Learn to Bike Camp Curriculum

Learn to Bike! Camp Curriculum

Intro: Learn to Bike! Camp has been designed to help kids transition from balance bikes to pedaling on 2 wheels. Through this program, we hope to nurture our pint-sized pedalers in a supportive environment, providing lots of individualized attention and personalized coaching.

• Intended for kids on training wheels, balance bikes, etc. NOT intended for kids that can already ride.

• Must be 3.5 by the start of camp

• M-F, 9:00-11:45 and 12:15-3:00

• Up to 3 staff and no more than 15 kids, split into groups by ability

• Facility-based

Goals:

• To help kids make the transition from balance bikes to pedaling on 2 wheels

• Have FUN on a bike and with new friends!

• Gain CONFIDENCE and SKILLS through the Avid4 Biking Progression

• Learn to bike SAFELY

The Avid4 Biking Progression:

1. Walk bike around holding handlebars.

2. Scoot downhill sitting on seat. Look up!

• This is the key. Spend a lot of time scooting.

• Avoid holding the back of the seat in the “traditional” way.

3. Hold up feet as long as possible—coasting downhill.

4. Touch one pedal with either foot.

5. Touch pedals with both feet.

6. PEDAL! PEDAL! PEDAL!

Special Considerations: This camp is unique in that it has a very specific goal outcome (learn to bike on 2 wheels). Every camper will learn at a different rate, and it is very important for instructors to handle this issue with care when interacting with campers AND their parents. Our overwhelming focus will always be on safety, fun and learning in a positive environment. We will group kids by ability and will always meet each camper at exactly their level. Our goal is to meet every child’s needs to teach them new skills every day at camp. We will also celebrate each camper’s progress, and will highlight his or her positive accomplishments at the end of each camp day. Whether a camper pedals off confidently on the last day of camp or is still working within our biking progression, every camper should leave our Learn to Bike! program with the tools & knowledge necessary to practice and learn biking on 2 wheels.

A Day in the Life of Learn to Bike! Camp:

9:00 welcome/opening circle. Check water, sunscreen & restroom break

9:15 Biking: Review and/or New Skills

9:45 Snack. Restroom break

10:00 Storytime Stretching or Art

10:30 Group Game: get the wiggles out!

10:45 Biking: Individual Practice

11:00 Group Biking Activity/Game

11:30 Closing Circle

11:45 Pick-up time

Monday Registration: Happens both AM AND PM!!

Monday morning registration looks the same as all other day camp programs. During AM registration, instructors should coordinate with one another to decide who will greet parents and sign in campers, and who will manage the group game. Instructors, please emphasize gear organization! All bikes, backpacks and camper gear should be placed in neat lines to reduce confusion and prevent our young campers from losing the gear that their parents carefully send to camp with them!

Second Registration on Mondays:

· PM Campers deserve a great registration too! On Mondays CD or AD needs to be out at camp center running a second registration.

· Non-essential staff or other CL’s should be used as shuttlers and all parents should come by the table to meet the CD/AD. All campers and parents should be greeted warmly and welcomed to Avid4 just like on Monday morning.

· CD needs to check that on Monday all appropriate children, meds, etc. get transferred appropriately from AM to PM and are denoted in a list AND on SI/SO sheets.

Transitions:

At transition times instructors will split into two distinct different roles. The ALL DAY Instructor will stay with the kids who are doing all day programming and facilitate lunch . The HALF DAY Instructor will stay at their bin to sign out kids who are only doing morning programming and then eventually sign in campers coming for only afternoon programming. Instructors can decide at beginning of day who will take which role. The roles should flip-flop from day to day so that both instructors are having a chance to talk to parents throughout the week.

• Campers who are staying for ALL DAY for programming

• At 11:45 these campers will go eat lunch with their group from the morning with the All Day Instructor i.e.- if a child did LTB in the morning that’s who they will eat lunch with if they are staying for afternoon programming.

