Trips for Kids Marin (TFKM) is proud to announce a new program for girls called “Learn it, Fix it, Shred it!” in partnership with Girl Scouts of Northern California and Heart of Central California. This exciting day-long adventure combines TFKM’s Earn-a-Bike and Trail Rides programs that teach basic bike maintenance, proper trail safety, and basic mountain bike riding skills. We recently hosted a few local Girl Scout troops as part of the launch of this new program. Judging from the smiles, laughter and positive feedback from them and their parents; we are off to a smashing start. Here is an overview of how the program works.
In the morning, the scouts learn from our Earn-a-Bike instructor to name the parts of a bike, inflate a tire, properly lube a chain and check that their bike was adjusted correctly and safe to ride. 

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“ I learned to think about other people and not just be in my own world.”

There is often a moving moment when each girl presents their badge to a fellow scout with an appreciation and acknowledgment of the excellent sportsmanship that they had witnessed during the day. One young rider remarked, “I learned to think about other people and not just be in my own world”. Another girl said, “I learned that good sportsmanship is waiting for your team to get through challenges together”. After learning bike maintenance skills and completing a 10-mile mountain bike ride, everyone receives their badge, and the beaming smiles and pride of the scouts are palpable. It always an impactful experience, and we couldn’t be happier to have the chance to share this journey with so many remarkable young ladies.
To date, an official ‘biking’ merit badge does not exist in the Girl Scouts, but we’re hoping to change that with this program; our goal is to have it become a new national model and partnership between Trips for Kids and Girls Scouts of the USA. Ride on Girl Scouts!  

A Weekend Camping Trip To Remember

This past April, six of our Earn-a-Bike youth participants were in for a special treat. We packed the vans and headed down south to Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey for an overnight adventure at 27th annual Sea Otter Classic. Sea Otter is a world-class biking festival, featuring a wide range of bicycle competitions, exhibits, demonstrations, and bike celebrity sightings.
This event served as the first-ever national Trips for Kids Sea Otter Jamboree, providing the opportunity to bring fellow Trips for Kids chapters together from across the country for a weekend full of fun and inspiration with the common purpose of celebrating the diverse world of bicycling. Our Bay Area youth had the chance to interact with and be inspired by other chapter riders, chapter leaders, bike enthusiasts and pro athletes, all with a shared focus on the sport. Earn-a-Bike Program Manager, Rogers Holmes, got to witness the magic first hand and shares his experience in this post. 
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Here is a brief photo tour of the weekend and a summary of the lasting impact the experience had on the kids:

Here is a group shot showing youth and chapter representatives from a variety of locations, including: Trips for Kids Marin (San Rafael, CA), Trips for Kids National (Portland, CA), Trips for Kids Midcoast Maine (Westport Island, ME), Trips for Kids Bulldog Riders (San Jose, CA), and Trips for Kids Antelope Valley (Palmdale, CA). ​

There was even time for a game of cornhole at the Clif Bar tent. ​

Danny Macaskill stopped by after to shake hands with Trips for Kids riders which everyone thought was super cool. ​

One of our youth even got a free swag bag directly from Danny Macaskill. ​

Then it was time to view some of the competitive races including the Dual Slalom downhill competition. ​

The day ended back at our campsite where we took in the natural beauty of the coastal landscape. ​

What camping trip wouldn’t be complete without s'mores around the fire? It was the perfect setting to relive some of the day’s highlights and build lasting memories.
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A Lasting Impact
After returning home and reflecting on the event, Rogers Holmes, summarized by saying:

The kids wouldn’t stop talking about Sea Otter. What is really cool is you didn’t have to ask them if they enjoyed the trip. You could tell just by the clothes that they were wearing, that they got from the event. They just wouldn’t take them off. Every-time I see them they’re always sporting something from Sea Otter. It’s the coolest thing ever. They’re just super stoked and they are all invested in building up a nice bike now. They want to race and participate now. It was exciting, just seeing how the exposure heightened their interest in bikes. The timing was perfect to keep kids engaged after, with the nice riding weather and summer around the corner. It couldn’t have been better.

