlet to process everything that had happened. He remembered the freedom he felt as a child riding his bike and exploring with friends in the greater Portland region of Maine. So he dug up the bicycle he had used for transportation in college and started cycling -- and quickly found the release he was looking for. “When things go bad, I need to move,” Colin said. “Biking allowed me to clear my mind and reconnect with myself.” Colin began cycling more frequently and eventually completed a 100-mile century ride in Marin County, California with some friends, which inspired him to ride even more. “I thought I’d be tired of biking after that ride, but as soon as we got home, I hit the road again,” Colin said. As Colin rode, he reflected on challenges -- the challenges the world was facing, the challenges he was facing personally -- and most importantly, how the bicycle was challenging him to grow in ways he never thought possible. He decided to set a distance goal for himself -- then took his plans one step further. “I figured if I was doing all this biking, I might as well do something good with it,” Colin said. He searched for nonprofit cycling organizations, discovered Trips for Kids National and immediately connected with the organization’s mission. “I want all children to have the opportunity that I had as a child, and now again as an adult,” Colin said. “To explore, to experience a change of scenery and to process whatever it is they’re going through in life from the seat of a bicycle.” While this is Colin’s first experience with Trips for Kids, he spent time in high school and college volunteering with at-risk students, and credits his teachers, as well as his mother, for inspiring him to give back. For this project, Colin plans to ride as many miles as possible within a five month period, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Trips for Kids National. He bikes daily along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway up into the Santa Monica Mountains, leveraging PledgeIt to track donations and Strava to track his miles. He has documented his journey on Instagram along the way. Colin is currently on track to beat his goal of cycling 1,600 miles before September and plans to get involved with a ride with Trips for Kids High Desert Riders in Palmdale, California. He is planning cycling trips to Texas and Colorado later this year, and if the pandemic allows, may participate in Tour de France stages this fall. Those following Colin’s journey can give a flat donation or pledge per mile, with funds going toward the Learn and Earn a Bike Online Anywhere program, which educates kids aged 10-17 on bicycle mechanics, safety and environmental impact. Graduates of the program can earn a free refurbished bike of their own. As he reflects on the previous year, Colin says that the challenges he faced were all worth it. In addition to fundraising for Trips for Kids National, he was able to transition his data science experience to a music software company. As a guitarist, this fulfilled another one of his life’s passions. “If I hadn’t lost my job, I would have never ended up where I am today,” Colin says. “Re-discovering my love for biking has been incredibly rewarding -- and sharing the experience with others makes it even better.” Please visit THIS LINK to support Colin’s ride.

by guest writer, Sarah Packard Cycling has always been a part of Charise Stephens’ life. Growing up in rural Georgia, mastering a wheelie wasn’t just a cool thing to do -- it was required to fit in. To this day Charise proudly sports scabs on her knees, a visual representation of the freedom and joy she experienced riding with her friends as a child. As an adult, Charise was determined to provide the same experience to kids in her community, Macon, Georgia. And she couldn’t have picked a better spot. Macon has more than six miles of dedicated bike lanes and a number of trails, including Arrowhead Park, with great climbs, fast downhills, lake access and camping, the LH Thomson Trail, with log jumps, switchbacks and steep drops and the “Pig Trail,” an eight mile single track with planted pines and hardwood trees. In 2019, Charise founded U Create Macon, a youth organization offering science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), art and outdoor activities. She found a home for the organization in an abandoned building, and recalling her own upbringing, initiated a cycling program right away. But there was just one problem -- they did not have an organized basic ride program or bicycle equipment to get started. A quick online search yielded Trips for Kids, and Charise knew her prayers had been answered. “It all happened so fast,” recalls Charise. “I saw the building on a Monday, submitted the proposal for the building on a Wednesday and by Friday I had the key. I found Trips for Kids online and thought ‘this is too good to be true’ -- a national network of like minded people who also want to get kids connected to riding bicycles. Everything was coming together.” Charise visited the nearby Trips for Kids chapter in Fulton County and from that moment on, felt like a member of the Trips for