• The lunch spot should be away from the sign out/bin to limit confusion for parents.

• At 12:15 the All Day Instr. who facilitated lunch with the all day campers will take them to their PM program to get them signed in. This instructor needs to physically sign the camper into their PM program.

• Aftercare slips should always be used for campers who are staying for all day programming to ensure that when they are picked up in the afternoon that their parents get feedback about their morning program.

• Campers who are only doing a HALF DAY of programming

• The Half Day instructor who is NOT taking kids to lunch, will stay with campers who are only doing the AM program and wait for their parents to sign them out for the day.

• This instructor will wait until all kids are picked up, then will get ready for signing in campers who will be arriving for afternoon programming.

• Once sign in sheets and bin, etc are ready for afternoon campers this instructor can eat lunch at bin ready to welcome any afternoon campers who may arrive.

MONDAY

9:00 Morning Circle-campers will be welcomed to play with new friends and an instructor.

Name Game-Act out your favorite animal!

Let’s get ready for our day: sunscreen, water, restroom.

9:15 Learn to Bike! Orientation & New Skills

• Helmets: Why do we always wear a helmet when we bike? How do we put it on? Look up to the sky to avoid pinching while buckling (or let kids buckle themselves). Strap should be loose enough to fit two fingers inside, but not so loose that it can slide off the chin. How do we set our helmets down? Happy Turtle/Sad Turtle (Happy turtle=right side up, Sad Turtle=upside down).

• Bikes: What are the parts of this bike? (Seat, handlebars & wheels) What is each part for? Instructors: adjust seats as needed and keep track of which bike is for which kid (label with tape).

• Learn your bike’s name and take it for a walk. Hold both handlebars-no sitting yet! Make sure to leave plenty of room for your friends (or even a big, stinky elephant!) and practice stopping, too.

• Hold both handlebars and walk your bike straight then try a wide turn. Next, walk in a big circle.

• Now let’s practice getting on & off our bikes! Instructors: demonstrate how to lift one leg over the center bar (or seat) and sit down. Then, demonstrate how to lift your leg (really high!) to get off the same way.

• Everyone practice! Can you get on AND off all by yourself?

• Now, let’s get on our bikes and try walking with big Monster Steps! Instructors: demonstrate taking big, strong steps and pushing gently to roll on your bike.

• When we bike with our friends, let’s pretend there is a BIG Stinky Elephant walking behind each bike. Leave plenty of room so we don’t crash into each other!

• Let’s get onto our bikes and sit on the seats. Roll your bike by walking, and take big Monster Steps with your feet. Go straight then try a wide turn. Next, go in a big circle.

• Are your monster steps getting soooo big? Can you run with Monster Steps??

• When you’re done with your bike, always park it in a safe spot and lay it down gently! The chain should be looking up towards the sky.

9:45 Snack Time! Everyone sitting (snack time is down time). Drink lots of water & then take a group restroom break.

10:00 Storytime Stretching-‘I Salute the Sun’

The sun, the sun. (arms up tall)

I salute the sun. (forward fold)

I open my heart to every one (rise halfway & forward fold again)

The sun rises and the sun sets (step back to downward dog)

The whole world in my heart rests (lower down until flat on your belly)

Again I arise ready to live (cobra or upward dog)

Happy to be, ready to give (back to downward dog)

The sun, the sun. I salute the sun (step forward to forward fold)

I open my heart to everyone (arms up tall, then finish with hands at heart center)

The first few times, have kids repeat the words after each phrase. Then, mix it up and go slow-motion, super-fast, silly voices, silently, etc. This activity can also be done to rhythmic, instrumental music!

10:30 Group Game: Get the wiggles out! Choose a variety of games and let kids take turns being ‘leaders’

• Ideas: Mr. Fox, Red Light Green Light, Zookeeper, Where’s my ducky, Frogger, Rhythm Master, Drip Drip Drop, etc.

