In between the rainy days we’ve had this winter, interns and staff have taken the opportunity to get our fleet of mountain bikes and ride some mixed-terrain trails. Working on bikes is fun and all— but getting to ride them is even better. While Street Level Cycles is always busy refurbishing bikes for the community, taking a break as a team for some bike riding helps interns with team building, life skills, as well as the opportunity to experience the health benefits of bicycles and their many different uses. This comprehensive approach creates a well-rounded intern experience and better enables interns to take on jobs in the bike industry.
Before each ride, staff demonstrate best practices for group bike rides and tips to ride on the specific terrain. One afternoon in January, we put the wrenches away and rode our bikes over to Cesar Chavez and McLaughlin State Park for an afternoon of riding skill-building. Riding up the steep hills of Cesar Chavez Parks always results in an exhilarating downhill—it’s even fun enough to do it multiple times in a row!
On President’s Day, it was grey and a little chilly but the ground was just dry enough to ride in Tilden. Riders were dropped off at the Steam Train parking lot, where about 300 meters of climbing up a few switchbacks gets your heart going and warms you up. The group reached the summit of Vollmer Peak pretty quickly and then got to enjoy wide fire trail downhills for the next hour. We stopped for lunch along Quarry Trail and enjoyed the quiet meadow. Another hour descent gets you to Little Farm where we walked around and greeted farm animals.
After the trip, one participant told the staff, “I feel this community [is a] big family… so thank you again for everything and hope we continue this for the future.”
Waterside Adventures provides unique, small cohort experiences, allowing our youth interns and alumni the opportunity to enjoy nature, explore their interests, and enjoy a reprieve from their hectic lives. This programming seeks to break historic economic and social barriers to accessing nature for our participants, allowing for first-time experiences that support emotional development and self-actualization.
Support Waterside Adventures by donating or dropping off good-conditioned used camping gear.
