Dear Collective Genius:
MoBo runs a Kids Day program in the summer and we wanted to know how a few other co-ops ran similiar programs. Our program works like this: We are an all volunteer run program but we have a paid coordinator who runs Kids Day. It's one day a week and kids must have a parent sign a waiver form. We will work with kids to fix up their own bikes and we have an earn-a-bike program for kids who need a bike. Kids are asked to work with our gardens program to work in the gardens, including weeding, turning compost, picking fruit, planting, learning how to build an oven using solar energy--things like that.
However, we have a couple questions that we are wondering if the Collective Genius could help us with. They are:
- Our program has exploded in this, our fifth year. We normally have 15
kids a day at kids day. This year,we 've been having over 40 or 50 on site. And because we are volunteer run, we do not have enough volunteers to watch all the kids or get bikes out to every kid who wants one. Has anyone ran a program with this many kids before? The amount of kids has also lead to lots of fighting and arguing with mechanics and, sadly, bike theft. How has, or would, your organization handle this situation? We do have activities for kids to do while they wait. For example, this year two science teachers come down and do experiements with the kids and we try to get some of them to go to the Patch a Tube station to learn how to patch their own tires.
- How do you keep your kids activties going year around? We would like to
keep this going as clearly there is a huge demand that has built up over the years and through our marketing program. Most of our kids are from our neighborhood so having something like this year around gives them options for safe and fun places to be.
- How do you encourage bike safety? Helmets are uncool with our set and
although we distribute them, we find them discarded later. Because we are located in a high traffic area where many accidents do occur, we would love to encourage kids to wear helmets.
Whew that's a lot! Thank you for listening and for any advice or input! Ellie Nava-Jones and Judi LoPresti Getting Kids on Bikes Enthusiasts