10:45 Learn to Bike! Individual practice time (Divide campers into groups as needed).

• Monster Steps: Practice walking and running on your bike! Be sure to leave plenty of room for friends (remember those BIG, stinky elephants!) Practice stopping, too.

• How do our eyes help us bike? Look where you want to go! Try looking straight, then look to the side to help turn your bike. Now try a big circle. Look where you want your bike to go!

• Practice, practice, practice

11:00 Learn to Bike! Group Biking Activities

• Red Light/Green Light. Start with instructors as the traffic cop, then let campers take turns. Practice stopping & going. Add other colors (yellow=slow, orange=realllllly slow, blue=freeze, etc etc)

• Victory Lap: each camper gets to walk or scoot their bike around a circle while the group cheers (Go, Willow, Go! Go, Willow Go! Etc etc). End on a high note!

11:45 Closing Circle

• The best part of my day was:

• I’m excited for tomorrow because:

12:00 Pickup time. Give positive and specific feedback about each camper’s day. See you tomorrow!

TUESDAY:

9:00 Morning Circle

Name Game-What’s your favorite way to play outside?

Let’s get ready for our day: sunscreen, water, restroom.

9:15 Learn to Bike! Review & Learn a New Skill (divide into same groups as yesterday)

• Helmet review: When do we wear them? How do we put them on? Happy Turtle/Sad Turtle

• Bike: find your bike and name the parts! (Seat, handlebars, wheels) Learn one new part: spokes? Tires? Frame?

• Warm-Up Circle: review & practice yesterday’s skills (Walking, scooting). Cheer for each other!

• New Skill: Frog Hops! Push with both legs at the same time. Start with little hops, then make them bigger! Go straight then try a wide turn. Next, go in a big circle.

• Be sure to leave room for stinky elephants and practice stopping!

9:45: Snack Time! Everyone sitting (snack time is down time). Drink lots of water & then take a group restroom break.

10:00 Nature Craft: decorate an envelope with crayons, markers, jewels, etc. Later this week, we’ll go on a nature walk and fill our envelopes with treasures we find in nature!

10:30 Group Game: Mr. Fox, Red Light Green Light, Zookeeper, Where’s my ducky, Frogger, Rhythm Master, Drip Drip Drop, etc.

10:45 Learn to Bike! Individual practice

• Continue the progression as needed for each child. Most campers will likely be working on Scooting & Frog Hops.

• Practice 3 hops in a row to gain momentum and speed: short, short, loooooong. (lift your feet!) Use your strongest legs & don’t forget to look up!

• Instructors: If campers are having trouble gaining speed or are feeling scared to go faster, you can put a hand on the middle of their back to reassure them (and/or give a gentle push) but remember: don’t grab the seat! If campers get the ‘wobbles’ have them practice looking up and getting strong starts. Getting enough momentum and looking up will cure the ‘wobbles’.

• Practice triple hops in a straight line, then try wide turns. Next, triple-hop all the way around a big circle. Look where you want to go!

• Practice, practice, practice! How many hops can you do? How far can you coast on your biggest hop?

11:00 Learn to Bike! Group Biking Activities

Bike Rodeo!

• Instructors: set up a large, open area and mark boundaries with cones. Make it large enough for kids to ride big laps around the perimeter. Have campers line up at one end.

• Who can name all the different things we know how to do on a bike? (Monster steps! Scooting! Frog Hops! Etc). Let’s show off our bike skills in a bike rodeo!

• Instructors: use your best rodeo announcer voice! Call out the first event: monster steps! Have each camper ride a lap (plenty of space in between) doing their best Monster Steps. Yee-haw, ride ‘em bikers!

• Nominate a camper or instructor as the Rodeo Clown to tell a silly joke or sing a silly song between each event.

• Next event: Scooting! Let campers go together, then one at a time. Cheer for each other!

