Summer Cycling Day Camp Volunteers!

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Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW) offers a full-day Summer Cycling Day Camp to youth ages 8-14, with the mission to empower Philly's youth through cycling. Volunteering with our Summer Camp is a fun and exciting way to explore the city, improve bicycle repair skills, and make a lasting difference in the lives of young people in West Philadelphia.

Over the course of two weeks, campers will learn the basics of bike mechanics, learn how to ride safely in a group in the city, build a bicycle to take home, and learn lessons about living a healthy lifestyle, which are reinforced with field trips by bike and fun activities like screen printing.

We are asking volunteers to commit to at least 1 day a week for either a 1/2 day(9am-1pm/12-4pm) or full day. Our camp runs in two-week sessions between July 5 and August 26 from 9:00am to 4:00pm as follows (volunteers don't need to sign up for every session):

Session 1: Monday July 9 - Friday, July 20 - A mix of rides and mechanics (our traditional model)

Session 2:Monday, July 23 - Friday, August 3 - Mostly mechanics focused, with some rides

Session 3:Monday, August 6 - Friday, August 17 - Mostly ride focused, with some mechanics

Summer Camp offers NBW's most dynamic curriculum and volunteers wear many helmets throughout the program. Each day's schedule is typically divided into road time and shop time, and volunteers can sign up for road time OR shop time (or both!), depending on their interests, skills, and availability. A minimum commitment of two half-days per week is requested.

During road time (9:00am to 12:45pm), campers engage with natural, historic, and artistic resources in Philadelphia. With lessons in bike safety and rules of the road, NBW stresses safe riding techniques while introducing youth to the joys of bicycle adventure. Volunteers act as roles models, ride leaders, traffic marshals, and coaches, making sure youth adhere to safe riding rules, engaging more experienced youth, and encouraging newer riders.

Shop time (1:15pm to 4:00pm) is oriented toward bike repair instruction and practice. Each day presents a new aspect of bicycle mechanics for campers to tackle. Volunteers act as guides, keeping youth engaged in and excited about the lessons or projects at hand. Basic bike mechanics experience (though not necessarily professional experience!) is preferred but not required--just a willingness to learn and potentially get your hands dirty!

Please email volunteers@neighborhoodbikeworks.org for more information and to apply.