CYCLE Kids

Description

CYCLE Kids, Inc., a registered 501c3 non-profit educational organization based in Cambridge, MA, was founded in 2004 out of concern for the growing epidemic of obesity and inactivity among children in the United States. Julianne Idlet founded CYCLE Kids as a volunteer effort in 2004 after her concern that childhood obesity was becoming a growing public health epidemic. Through her love of the bicycle, Julianne developed the CYCLE Kids bicycle-based curriculum that teaches students: (1) how to ride a bike, (2) bike/road safety skills, (3) science principles, and (4) healthy nutrition. The objective was to reach out to as many people as possible through afterschool programs, physical education classes, and community centers to spread the importance of living an active and healthy lifestyle. In September 2004, CYCLE Kids piloted a 10-week program in two Boston area schools, directly teaching over 20 children. In 2006, in order to grow the program, CYCLE Kids shifted to a model where schools and community centers deliver the program themselves. CYCLE Kids sold site providers bikes and helmets with special discounts from vendors and provided them with in-person training along with the curriculum. Today, our healthy lifestyles-, bicycle skills-, and safety-based curriculum is being taught to children through physical education classes and afterschool programs for the fourth through sixth grades in metro Boston and New York City neighborhoods.