Kids family. She began networking with a number of chapter leaders and leveraged the Trips for Kids national network to procure bikes for her kids. Over the next year, Charise would build out the Middle, Georgia Trips for Kids chapter, serving the seven counties surrounding Macon. The chapter now offers a clubhouse, with an in-house bike shop and training facility, and anything the participating kids might need, from bike helmets to a food pantry to a closet full of tennis shoes. They also offer a variety of programs, including general rides and more structured events for the kids to learn riding techniques and safety. Through it all, Charise and her team emphasize leadership, teamwork and most important, equality. “Our participants come from many different backgrounds, but you’d never know it,” said Charise. “They love each other with no regard for skin color or who has money. Under normal conditions, these kids would have never met, but with Trips for Kids, they form a special bond. It’s really heartwarming.” In the theme of equality, Charise says the chapter is reaching out to more girls and female coaches and has adjusted their mantra from “get more kids on bikes” to “get more girls on bikes.” And with the addition of a bilingual coach, the chapter is now attracting more Spanish-speaking participants. While Charise and team have kept operations running despite COVID-19, their day-to-day is very different. In spring of 2020, the chapter formed a partnership with sanitizing company Shine On and partnered with Macon- Bibb County for personal protective equipment, masks and thermometers. Upon arrival, participants wash their hands and have their temperatures taken. Most programming is done outside, and the children are socially distanced. Despite having to adapt to these extra measures, Charise calls this past year “a blessing” and credits the program with helping to maintain the childrens’ well-being during the pandemic. “I truly believe that biking has made all the difference for these kids,” Charise said. “It gives them a release and an outlet, which makes it easier for them to cope with whatever the world throws at them.” And the kids aren’t the only ones benefiting. Charise says Trips for Kids, and more specifically the kids she’s met, have transformed her life. “When I’m having a bad day and I see our kids on their bikes, the wonderment in their eyes puts everything in perspective,” says Charise. “Being a chapter leader is a busy job, but the kids remind me how important it is to literally stop and smell the roses.” In addition to the kids, Charise says the other chapter leaders have made the experience even more meaningful. She recommends that anyone thinking of starting their own chapter leverage the resources -- and people -- available to them. “I’m not gonna lie,” Charise admits. “Trying something new as an adult is scary. But knowing that I have a network of people with similar hearts to lean on has made all the difference.” Charise believes we all have a special purpose and that she’s finally found hers through Trips for Kids. “I don’t know how many years I have on this earth, so I want to fill my time doing things I’m passionate about,” Charise says. “Trips for Kids has allowed me to fulfill my dream of helping youth while meeting amazing people along the way.” ###

Cary Huggins, Trips for Kids MidCoast Maine chapter leader, shares how she’s seen bicycling bring people together in communities around the world by guest writer, Sarah Packard If you thought “groovy” was a word of the past, you haven’t met Cary Huggins, Trips for Kids MidCoast Maine chapter leader. She and her husband Joe raised their children in some unique settings including a painted school bus affectionately called the “Hippie Bus”. The flower power theme started when they migrated from New England to El Paso expecting their now 21 year old son. In this border city, they first saw how these colorful duds connected them in community when language and culture might have hindered. That’s only the beginning of their unique story. Community has always been important to Cary and Joe, so when they moved back to Maine, they linked up with H.O.M.E. Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for low-income and homeless families. The nurse/teacher and jack of all trades called H.O.M.E. their own home for the next four years. They would live in the Hippie Bus volunteering in a number of capacities, including birthing “Pedalin’ HOME, with a focus on bicycling for youth development and green transportation. It was at H.O.M.E. that Cary founded the Trips for Kids MidCoast Maine chapter, after discovering her personal passion for biking -- and a calling to share this passion with others. Through community outreach, Cary was able to procure several donated bicycles and introduce mountain biking to the children at H.O.M.E. Over time, Cary developed her cycling abilities, participating in fundraising rides. The “Trek” Across Maine became a ten time annual fundraising team event with kids on a tandem and others volunteering. She and Joe came community SPOKES through the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Cary