• Continue with new & different ‘events.’ Ask for suggestions from the campers, or make up new ones! (Scoot in a figure 8 or around cones! Can you yell yee-haw while you do your Frog Hops? Etc.)

• Victory Lap: have each camper take a lap around the circle in their favorite ‘event’ (scooting, hopping, triple hops, etc). Cheer for each other! End on a high note.

11:45 Closing Circle

• I’m proud of myself today because…

12:00 Pick up time. Give positive and specific feedback about each camper’s day. See you tomorrow!

WEDNESDAY

9:00 Morning Circle/Name Game: what are you excited for today at camp?

Let’s get ready for our day: sunscreen, water, restroom.

9:15 Learn to Bike! Review & Learn a New Skill (divide into groups as necessary)

• Helmet: can you put your helmet on all by yourself? Try it first then ask an instructor to double-check. Make sure to look up while you buckle your strap!

• Bikes: Is your bike ready to ride? Is the seat a comfortable height? Do your tires have enough air?

• Let’s Ride! Warmup: have campers take a few laps or ride out & back in a straight line a few times. Practice Walking, scooting and hopping

• New Skill: Pedal taps! When campers master hops and can coast for a few seconds at a time, they’re ready to start practicing Pedal Taps. This can be done on bikes with or without pedals. The key is simply to get kids rolling long enough to lift their feet to pedal height and tap their toes to the frame before stopping.

• First things first: let’s try one-foot pedal taps. Start scooting, and see if you can tap ONE foot to your bike’s frame while you coast. Go straight then try a big circle.

• Now, switch to the other foot! Go straight then try a big circle.

• Can you alternate? How about tapping BOTH feet?? Bonus: do you know your RIGHT from LEFT?

• Practice, practice, practice!

9:45: Snack Time! Everyone sitting (snack time is down time). Drink lots of water & then take a group restroom break.

10:00: Storytime stretching: ‘Old McYogi Had a Farm, Shanti Shanti Ommmm’ Let each kid pick their animal and have the whole group act it out. End with the longest Ommmmmm you can make!

Old McYogi had a farm, Shanti Shanti Ommmm (hands in circle mudras and/or hands at heart center)

And on that farm she had a (insert animal here), Shanti Shanti Ommmmmm

With a (insert animal sound) here and a (insert animal sound) there,

Here a (animal sound) there a (animal sound)

Everywhere a (animal sound),

Old McYogi had a farm, Shanti Shanti Ommmmmm

10:30 Group Game: Mr. Fox, Red Light Green Light, Zookeeper, Where’s my ducky, Frogger, Rhythm Master, Drip Drip Drop, etc.

10:45 Learn to Bike! Individual Practice

• Keep practicing! Try to coast as loooooong as you can!

• Continue with pedal taps. Is one foot easy? Try BOTH feet! Go straight then try a big circle

• At this point, some campers will be ready to try a bike with pedals. They may not be ready to pedal away quite yet, but they can start practicing pedal taps with actual pedals.

• Let’s count while we coast! How high can you count with your feet off of the ground?

• Practice, practice, practice!

11:00 Learn to Bike! Group Bike Activity: Relays

• Name the Parts relay: call out a part (seat, handlebars, wheels, tires, spokes, etc.) and let each kid run up to point it out. Then tell us what that part is for!

• Have a ‘get ready relay’ and practice putting on helmets! Run to helmet, put it on, buckle the strap, unbuckle, take it off and put it down (happy turtles!)

• Bike relay: instructors: use sidewalk chalk, cones, foam noodles, and other materials to make a bike obstacle course! Draw a ‘balance beam’ with chalk, then draw a winding river to practice turns, make a hoop out of noodles for campers to ride through, some silly animals to ride past, then make a fun finish line. Add other silly elements (roar like a lion, lift your feet when you ride across a pretend stream, duck when you ride under a tree, count while you coast, etc.

• Everyone ride through the obstacle course! What’s your favorite part? Cheer for each other!

