Why
Life has become so fast paced in recent years with the internet, Tivo, video games, Blackberries and all the other latest technological advances it seems like no one has the time anymore to just stop and take in the indelible beauty of the natural environment around them. We are blessed in the Tampa Bay Area with many great parks, preserves and trails....and there is no better way to explore them than on a mountain bike. Trips For Kids Tampa seeks to bring awareness to our areas amazing natural resources and provide local "at risk" kids the opportunity to experience nature first hand. Using a mountain bike we hope to equip them with the tools they need to live healthy fulfilling lives as well as a sense of personal responsibility for themselves and their environments.  | What "Between roughly 25 and 31 degrees North Latitude, a combination of flat topography, poor soils, and limited surface water produce deserts nearly everywhere on earth. In Florida, however, these conditions support a lavish biota, more diverse than that of any other state East of the Mississippi." -Ecosystems of Florida On each ride the children will learn to identify a wide variety of Florida’s ecosystems and the characteristics that differentiate them. They will learn to identify various flora and fauna found in each habitat with an emphasis placed on native and invasive species and most importantly the children will be shown an appreciation for the environment that will encourage them to become active in their community, promoting and practicing environmental conservation and preservation. Environmental education is only a portion of our program however, the real focus of Trips For Kids Tampa is on the children and teaching them lessons they can carry over to everyday life. On our rides through woods, hills and swamps the kids will have to overcome obstacles and discover strengths they did not know they had. They will learn to make good choices, and to be leaders. Their self-esteem will be enhanced and they will make bonds that hopefully will carry over for years to come. At the end of each ride we will tell stories, talk about the ride and relate things they learned to their lives at home. Goals
TFK Tampa will begin providing one trip per month to 5 youths between the ages of 10 to 17 years of age in October of 2009. The organization will generate enough interest and volunteers to begin running 2 to 3 rides per month and increase the amount of riders to a maximum of 10 in 2010. In addition we will develop a strong volunteer base committed to environmental preservation and conservation projects. We will be teaming up with Hillsborough County's Environmental Lands Acquisition and Preservation Program (ELAPP) and other volunteer groups to maintain, preserve, and restore environmentally sensitive lands. |
