New Directions is hosting a five-day iCan Bike camp to teach local children and young adults with disabilities how to ride a two wheeled bicycle independently. This is the first time iCan Bike will be in South Dakota. Our bike camp is June 8-12, 2020 at the Special Olympics Unify Center in Sioux Falls.
Over 100 iCan Bike programs teach approximately 3,000 people with disabilities how to ride a bicycle each year. iCan Bike will bring trained staff, and their custom-built adapted bikes. They partner with local volunteers. That’s where you come in. We need 100+ volunteers for our bike camp. (Volunteers must be 15 years old.)
A rider attends the same 75-minute session for each of the 5 days (M-F) and is assigned the same two volunteers to work with throughout the week. We ask volunteers to commit to attending all 5 days of camp for the session you select. Riders bond with their assigned volunteers and rely on the same person to be there to support them each day of camp.
Daily 75-Minute Sessions:
- 8:30am-9:45am (7 riders)
- 10:05am-11:20am (7 riders)
- 11:40am-12:55pm (7 riders)
- 2:00pm-3:15pm (7 riders)
- 3:35pm-4:50pm (7 riders)
It is important to note that volunteer spotters will walk/jog approximately 3 miles during their 75-minute session so please keep this in mind.
Volunteers are asked to attend a 45-minute orientation Sunday, June 7th at 3:30pm at the Special Olympics Unify Center (900 East I-90 Lane, SF). During this orientation, you will learn how the iCan Bike program operates, what to expect each day in your role as a volunteer spotter and you will receive training tips on spotting your assigned rider. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and meet other volunteers in your session.
Volunteers arrive each day of camp 15 minutes prior to their session start time for a daily strategy/briefing session.
There is a great need for bicycle programs for people with disabilities. Approximately 80% of people with autism and 90% of people with Down syndrome never learn how to ride a bicycle during their lifetime. We want to change that statistic. What is truly amazing is that over 80% of the participants learn to ride a conventional bicycle independently by the end of the week! Please take this opportunity to be apart of a very rewarding program!
To volunteer use this link to register: https://forms.gle/H4CqRnqriTG4n1bw6
For more information on iCan Bike contact:
Becky Robinson, New Directions DSA – iCan Bike Volunteer Coordinator
605.310.0646
Email – [email protected]
To view some news videos of camps in action, please visit www.icanshine.org (About Us…Video Library)