11:45 Lunch and closing circle

• One new thing I have learned at camp is…

12:00 Pick-up time. Give positive and specific feedback about each camper’s day. See you tomorrow!

Thursday

9:00 Morning Circle/Name Game: what are you excited for today at camp?

Let’s get ready for our day: sunscreen, water, restroom.

Taking it to the next level: At this point, some campers may be ready to take their skills to the next level and try biking for longer distances or on different surfaces (grass, sidewalk or bike path, slight uphill/downhill, etc.) For ideas of additional biking games & activities, see the list of Additional Learn to Bike! Games at the end of this outline.

9:15 Learn to Bike! Review & Learn a New Skill

• Review activity: Teach your teacher!

  • Today, the campers are going to teach their teacher as if he/she had NEVER seen a bike before. Scatter biking gear around in a circle (helmet, water bottle, bike, air pump, backpack, etc.).

  • What does your teacher need to put on before he goes biking? (a helmet!)

  • How do we know if it fits? Is the strap tight enough/too tight?

  • What should he/she check on the bike before riding? (Instructors: you can let some air out of a tire, set your seat way too high or low, etc.)

• Let’s get ready to ride! Put on your own helmet, then have a teacher check.

• Warmup circle: instructors: make 3 different ‘zones’ with cones.

  • Zone 1: Walk/scoot! Start slow, then go super-fast & stop!

  • Zone 2: Hop (push with both feet)! Start slow, go fast & stop!

  • Zone 3: Pedal taps! Try one foot, two feet, then stop!

• New Skill: Strong Starts! Instructors:

  • First, model how to set your pedals up (with one up and one down, rather than pedals even). Which pedal is on top? This will be your first pedaling leg!

  • Next, model trying to pedal from a standstill (and falling over).

  • Now model how to start with a few strong 2-foot hops before pushing one pedal. Show how important it is to get a strong start & get momentum before pedaling!

  • Finally, model what happens when you look down with your eyes to find the pedals (and fall over). Ask campers what you need to do with your eyes? (Look up!)

• Have campers practice Strong Starts. Set up pedals, push off strong, start coasting (eyes up! Look where you want to go!) and then tap or push a pedal.

• Are your starts getting STRONGER? Next time you coast, try to push one pedal AND the next!

• Go straight then try a big circle. Don’t forget to practice your stops, too!

9:45: Snack Time! Everyone sitting (snack time is down time). Drink lots of water & then take a group restroom break.

10:00 Nature Walk & Treasure Hunt! Take a walk somewhere green: across a field, under a tree, along a bike path (if possible), etc. Go slowly and look for tiny treasures! Find a cool pebble? How about an interesting leaf or stick? Talk about LNT and what we can gather (objects that are dead & down vs. what is alive (trees, flowers, bugs, etc.) Fill your box with treasures!

10:30 Group Game: Mr. Fox, Red Light Green Light, Zookeeper, Where’s my ducky, Frogger, Rhythm Master, Drip Drip Drop, etc.

10:45 Learn to Bike! Individual Practice

• Continue to be very intentional about encouraging each camper no matter how far along the progression he/she is. Some campers may start to feel frustrated if they haven’t gotten the hang of coasting/pedaling yet. Remind each camper that they are exactly where they need to be and that they are working SO hard and learning new things every day!

• Free bike: define boundaries of biking space and remind rules for leaving LOTS of space (stinky elephants!) between bikers. Instructors: let campers practice scooting, coasting, toe taps while you rotate to work one-on-one with each biker.

• Many campers will be ready to start pedaling with an instructor’s help. Remember, don’t grab that seat! Instead, focus on getting a strong start, setting the pedals up for success (so that one pedal is at the top of a stroke), and then walking/running alongside with a hand on the camper’s back for momentum and reassurance. If a camper is about to fall, you can grab a handlebar to prevent a crash.

• With an instructor’s help: set your pedals up, and get a strong start. Then, try to pedal! Don’t worry about falling; your teacher is here to help you.