earned a certification as a road biking instructor. They engaged kids in healthy activity and relationship building-- all while taking her own children along for the ride. As time went on and their children grew older, Cary and Joe embarked on a series of international volunteer trips, traveling to Thailand, Vietnam, Morocco, India, Indonesia and most recently, Tanzania. With each trip, they fully immersed themselves in the local culture while pitching in wherever needed, from teaching English to cooking and cleaning. One of Cary’s fondest memories was blowing up punchball balloons and using them to start a random volleyball game with the local non English speaking children. She swears by the power of fun and a big smile. Throughout it all, Cary continued the cycling work she had begun in the U.S., supporting adults with bicycle maintenance and introducing safe bicycling to the local children, while fostering an appreciation for the world around them. One of the greatest rewards was seeing kids mentor others and share their love of bike riding. “Biking is more functional in developing nations than in the U.S.,” said Cary. “People use bikes to get where they need to go and to make a living. It’s particularly satisfying helping people with bicycling, because if they don’t have a bike, they don’t make a living or get to school.” Cary and Joe sat in awe of all the children riding by a local coffee shop in Cambodia on bikes to school often more than an hour away. Back home, Cary and Joe are renting out the Hippie Bus through Airbnb. Cary says interest in the Hippie Bus is greater than ever as families lean toward safe, unique, fun “staycations,” and biking continues to be a part of that experience. While Cary’s looking forward to coming home to the MidCoast Maine Trips for Kids chapter, she’s enjoying the slower pace and deeper connection she’s experiencing internationally. “In the U.S., people often experience a ‘time is money’ culture,” said Cary. “But in these developing countries, life is more intentional, and people are much more engaged and interdependent.” Cary says her next mission will be to inspire people to use their bikes in a more instrumental way back home. She will go back to work as a bicycle educational instructor through local schools as Covid will allow. She wants to continue to help girls especially see the value of cycling on health, wellbeing and environment. “It’s all about making a connection, even without sharing a language,” Cary says. “I never hesitate to build relationship with people I meet even if there is a language barrier. A smile and eye contact can speak volumes. “Because we can find commonalities and inspire fun, purpose and connection with the simplest of things -- from a balloon to a bicycle.” ###

Georgia is growing more than just their juicy peaches this year! They are also growing Trips for Kids chapters. Trips for Kids Middle George fiscally sponsored by U Create Macon will be based in Macon, Georgia. This past October, Georgia also welcomed Trips for Kids Fulton County (principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area), sponsored by Pedal Push Kids. The new Trips for Kids Middle Georgia chapter will work mainly with middle and high school age youth, but plans on operating bike rodeos at local elementary school to introduce younger kids to cycling. "Our kids are of all races, but are the poorest in our community," shares Charise Stephens, new chapter director for Trips for Kids Middle Georgia and executive director of U Create Macon. "Our organization is new to biking, but our kids show lots of determination." New Trips for Kids Middle Georgia chapter director, Charise Stephens standing at far left poses with members and participants from U Create Macon "We are excited to see even more chapters blossoming in the southeast and we were delighted that Charise reached out to us." states Robert Alan Ping, Trips for Kids Executive Director. Charise recognized that not all kids are into just basketball and football and wanted to provide her youth with another great activity. "Some of our kids come from a challenging background and to see the world on two wheels has changed their lives. Bicycling is a gateway to healthier living, outdoor adventures and lifelong learning," explained Stephens. The chapter plans to operate Adventure Club Rides, Earn-a-Bike Workshops, Mobile Bike Clinics, ReCyclery and Bicycle Safety Classes and Rodeos. The chapter will hold their opening celebration on April 4 from 9 am to noon at Macon’s Central City Park. Please join us in welcoming this Georgia Peach to our chapter family! #tripsforkidsmidga