The kids felt the same way:

“Sea Otter was the time of my life. Just being involved in the racing scene inspires me to race next year. Being with the other campers brought me close to the whole experience.” - David, Age 13


“Going to Sea Otter was an amazing experience. This made me grateful for being there. I also saw biking in a different way, like Dual Slalom, Pumptrack, and road racing. I would totally go back. P.S. I love the campsite.“ - Roberto, Age 10


“I had a good time! Going to this race meant the world to me. And my dad told me I was going to be signed up for the Dual Slalom next year, so thank you!” - Blakester, Age 11


“It was fun and exciting. I loved the bike races. I want to learn more about all these riders and more about bikes. It was so much fun. These riders inspire me to be a better rider going down hills. I loved playing with the other Trips for Kids riders. The campsite was amazing with everyone.” - Will, Age 10

With all the fun we had, we can't wait to go back next year to Sea Otter Classic!

​Haden, how long have you been involved with the Moving Kids Forward team?
I was one of the founders going back 3+ years ago.
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Why do you support Trips for Kids Marin, what about our work speaks to you?
Anything that promotes kids to be outdoors and active is positive. Trips for Kids Marin takes it a step further by introducing disadvantaged kids to a passion of mine, mountain biking. Being on trails and seeing sights and beauty you would not otherwise witness is life changing. The feeling after a challenging ride is unparalleled. Bicycling combines so many things lacking in our everyday lives, such as getting outside and experience the wonders of nature and the incredible place we live.

​Your band Bred2Shred is our featured musical guests for our 30th-anniversary gala; can you tell us about the origins of your group and the name?  
The origins of the group begin with a bet when taking piano lessons at our company Christmas party. I told my piano teacher, Taylor Cutcomb, thinking it would force me to practice more to play a song in front of my office. Fear of failure is a powerful thing. Taylor took ten steps further by invited some of his favorite musician friends who play together regularly around the Bay Area. Bred2Shred is a term I use when thinking of another passion of mine skiing, "born to ski." The idea behind the phrase is to pursue your passion aggressively. For me, this manifested into a goal of continuing to play music and to join a band.
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What kind/type of music do you play?
We play a wide variety of rock, blues, and funk. Covers of my favorite songs growing up paying tribute to some local bands such as Tower of Power, Sly and the Family Stone, Bonnie Raitt, Credence Clearwater and others.

​Who are the other members of your band?
Bred2Shed combines some of the most sought-after Marin County musicians, including members of the highly acclaimed band Vinyl, lead singer Cathleen Riddley and Aaron Saul on alto saxophone. Drummer extraordinaire, Michael Pinkman from Peter Rowand’s Big Twang Theory and the Oakland Symphony. Taylor Cutcomb formerly with the Eric Martin Band and Matt Buehner lead guitar, previously in Glendale Philharmonic, Through the Roots and PlayFish.

Anything you want our supporters to know regarding why your involved with this cause? 
The more I learn about Trips for Kids Marin, the more I am impressed with the organization, and it causes. Having a 30 year legacy in the nonprofit world speaks to the organization's impact, and the work of an incredible group of executives, volunteer, and supporters. Seeing the video played at the Moving Kids Forward benefit event was especially moving. I am honored to support such a well run organization.

Participate in National Bike Month This May

​May 9th is Bike to School Day, and May 10th is Bike to Work Day in Marin County, a perfect opportunity for parents to take a bike trip through the Bay Area with their children. Both annual biking celebrations give everyone a chance to experience just how fun and beneficial biking can be.
Residents of Marin County are pledging to bike to work or school to promote community, safe streets, and more livable neighborhoods. Kids and their parents can take the pledge to do some pedaling. Aside from experiencing how easy and enjoyable biking for everyday transportation can be, children will be able to discover their city in a new and exciting way.
Energizer Stations Throughout The Bay AreaAs families ride through familiar streets and perhaps explore some that are lesser known, they’ll be able to stop by Energizer Stations on Bike to Work Day for free beverages, snacks, and reusable tote bags filled with goodies.
This year, Trips for Kids Marin will be teaming up with the Marin County Bicycle Coalition to offer refreshments and a Re-Cyclery coupon in the goodie bags passed out at the 4th Street Energizer Station located by the SMART train station in San Rafael. Stop by our booth on May 10th from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. to get your collectible bag and fuel for an energizing bike ride.