• Practice, practice, practice!

11:00 Group Bike Activity

• Sticks, cones & ramps, oh my! Instructors: set up a course with an assortment of obstacles to ride around & over. Sticks or small branches, a line of cones, and tiny black bike ramps are all good options. Let campers ride in whatever manner is most comfortable to them. This might be walking or scooting, coasting, frog hopping, or even pedaling. As long as we’re rolling, we’re biking!

• Instructors: Demonstrate how to ‘pop’ over a stick: get a strong start, look up where you want to go, then lift your feet (Or keep them on the pedals)!

• Let each camper try a few times. Cheer for each other!

• Instructors: Demonstrate how to ride through a line of cones like a slalom course: look up where you want to go! Try big, wide turns and then smaller, straighter lines.

• Let each camper try a few times

• Instructors: Demonstrate how to ride over a tiny black ramp: Make sure an instructor is standing next to a ramp to spot you! Get a strong start, look up where you want to go, and lift your feet (or keep them on the pedals) while you go over. Make sure your landing zone is clear!

• Let each camper try a few times. Instructors: stand next to the ramp, and spot each child as s/he goes over. If a camper needs help or momentum, you can grab one handlebar and put your other hand on the child’s back to keep them balanced and give them a little extra ‘oomph’

11:45 Closing circle

• The best part of my day was…

• The most challenging part of my day was…

• I’m excited for tomorrow because…

12:00 Pick-up time. Give positive and specific feedback about each camper’s day. See you tomorrow!

Friday

9:00 Morning Circle/Name Game: what are you excited for today at camp?

Let’s get ready for our day: sunscreen, water, restroom.

Taking it to the next level: At this point, some campers may be ready to take their skills to the next level and try biking for longer distances or on different surfaces (grass, sidewalk or bike path, slight uphill/downhill, etc.) For ideas of additional biking games & activities, see the list of Additional Learn to Bike! Games at the end of this outline.

9:15 Learn to Bike! Review & Learn a New Skill

• Review: Let’s get ready to bike!

  • Helmets: On straight, straps buckled & tight enough (I can fit two fingers into the strap, but it can’t slide off my chin)

  • Bikes: Where should the seat be? Do my tires need air?

  • Surroundings: Is it safe to ride here? What do I need to watch out for? (other kids, instructors, cars, curbs, trees, etc.).

  • Warmup Circle: Freeze Bike! Play some fun (kid friendly!) music on a portable speaker. Have campers scoot, hop, coast or pedal around a big circle. When the music stops, FREEZE!

  • New Skill: BRAKES!

  • Instructors: demonstrate getting a strong start, looking up, and pedaling. Then, show how to pedal backwards to brake! Next, show using hand brakes (some kids may have one hand brake instead of OR in combination with pedal brakes).

  • Have each camper get a strong start and practice using the brakes.

  • Now, play Freeze Bike with BRAKES! When the music plays, bike around! When the music stops, use your brakes to stop and FREEZE!

9:45: Snack Time! Everyone sitting (snack time is down time). Drink lots of water & then take a group restroom break.

10:00 Passport art: draw a picture of your favorite part of Learn to Bike! camp. Ask your friends to write their name (or draw a picture) to ‘sign’ the back of each other’s passports!

10:30 Group Game: Mr. Fox, Red Light Green Light, Zookeeper, Where’s my ducky, Frogger, Rhythm Master, Drip Drip Drop, etc.

10:45 Learn to Bike! Individual Practice OR My First Trail Ride! (if location allows)

• Separate into groups as necessary

• Have campers who have become confident pedalers walk their bikes to a nearby stretch of paved sidewalk or bike trail (only do this if it’s directly adjacent to camp! Instructors: bring the bike trailer or a wagon so you can transport little bikes if campers have trouble walking their bike.

• What is different about riding on the ‘trail’? What do we need to look out for? Where can we ride? Remember to leave a big, stinky elephant between each biker!