Trips for Kids Chicago Voyagers Chapter Director, Bernie Rupe has worked with at-risk youth for 25 years. Bernie is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Through his nonprofit, Chicago Voyagers, Bernie is on a mission to ensure that all teens in Chicago have an opportunity to explore the outdoors and themselves. The organization implements adventure therapy in most of their programming which is a hands-on and outdoor-based form of psychotherapy that uses active and experiential approaches to helping clients. Bernie is also a member of the Association for Experiential Education Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group (TAPG). This weekend Bernie will be presenting at the national TAPG Best Practices conference that will be held at the Northern Illinois University’s Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education in DeKalb, Illinois in partnership with Adventure Works. His workshop entitled “Brave Processing - How to Discuss Perceived Failure” will focus on how to process an activity where youth have a wide variety of "success," such as a rock-climbing program where some youth reach the top of every climb and others can barely get off the ground. He will be presenting with his Chicago Voyagers colleague Marlene Reinert, MSW. How Chicago Voyagers Got Started In 2002, the first Midwest chapter of Trips for Kids, Trips for Kids Fox Valley was founded in Fox Valley, Illinois. In 2008, in order to amplify the impact of the local Fox Valley Trips for Kids program, Chicago Voyagers undertook the sponsorship of the chapter, moving it to Chicago and renaming it Chicago Voyagers. The organization expanded their programming adding activities such as canoeing, hiking, cross country skiing, rock climbing, river trips and camping to their original Trips for Kids Discovery Rides Trail Programming. Today, Chicago Voyagers serves more than 400 under-resourced youth throughout Chicagoland by facilitating outdoor experiential adventures. The organization’s year-round programs help guide youth on their journey to adulthood by combining outdoor activities that include biking, canoeing, hiking, cross country skiing, mountain biking, caving, rappelling, camping and overnight river trips with therapeutic activities fostering healthy relationships and responsible behavior. Founded in 2010, Chicago Voyagers is mission-driven to empower growing generations of young adults to live healthy and successful lives. Bernie shares, “I believe in the potential of all teens and that they only need guidance and support to grow into successful, healthy adults. The outdoors is perfect for working with kids — the environment provides a natural setting where they’re encouraged to explore, challenge themselves, and have fun while also improving their physical health. This allows us to not only provide an alternative to street life, but assists in fighting the national obesity crisis. I took over the Chicago chapter of Trips for Kids 10 years ago for this purpose – to intervene in the lives of at-risk kids, give them hope and guide them on their journey.” This past May, they celebrated assisting 10,000 days of services to youth in ten years, with their 10,000 Voyages Gala. To learn more about Chicago Voyagers and volunteer opportunities, please visit www.chicagovoyagers.com.

Cyclists often feel their bicycles are an extension of themselves. With that thought in mind, BikeFlights company founder and CEO, William (Bill) Alcorn came up with a concept he turned into a thriving business. He created a shipping company whose sole purpose is to get bikes safely to wherever their riders are traveling. The company enables people to easily ship their bikes to wherever they travel, both domestically and internationally. During their first year, the company shipped 40 bicycles. To date, they shipped 500,000. BikeFlights has become a trusted leader in the biking community and is now the official bike shipping service for the Tour de France. With happy customers referring their friends and family to use their services, they can’t wait to achieve their next milestone - one million bikes shipped. Bill and his team also wanted to find a way to support the cycling movement, so they established the “Buck Up for Bikes” program in 2016. The program currently works with four youth organizations that focus on empowering youth through the bicycle, including Trips for Kids. “Trips for Kids makes the benefits of cycling and the outdoors accessible to those that might not otherwise realize them. We support Trips for Kids for we believe riding a bike changes lives for the better.” - Bill Alcorn The company makes the donation process easy for customers who wish to participate in help the Buck Up for Bikes campaign. Upon checkout, BikeFlights.com customers have the option to donate $1 to one or all of the four non-profit cycling organizations that are working hard to get more young people on bikes. BikeFlights covers all processing and administrative fees and donates 100% of the money raised. Buck Up for Bikes has raised $49,000 so far. “BikeFlights.com helps us in many ways. They also provide us with the shipping boxes that our national team uses to send parts and supplies to our local chapters, and they give us bikes damaged by FedEx or UPS that we can post to our online ReCyclery bike shop. Their generosity and support truly helps move Trips for Kids forward, and we look forward to growing with them into the future.” - Robert Alan Ping, Trips for Kids Executive Director. Go to BikeFlights.com to learn how to safely ship your bicycles and equipment, then click on ‘Buck-Up For Bikes’ and donate to help kids go places!