Looking For Routes To Ride?

Visit Map - Map Provided By Kuvara Law Firm
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If you’d like to ride anywhere outside of your route to work or school, the map above contains over a dozen routes submitted and ranked by riders throughout the Bay Area. The map can be filtered by rating, distance, and difficulty. There’s a path for cyclists of any experience level.

Biking Safety Tips
Biking is a great way to form friendships, strengthen family bonds, get exercise, and reduce our impact on the environment. But, every child who gets on a bike needs to be prepared. According to Kaiser Permanente, more children between the ages of 5 and 14 get admitted to emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries than any other activity-related injury. Kaiser stresses the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet and following 10 basic safety rules:

Choose an Appropriate Bike
For Bike to Work Day, Bike to School Day or any other bike-riding adventure, it’s vital that kids are on the right bikes. Children should be able to have their hands on the handlebars and the balls of their feet touching the ground while they’re sitting on the seat. Don’t buy a bike your child will “grow into.”

Wear a Correctly Fitted Bicycle Helmet
Kids’ helmets should sit on top of their heads and be level. If a helmet rocks backward, forward or side to side, it doesn’t fit correctly. Helmet straps should create a V under the ears and be snug while staying comfortable.

Evaluate the Bike’s Mechanic’s Regularly
Make sure brakes work, gears shift smoothly, and tires are properly inflated.

Dress in Bright, Neon or Fluorescent Colors
Wear a bright or fluorescent vest or jacket over clothes if they don’t stand out. Reflectors on clothing are ideal.

Avoid Rides After Dusk
Take the kids on bike trips before the sun goes down. After dusk, riding requires skills many children don’t have.

Don’t Listen to Music or Wear Headphones
Riders need to be able to hear all of the sounds of the road.

Follow All Road Rules
Cyclists should ride on the right side of the road and travel in the same direction as the other vehicles. Obey traffic signals and signs, and lane markings.

Watch Out for Drivers Parked in Cars
Pay attention to parked cars that might pull out suddenly or drivers inside that may open their doors in front of you.

Wear Close-Fitting Clothing
Loose clothes may get caught in bike wheels and chains.

Make Eye Contact
If you’re crossing in front of a car or pulling into its lane, try to make sure the driver sees you.
Adhere to these general guidelines for proper bike safety. And of course, have fun during National Bike Month.

Our Youth Learn from Being in Nature
By Adam Smith, Ride Program Manager

Max, the main character from Maurice Sendak’s beloved children's book, Where the Wild Things Are, would have loved to be on our trail ride with Project Avary at China Camp State Park that day. It would have been his kind of adventure. It indeed was Antonio’s. “Oh my gosh, it’s so beautiful!” Antonio said not long after taking his first pedal strokes on his first genuine mountain bike trail. “This is better than it looked on Google!”

Project Avary is one of our long-time agency partners that provides support services and programming for youth who have an incarcerated parent. We partner with them a few times a year to take their very deserving young people on trail rides, and they are a perennial staff favorite to lead. The kids from Avary light up during our programs. You can see how much the rides mean to them and they happily tell us why. Today’s wild ride was an especially memorable one, and the kids let us know over and over how excited they were to be there. And rightfully so, it’s not every day you get to ride along with deer, talk to turkeys and watch red tail hawks fly overhead.
“WOW! I’ve never seen a deer so close before! It’s so cool” Antonio enthusiastically exclaimed as we rounded a bend to find a herd of deer on the trail ahead. We stopped and watched them for a while. Unphased, they casually walked off the path, turned and watched us back.

