Innovative Bicycle Camp Helps Children with Disabilities
Pedal Toward Their Dreams.Lose The Training Wheels, Inc., an internationally recognized nonprofit organization, brings its innovative style of teaching children with developmental delays and disabilities how to ride a bicycle to the Comox Valley. People with mental and physical disabilities typically have a more difficult time learning to ride a bike compared to their peers. Lose The Training Wheels’ 5-day camp provides each camper with 75 minutes of instruction each day using a series of adapted bikes and techniques. At the end of the camp, more than 80 percent of campers can successfully ride a conventional bike!
WHAT: Comox Valley Child Development Association has partnered with Lose The Training Wheels to help teach up to 32 north island children and youth ages 8 and up who face barriers in learning how to ride a conventional bike.
This is the second time the Comox Valley Child Development Association has brought the Lose The Training Wheels camp to Courtenay. To date, the camp has helped more than 5,000 people learn to ride bicycles without the aid of training wheels.
WHO: Lose The Training Wheels provides the equipment necessary to conduct the camp, along with professional expertise for technical support, training of staff and local volunteers, and knowledge in terms of how to run a camp and facilitate the participants progress.
Christine Helpard: Camp Director
The host, Comox Valley Child Development Association, provides the administration, recruitment of children and volunteers, and other camp necessities.
Sponsors Shoreline Orthodontics, Peak Drilling and Friends of Lose the Training Wheels (Comox Valley) provide for the camp’s monetary needs as well as recruit volunteers for the week of the camp. Mark Isfeld Secondary School provides gym space and volunteers for the camp
WHEN: This year’s camp will be dates will be announced soon.
WHERE: To be announced soon.
WHY: To help people with developmental delays and disabilities, who once thought their dream would never come true, learn to ride a bicycle without training wheels.
Access to this year’s camp participants will be available. There will be photo opportunities to complete local stories throughout the week.
Participants: Children and youth ages 8 and up who have developmental delays or disabilities that have prevented them from learning to ride a bike are eligible to participate in Lose The Training Wheels. Registrations are welcome from any north island or coastal community. Participants who have benefited most from this program are those who are able to walk without assistive devices, are able to sidestep quickly, can function in a social setting and are able and willing to wear a bike helmet. Most of all, participants should have the desire to “lose the training wheels.” The camp helps increase self confidence, improve quality of life through physical activity, inclusion with able-bodied peers and the ability to participate in a fun family activity.
HOST: Comox Valley Child Development Association
SPONSORS: The presenting sponsor for the camp is Shoreline Orthodontics, Peak Drilling and Friends of Lose the Training Wheels (Comox Valley).
For more information contact Christine Helpard at chelpard@shaw.ca or 250-890-0720 or the Comox Valley Child Development Association at www.cvcda.ca or 250-338-4288. Check out Lose The Training Wheels at www.losethetrainingwheels.org.
