A Summer of STREAM has Kicked into High Gear with Kids Building Bikes
Starting Monday, June 5th, and ending Thursday, June 8th, Genesis: Pathways to Success welcomed Nine13sports and their Mobile Bike Lab to the Osgood Trails for the June session of Kids Building Bikes Camp. For the third consecutive year, the camp has served as part of our larger A Summer of STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, & Mathematics) initiative and has welcomed kids from across Southeastern Indiana.
Six attendees were given the opportunity to learn from, and work alongside, the staff of Nine13sports to construct their own bicycles from custom kits. From learning about the invention of the bicycle to changing tires and installing parts, campers received comprehensive hands-on instruction regarding the safe operation and proper maintenance of a bicycle. This holistic approach emphasized the importance of understanding the creation of a product from start to finish, demonstrating that a complete knowledge of the history and mechanics involved in a project is essential to building a diverse skill set. Campers learned essential skills in tool safety, bicycle repair and part installation, proper tool and equipment use, and the importance of the bike in influencing the history of transportation. On top of this, campers were able to ride their bikes after assembly on the last day of camp.
In addition to the technical STREAM concepts involved, campers developed many soft skills as well, including, the ability to diagnose and solve problems, the ability to apply instruction to practical situations, time management, adaptability, self-confidence, and independence. These skills reach far beyond maintaining their bicycles, as they are each important for success in their future careers and personal endeavors.
Matty Bennett, the Director of Kids Building Bikes, emphasized the value of skills acquired through the program, noting, “Learning to appreciate working with your hands, and how gratifying it can be to produce and maintain something that you personally built, builds confidence and gives you skills you can use in the real world. Working with your hands teaches independence, self-confidence, and dexterity, which are tools that can get you through your life and take you further in your art or career. It’s about more than bikes, building friendships, relationships, and problem-solving… those are all employability skills.”
As a testament to the popularity and success of the program, the camp culminated in an Alumni ride on Thursday during which past camp attendees were invited back for a bike ride with those who had just completed the camp. Another session is being held from July 24th through July 27th at Liberty Park in Batesville, IN.
