by Kimberley Leahy Last September I was hiking with Mary Payne, one of the teachers at Edgehill Elementary School, and we were talking about some of the amazing things Powell River schools are doing. From the Outdoor Adventure Program at Kelly Creek Community School to the Eco-Immersion program at James Thomson Elementary School, there are some great opportunities for kids in Powell River. We wondered what we could offer at Edgehill that would be fun, physically active and unique, and voila: the Edgehill Rippers Mountain Biking Club was born.
The mountain biking club is organized and led by parent volunteers and teachers. Mike McHugh, an Edgehill parent and avid mountain biker, has taken the lead role of navigating the group through the trails. The club is fully supported by the principal and staff at Edgehill. Rippers’ membership is open to all students grade three and older.
Our first two sessions were skills sessions held on the school field, where we ran the kids through a simulated course and taught them safety and skills using Sprockids® principles. After that, we were ready to hit the trails.
We ride on Mondays after school for about 1.5 to two hours. On any given Monday we have 25 to 32 student riders and at least five teachers, as well as parents and special Powell River Cycling Association guests.
We really want the club to be inclusive—we are aware that not every child who might be interested can afford a mountain bike. To that end, the club has been blessed by Claire Finnamore, an education assistant at the school. Finnamore is a bike technician who has been able to repair and rebuild bikes that have been donated to the school. Club members who do not own a bike or whose bikes might not be appropriate or safe can borrow one to ride. Finnamore also does a safety check and tune-ups as needed right before every ride on Mondays.
The Friends of Powell River on Facebook provided amazing support by helping us get the word out for our need for donated bikes. Additionally, our club received donations via refundable bottle returns from the Sunshine Coast Health Centre to help fund our endeavours.
The Rippers also received a grant through Sustainable Schools, which we have used to purchase bike parts and build leader backpacks.
We are very excited by the amazing response we have had our first year, and fully anticipate that this will be a sustainable program that we can continue to offer into the future.
Our final ride and wrap-up barbecue was held on Monday, June 15 after school at Edgehill.
Kimberley Leahy is a proud mother of four present and future Edgehill students who is excited to help introduce a new generation of mountain bikers to some of the best trails in the world here in Powell River.
