Summer Camp
The Community Cycling Center’s Summer Camp is an opportunity for youth to discover their own city by riding to exciting destinations, learning valuable bike mechanic skills, teaming up with their peers to solve technical problems, and most importantly, building their confidence and self-esteem!
It is the coolest camp in town, with non-competitive games and a focus on individual growth and teamwork. This supportive environment is the best place to spend summer days, riding bikes with new friends and learning useful skills. Mornings will be spent learning how to repair and maintain bicycles, while afternoons will be spent riding to fun spots in and around Portland. Rides in the beginning of every week will be shorter and focused on safe riding on public streets. Every rider will demonstrate mastery of all needed basic safe riding habits in a fun, supportive setting before heading out on a tour. Fridays will feature the longest ride of the week and a Summer Camp graduation ceremony.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
The Community Cycling Center mission is to broaden access to bicycling and all its benefits including improved health, environmental quality, and enhanced livability. To that end, our instructors will emphasis the bicycle as a tool for personal empowerment and a vehicle for social change. We believe hands-on, experiential learning allows children not only to gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to bike but also the interpersonal skills of decision-making and problem-solving that prepare them to be healthy, active, and engaged citizens.
INSTRUCTION
Our 1:6 staff-to-camper ratio allows personal instruction tailored to your child’s ability and interests. From the most basic instruction to highly technical repairs, every camper will start where he or she is comfortable and grow from there. As campers become comfortable with their skills they will have a chance to teach others (including parents!) what they have learned. Our staff have extensive experience working with youth and receive comprehensive training prior to Summer Camp in the fundamentals of experiential education and bike safety.
All camp participants will learn:
Mechanical skills
- Safety checks
- Parts identification
- Flat tire repair
- Bike cleaning and maintenance
- Basic adjustments to brakes and derailleurs
Safe riding skills
- Laws and rules of the road
- Decision-making (defensive riding)
- Group riding
- Individual riding
- Map reading
- Hand signals
- Transit integration (i.e., how to use TriMet bike rack)
- Clothing and gear
“The CCC did a better job than other camps of teaching real, usable skills. They were very respectful of each camper. Plus the campers got real exercise each day—overall one of the best camps we’ve been to.” - Hollis Maclean, parent
Please contact Youth Program Coordinator Kate O’Donnell with questions at 503.288.8864 or Kate@CommunityCyclingCenter.org.