ABOUT TRIPS FOR KIDS:
This is a FREE, nonprofit program designed to generate awareness and skills via mountain biking expeditions. This program has been made possible by the partnership with and assistance from Viva Bikes, Field Institute of Taos, and Trips For Kids National. TFK Taos seeks to serve youth between the ages of 10-18 that would not be able to have this experience without TFK Taos.
Our programs offer adventures that will allow students to make use of their mental and physical abilities by adapting to the rules of a group ride and its challenges. They will also grow from activities that have proved successful in promoting concepts that demonstrate ones personal strengths and connections to natural environs. This program is designed to be flexible to any schedule, audience, and setting. The intention is to grow the individual for themselves and in relation to the world around them.
THE PROGRAM:
TFK Taos will take groups of up to 10 individuals on bike rides with intermittent stops to enjoy nature and its teachable moments. The rides will last anywhere from a few hours to all day. Bikes, helmets, snacks, water bottles, and transportation will be provided. All that is requested of the participant is a good attitude and the willingness to commit to a time and place. The schedule will aim to address safety first and foremost and, time permitting, life skills (i.e. cooperation, fitness, nutrition, and environmental awareness) and bike skills. The participants will process their experience both verbally and through completing a questionnaire.
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU:
Please contact Liana Sonne at LianaDDC@hotmail.com with your interest and any questions. If planning a ride seems appropriate for your group, we will request that liability waivers and medical forms be completed and one person be provided to accompany the group. From there, the date(s) and time will be set and pick up/drop off will be arranged.
COMMON CONCERNS:
The ideal rider will be of reasonable physical health. The rides are designed for beginners with basic cycling ability. In case of emergency, our ride leaders are certified with basic first aid and CPR and always have an evacuation plan. Our organization is endorsed by a national chapter that has an excellent reputation for safety and expects the same of all chapters. All vehicles, equipment and leaders are insured and double-checked for safety before each ride.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?:
Liana Sonne has facilitated numerous expeditions focused on experiential education. Her experience includes five years in education and ten years in conservation fields.
Richy Green is the Co-Director of Viva Bikes a 501c3non-profit bicycle collective based in Taos NM. He has taught bicycle safety, maintenance, and repair for 10 years to children and adults through the collective s workshops
Susie Fiore is the Founder and Executive Director of Field Institute of Taos, a nonprofit organization established in 1996 to offer hands-on, active outdoor education and promote healthy lifestyles. Susie has 20 years of experience in outdoor education with youth, is a professional mountain bike competitor, and is a certified USA Cycling Coach.
TRIPS FOR KIDS HISTORY:
Trips for Kid was created in 1986 when founder and director Marilyn Price was pedaling up Mount Tamalpias gazing at San Francisco. She remembered the kids she used to see while volunteering at St. Anthony s Dining Room sitting in the heart of inner city San Francisco. Her thoughts moved to how wonderful this experience would be for those children who had never had the chance at any experience close to the one she was having. Most had never challenged themselves physically and spent all their days surrounded by cement as well as constant exposure to drugs, violence and gang involvement. It was then that Marilyn s vision for Trips for kids began to shape. After functioning as a pilot program for two years, Trips for Kids, Inc. became a non-profit organization in 1988. Since then, with the help of thousands of volunteers, over 14,300 kids from the bay area have experienced the natural world from the seat of a mountain bike.
FOR MORE INFO PLEASE CONTACT:
LIANA SONNE(614) 570-4931
LianaDDC@hotmail.com
PO Box 2933 Ranchos de Taos, NM. 87557
Or mail donations to:
Field Institute of TaosP.O. Box 486
Arroyo Seco, NM 87514
Field Institute of Taos is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization ensuring that your donations are fully tax deductible. Thank you for your support!