Scenic Routes Seen At Kids Building Bikes Camp
Genesis: Pathways to Success, in partnership with Nine13Sports, hosted its fourth year of Kids Building Bikes Camp as part of their A Summer of STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) initiative.
Held in 2 sessions at the Whitewater Canal Trail in Metamora and the Versailles State Park, 12 total students took a 4 day crash course on the ins and outs of bicycles through a hybrid learning experience–blending hands-on activities with classroom learning.
Students began each day in a classroom setting where they learned the history of bicycles, how they developed over time, and the engineering principles pertinent to that day. By learning gear ratios, conversions, and how chains and gears interlink, students were provided with the foundation of engineering principles necessary for building a bike.
Coupled with this classroom time, students spent time in a workshop building their bike. Students applied the lesson on conversion by measuring themselves to find the size of their bike. Once they found the size of their bike, they were given a pre-built frame. From this frame, campers added gears, chains, handlebars, brakes, seats, and wheels; thus actively applying concepts such as gear ratios. The combination of the workshop and the classroom allows the students to see how textbook science is applied to their daily lives. This structure allowed students to experience the importance of each step within building a bike and the impact experiential learning provides.
During assembly, students were given the opportunity to use the necessary tools for bicycle construction and maintenance; thus familiarizing the students with them. While in the workshop, students familiarized themselves with the tools they would find in a bike shop. From a pedal wrench to cable cutters, students were given the opportunity to use every tool necessary to build a bike; further immersing them in this hands-on experience.
Once their bikes were completed, students put them to the test with bike riding skills challenges and a bike ride. During the first session, students toured Metamora utilizing the Whitewater Canal Trail and ending with ice cream. During the second session, students rode through Versailles State Park, finishing off with a picture in front of the lake.
When asked about the importance of Kids Building Bikes, Matty Bennett—an instructor of Kids Building Bikes—stated, “In a world of tap and swipe, Kids Building Bikes delivers a learn and earn program where students use their hand eye coordination, dexterity, and perseverance to build a working mechanical object: the bicycle. No Wi-Fi is needed to build a bike from the frame up! We pride ourselves in providing life lessons in mechanical aptitude, transferable employability skills along with proof that working with your hands is a rewarding way of life. From gear ratios to units of measurement such as torque in Newton meters (Nm) of several bolts, STEM activities are heavily embedded within our curriculum. The activities or tasks connect math to real world applications resulting in real time understanding of the why and how each step in each session of the Kids Building Bikes program.”
Kids Building Bikes Camp offers a unique learning experience, which has a tangible impact on the students. William Newell–an incoming 8th grader at Batesville Middle School–stated, “I loved everything about camp! I really liked being able to build the bike and ride it after.” The step-by-step process allows students to build personal connections with their bicycle and deepens their understanding of mechanical engineering.
Genesis: Pathways to Success would like to thank Nine13Sports for partnering with us to bring Kids Building Bikes Camp to Southeast Indiana. We would also like to thank Versailles State Park and Whitewater Canal Trail for hosting us. Through these partnerships, Genesis is able to provide unique, hands-on learning opportunities to students. Genesis looks forward to hosting Kids Building Bikes again in the summer of 2026.
If you would like to learn additional information about this summer camp, please visit www.genesisp2s.org. If you have questions regarding A Summer of STREAM, please contact the Genesis: Pathways to Success Office by emailing info@genesisp2s.org, calling 812-933-1098, or visiting 13 E. George Street, Suite B, Batesville, IN 47006.