Not five minutes up the trail we stopped at a bridge to catch our breath and have a sip of water when we heard a raucous sound coming from the woods not far from the trail. Wild turkeys! We all started making our best turkey impression (see video below). “Gobble, gobble gobble!” we made the noise in unison then listened for a response. Nothing. “Gobble, gobble gobble!” Again, nothing but silence. One more time, “Gobble, gobble gobble!!!!” Silence… But then, (insert authentic turkey noise here). We cheered as the wild turkeys responded to our group call. The kids loved it. I wonder what we said to the turkeys in hindsight. They must have liked it, whatever we did.

At the end of the ride, to top it off, a beautiful red tail hawk swooped down out of the sky and landed on a tree limb 25 yards off the trail. We stopped and watched it in silence. It was a powerful moment. A group of primarily inner city youth silently watching one of nature's most majestic creatures in its natural habitat. After we broke the silence, Antonio turned to me and said, “Thank you for bringing me here. This is so cool!”

“You’re welcome Antonio,” I said, “thank you for bringing me here today too. I’m so glad you love it so much.”
As we rode back, I couldn’t help but think we might see a boy in a wolf costume hiding in the woods with his wild friends at any point.

​National Volunteer Week is April 15-21, 2018

National Volunteer Week, brought to you by Points of Light, is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and support to causes they care about in their community. Their stories can serve to inspire others to find ways to take action that creates change.

During National Volunteer Week, Trips for Kids Marin celebrates the impact of volunteer service and the power of changemakers to come together to tackle tough challenges and build stronger, more vibrant communities.

In 2017 we had 150+ volunteers log over 1,200 hours!

They helped us lead trail rides, paint our offices, sort and organize donated clothes, offer hands-on support to our Earn-a-Bike participants, hand address 1,500 envelopes for our year-end appeals and reach out to the community to help spread the word about what Trips for Kids Marin is all about. Wow! The Independent Sector puts the average value of volunteer time at $24.14 per hour - last year our volunteers helped fill the role of a full-time staff person. We appreciate every volunteer that walks through our doors and takes the time, energy and passion to help us fulfill our mission. Below we highlight two volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help out our team.

Meet Jim:

Dean is a recent addition to the volunteer team here. He is a skilled local contractor who dedicates his spare time to helping local agencies with remodeling project and he offered to help us transform our old Victorian office space into a modern kitchen and workroom. Dean and his team have volunteered over 75 hours to revive our space and create a room for donations, volunteer meetings, and staff luncheons. “There aren’t enough words of gratitude to express how much we appreciate all of Dean’s expertise!” said Kim Baenisch, Executive Director. ​

Behind This Post:
Stories from the Trail is a blog series focused on capturing and retelling special moments from our Trail Rides program. We will highlight lessons learned, unexpected discoveries, and moments of pure joy our program youth experience on the trail. These stories convey a variety of perspectives including those of our dedicated ride leaders, volunteers, and youth.

​A Milestone Ride for One Youth
By Adam Smith, Ride Program Manager
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We always start our trail rides with an opening circle where we ask our young riders to tell us their name, the last time they rode a bike and what they are looking forward to during the adventure. You might imagine that most kids have been on a bike at least somewhat recently, but you’d be surprised to hear that this is quite often not the case. As much a part of childhood as riding a bike is for most youth in America, it isn’t uncommon to hear ours say they haven’t ridden a bike in many years, if they can remember at all. On this particular Friday afternoon we heard something different, however, “Hi, I am Victoria. I have not ridden a bike…”

​There was silence for a moment as everyone looked around. Since this happens from time to time, I asked a follow-up question, “Hi Victoria, so do you know how to ride a bike?”
“Oh yes,” she replied, “I have not ridden a bike in America. I am from Nicaragua.”
“Que bien! Y que son tus deseos para este dia, Victoria?” I asked in Spanish, “ What are you looking forward to today?”
“To have fun!” she said and smiled.
And fun was had indeed. When we arrived at Ocean Beach, she immediately pulled out her cell phone and made a video call to her mother to show her where she was and how beautiful the ocean looked. Her mother sounded thrilled. She wanted to go on the beach, so we took a group down and let them play in the sand where a spontaneous game of tag broke out immediately. Laughter abounded.