• Play ‘telephone’ to pass messages back to the end of the line. Now, YELL the messages as loud as you can!

• Let’s roll! Instructor: ride a few pedal strokes up the trail, and have each camper practice riding on the sidewalk. Campers will likely struggle with this new & narrower path, even if it is relatively wide. Remind bikers to look up in a straight line, and be ready to stop for those stinky elephants!

• Continue to ‘leap frog’ your way down the path, riding a short stretch and having each camper catch up to the line. Make sure to leave plenty of time to get back to camp!

• For campers who are still learning to pedal: Instructors, spend some time with each camper and if anyone has NOT gotten the hang of pedaling quite yet, let them try it a few times with your help. Remember, don’t grab that seat! But, you can help each camper get a strong start, find their pedals, look up and pedal a few strokes. Put a hand on their back for momentum or reassurance, and you can grab a handlebar to prevent a crash if necessary.

• Practice, practice, practice!

11:00 Group Bike Activity: Victory Lap!

• Have each camper ride a lap around the circle, and cheer for them like they’ve just won a gold medal!

• Have the group tell each biker something awesome about him/her: (i.e. You are really brave! You can coast for a looooong time! You can frog hop super-fast! You were a kind friend when your buddy fell down! Etc.)

• Take requests for one last biking game: (Red Light/Green Light, Obstacle course, cones/ramps, etc.) End on a high note!

11:30 Closing circle & Passport ceremony

Passport ceremony-make it simple and special. Recognize each camper for something AWESOME they did at camp. Have campers tell each other why they are great and cheer for each camper as s/he receives a passport!

12:00 Pick-up time. Give positive and specific feedback about each camper’s day. Thanks for coming to camp!

Additional Learn to Bike! Games:

All my neighbors: Set kids up in a circle and mark spots on the ground with chalk. The instructor starts in the middle and says, “All My Neighbors who… like the color blue!” Then everyone who likes the color blue scoots to find a new spot like musical chairs. When a child cannot find a spot they are in the middle and get to do the next “All My Neighbors who…” Make sure your circle is wide enough to accommodate little bike scooters!

Slow Race: Lay out a course that is either a long straight line or a loop that brings riders back to the start. Challenge kids to ride the loop as slowly as they can! This develops balance and bike handling ability.

Stop on a Dime: Create a single straight line, about twenty-five feet long. One end is the start line, the other end is the finish line, which you should mark clearly with a bold line. Have the kids begin at the start line, and ride toward the finish, aiming to stop pedaling and apply their brakes so that their front wheel ends up squarely on the main finish line.

Long Roll Find a spot that is either flat or goes slightly uphill. Create a start line and a mid line about 25 feet past that. Direct your kids to start pedaling at the first line and pedal like mad until they reach the next point, where they must begin coasting. The object of this event is to roll as far as they can, scoring more points the farther they go before touching the ground.

Spiral Draw two-foot wide path that goes in a spiral around a large (five-foot diameter) circle. Have each kid ride the spiral from outside in as slow or fast as they want.

Paper Boy This is a fun event that allows kids to play at being a newspaper delivery boy. For this you’ll need two to four targets (clothes baskets, large tubs, trash cans, etc.) and an equal number of rolled newspapers. Give the children a newspaper and challenge them to throw it into a target while riding their bike.

Balance Beam Draw one main line about 30 feet long. Have each kid ride the course, following the centerline from one end to the other as slow or fast as they want.

Mirrors: Typically, people working in pairs for this activity, but with four- to eight-year-olds it works best with one leader and everyone else mirroring their actions. Slow motion movements can help unwind an active group, while high energy movements can give children a real aerobic experience. This activity could be done with everyone on bikes or as an activity to stretch & warm up before riding. Face your group and ask them to spread out so that their arms can move in any direction without touching anyone. Invite the children to do what you do. Be creative with your movements- lift one hand off of the handlebars, tap one foot on the ground twice, etc. Mirror is a wonderful tool that can be used to give your group whatever they need. Slow motion stretches, goofy faces and positions, or high energy running and jumping. Have children take turns being the lead person, but you may need to coach them at this at least to begin.

