About Trips for Kids
Trips for Kids Mid-Columbia is a local chapter of Trips for Kids that is sponsored by Wheelhouse Community Bike Shop. We started our local chapter because a handful of parents wanted access to mountain bike skills building and to create some positive peer pressure to drag their kids out into the natural environment. The mission of Trips for Kids aligns well with the Wheelhouse mission of making biking and mechanic skills accessible to all. We continue to seek partnerships and opportunities to expand our chapter to meet under-served communities.
Trips for Kids Mid-Columbia holds at least twelve events a year. The events include Trail Rides, Shop Days, Mobile Bike Clinics, and Earn-a-Bike workshops. In order to participate, each child needs to be a Wheelhouse member ($20/year, scholarships available), must wear a helmet, and a parent must complete a liability waiver. Wheelhouse will provide a bike if necessary, either one of the five designated Trips for Kids Liv bikes or another suitable bike from our library. Trips for Kids is intended for children aged 10-17 years old, however, we have found that siblings as young as 5 can be accommodated in a parallel family ride when their parent or other caregiver participates.
Trail rides are between 3 and 5 miles and they primarily occur off-road. We have taken children around Chamna, on the trails behind the REACH Museum, at the BMX track, and along the Sacajawea Heritage Trail. Children learn skills like ride and trail etiquette, ABC Quick Checks, and basic mountain biking skills like neutral position, ready position, front-wheel lifts, stopping, gear selection, and so on. These rides provide a safe space for kids to try, fail, and try again. They push themselves beyond their comfort zone in a supportive and safe atmosphere. Trail rides primarily occur in the spring and fall.