​“How was your first ride in America, Victoria? Will you come back and ride with us again?”
“Yes, of course! Me gusto mucho! (I loved it!)
From Victoria’s first bike ride in America to the tens of thousands of similar youth we’ve served throughout our 30-year history, this is why we do what we do. Trips for Kids Marin provides transformative cycling experiences for underserved youth that build self-esteem, inspire healthy lifestyles and instill environmental values. Today’s ride was a beautiful reminder of why what we do matters and why we couldn’t be more thankful to share our love of bikes and nature with deserving youth like Victoria.

​Leslie Eichenberger has been involved with Trips for Kids Marin (TFKM) for 30 years. An avid mountain bike rider, Leslie joined TFKM as a ride volunteer in the late eighties and soon after, started supporting the organization as a donor. Later, she married, now she and her husband Jim are both involved. “We give to Trips for Kids Marin because it provides simple joy for kids,” she said. “As a grassroots, get-it-done organization, we know the money is not being wasted on frivolous projects. Helping Trips for Kids Marin just makes us feel good.” In her work with TFKM, Leslie has led rides, helped with fundraising bike swaps as well as the Earn-a-Bike program. Leslie shared her thoughts about being a long-time volunteer and enthusiastic supporter.

What would you share with anyone considering getting involved with Trips for Kids Marin?

Remember when you were a kid and what a joy it was to learn how to ride a bike and the freedom and the absolute delight that you experienced? That’s what you can give underserved kids today by getting involved with Trips for Kids Marin. It’s simple happiness. It’s that wide grin that comes on a kid’s face -- that pure elation - he or she gets to experience.  

It’s especially true for kids that are underserved and don't have bikes. There are many kids who participate with TFKM who have never been outside the City, let alone to Marin. They haven’t ever experienced the rush that comes with being outdoors, the fresh air, the smells and the absolute freedom that being on a bike brings. You can change that by getting involved.

I hope every kid gets to experience that joy, that all-of-a-sudden feeling that you can now go places and you can have independence for the first time. Plus, just being in the wilderness experiencing things for the first time: the smells, the sounds, the physical challenge of exertion and all those sensations, it's just pure fun.

Nature feeds your soul more than anything else can. Especially now with kids being so absorbed in devices, or television, or other things that don’t enrich their lives, that don’t nourish them. Being outdoors can deliver kids to a different place that’s healthy and pure and just good for them.

What would you tell someone who's thinking about donating to Trips for Kids Marin?

It's money well invested. It's not going to be wasted. If you ever saw TFKM’S headquarters, if you saw the office, and if you knew the founder Marilyn Price... thrifty is one word that would come to mind.

There are many worthwhile charities out there to give to, many non-profits that are doing great work. However, carving out a little bit of money for providing a simple joy for underserved kids delivers dividends down the line because the kids are healthier and happier because they've been outdoors.

If you think about your first trip outdoors, your first camping trip, your first bike ride, your first picnic, and how great that made you feel… and now multiply that by the thousands of kids TFKM serves every year, that's how your money is being invested. It’s pure joy.

You Have the Ability to Make Children Smile
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If you would like to spread the joy of riding a bicycle with underserved youth in your community, please donate today. If you would like to find out about how to volunteer with Trips for Kids Marin, please read our volunteer page.