Swim, Fishies, Swim!

Directions: Set up two parallel lines 30 to 60 feet apart. If the playing area is quite large, set up side boundaries as well. Have the group stand behind one line. Ask two volunteers to be sharks. The rest of the group are fishies and do not want to be caught by the sharks. The sharks stand inside the boundaries.

The campers can be on bikes and scoot across the playing area. The sharks can be off of bikes in order to more easily tag fish. If your group is not quite coordinated enough to play this on bikes, feel free to play by running.

When the sharks yell, “Swim, fishies, swim!” the entire group of fishies must scoot/run through the playing area without being tagged by the sharks. They must stay inside the boundaries. Once the group of fishies reaches the other side, they are safe. Fishies who have been tagged (or who have gone out of bounds), stay frozen where they were tagged and become seaweed.

The game continues when the sharks again yell, “Swim, fishies, swim!” Each round will result in more seaweed until, eventually, there are no fishies left to swim.

Simon Says

Simon says “frog hop to the yellow cone!”, “Scoot to the red cone,” etc. etc.

Skill Levels for Learn to Bike

Below is a list of levels that correlate to skills in the biking progression. The purpose of these levels is to be able to accurately determine what skills a child has acquired each day. This list should drive tasks that instructors choose for each riding group to meet them at their level of skill.

These levels should make it easy for staff to communicate each day with parents where in the progression their child is at. It is important for instructors to also communicate with parents what reasonable expectations are for their child each day. For example, on Day 1 for a three and a half year old, it is realistic to expect that they will learn to sit on their bike and walk it with wobbly control (Level 2). They may progress further in that time but skill acquisition will vary based on age, previous experience, athleticism of the child, etc. By Day 5 the goal should be to have all children attaining Level 5, but note that depending on the child they may not quite get there. If a child progresses faster during the week, continue to use the levels to drive what skills the child should be working on. Levels should always be presented and communicated in a non-competitive manner.

Level 1- Child can name or point to at least 3 parts of their bike.

Child can walk next to their bike with wobbly control while holding the handle bars.

Child can turn the bike around to change direction while holding the handle bars.

Child can walk next to their bike with control, in a straight line, while holding the handle bars.

Level 2-Child can sit on the seat of their bike and walk it forward with wobbly control.

Child can walk their bike forward in a straight line while sitting on the seat with steady control.

Child can “fast walk” or stride their bike forward with control.

Child can scoot their bike forward with both feet in control.

Child can scoot/walk their bike forward with their head and eyes up.

Level 3-Child can coast short distances (3-5 feet) on a slight downhill.

Child can coast longer distances (more than 10 feet) with control.

Child can coast with enough speed to get over small ramps or obstacles.

Child can coast and make turns both directions with control.

Level 4-Child can touch one foot to a pedal while coasting.

Child can touch both feet to both pedals while coasting.

Child can touch pedals and start a forward motion with their pedals.

Child can pedal short distances (5-10 feet) before having to put a foot down.

Level 5-Child can keep a sustained pedaling motion while going straight ahead.

Child can pedal while looking forward.

Child can use braking devices on their bike to stop.

Child can turn in both directions with control while riding their bike.

Child can pedal up small up-hills.

Level 6-Child can maneuver their bike around obstacles.

Child can pedal with enough speed to ride over small ramps and obstacles.

Child can ride on different surfaces effectively (asphalt, grass, dirt trail).

Child can stand up on their pedals while riding.

Child can pedal while standing up.

Level 7-Child can pedal up sustained up-hills.

Child is beginning to learn appropriate body positioning for uphill/downhill/obstacles.

Child can do a reverse push-up wheelie.