In 2017, we received a unique request from a young man who wanted to volunteer with the Trail Rides program as part of his Bar Mitzvah project. He told us that he was an avid mountain biker and wanted to help share the joy of riding with underserved youth by joining our rides and raising money for the cause. How could we not be impressed?
Over the year, Solomon, along with his mother Allison, joined us on several trail rides and even had a starring role in our Trail Rides film you can see here. His ever-present smile, enthusiasm and mad skills on the bike gave our beginning riders someone their age to look up to and connect with. Additionally, Solomon raised money for us by promoting giving through his Bar Mitzvah invitations and taking a collection after the service.

​Part of becoming a Bar Mitzvah is giving a Drash (speech) during the ceremony about your service project, your Mitzvah.  Solomon’s Drash was beautifully written and delivered and in it, he gave one of the most heartfelt descriptions of mountain biking and its importance that we’ve ever heard. He reflected on a portion of the Torah known as, Parashat B'shalach. In this text, Moses leads the Jews out of Egypt and away from slavery, as the Pharaoh is chasing after them. Meeting a roadblock, Moses must split the Red Sea to lead the Jews to freedom, but at first, the Jews are hesitant to proceed when they thought their lives were endangered, saying they would rather be slaves than die escaping.
Solomon analyzed why the Jews might have hesitated, preferring slavery over the pursuit of freedom and what it means to be free, both the concepts of having freedom FROM and freedom TO. For Solomon having "freedom from your mind" is most important, and for that reason, he rides bikes.
Here is an excerpt from Solomon's Drash:

I know for me, one of the ways I get freedom from my mind is by mountain biking.
This brings me to my bar Mitzvah project…I decided to volunteer for Trips for Kids, a non-profit, national organization based in San Rafael. Trips for Kids brings underserved kids onto bikes and out into nature. I have helped lead some of their mountain bike rides this past year. I think biking is a fantastic tool that gives the participants freedom from their minds which may be holding stressful things. I believe mountain biking can be used as an outlet to free your mind.
And, biking is sort of like Moses—how he helped the Jews get free from slavery---Just like biking can help free you from stressful thoughts.  

Solomon closes by saying:

So, I want to leave you with a feeling of how great it is to feel free!
For me, it is on the bike. But for you, what is that thing that clears your mind? Is it surfing? Playing hoops? Doing something creative? Being with friends? Listening to music?
Do it! Doing something you love can help bring freedom to your mind.
So, think of what makes you free and I invite you to make it part of your day today and every day…  

Congratulations Solomon, we are grateful for your dedicated volunteer work and decision to support our organization. We couldn’t be more proud of you and look forward to having you join us on the trail to help others free their minds from the seat of a mountain bike!   ​

Offshore storms over the Pacific Ocean had triggered a high surf warning for the Bay Area during the third week of January 2018. Waves 15 feet tall were recorded crashing ashore along the coastline, too rough for even the saltiest surfer. Fortunately, being a youth mountain biking organization, the high surf warning wasn’t much of a concern as we began our first ride of the year with the Mission Graduates/Good Samaritan after-school program, our most frequent riding partner.
When a group vote was taken whether to ride to the ocean or the beautiful playground at the opposite end of Golden Gate Park, all hands rose for the Pacific. Little did we know what an excellent decision that would prove to be.
As we neared the shore, we stopped in awe as the Big Blue came into view. Waves higher than I had ever seen at Ocean Beach rolled in an angry surf. The kids were just as excited as I was, their mouths wide open as we pedaled up to the sand.  “Look how big they are! I’ve never seen waves so big!” they said.

After assessing that the waves were breaking far enough from shore that it was safe to proceed, we parked the bikes and ran down to the water’s edge to find a heavenly scene. Sea foam, whipped up by the churning saltwater, scattered the beach like tiny cumulus clouds floating over the desert. It was magical. The kids ran around kicking and jumping in the foam appearing as though they were flying as the water reflected the sky and clouds above. ​

It was one of those special moments that you live for as an outdoor educator. Not distracted by their phones or the stresses of life, the kids were immersed entirely in the moment experiencing the wonders of nature.
This is why we do what we do. These are our moments in the clouds.