This past summer Cycling BC’s iRide youth cycling program, in partnership with Simon Fraser University Summer Camps, delivered a one-week leadership camp to give youth from Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island the opportunity to learn and develop the skills they need to run their very own extra-curricular iRide program in their community.
The iRide Leadership Camp held from August 27-31, 2018 introduced young riders, ages 13 to 16, to the basics of coaching ethics, planning practices, skills breakdown and demonstration, and communication skills.
The future leaders also learned a valuable lesson early on. During a group ride on day 1, the camp instructors slipped to the back of the group and allowed the participants to lead the ride. After a couple of minutes, the instructors dropped even further behind the group and stopped completely to see how long it would take the leaders to notice they had lost a couple of their participants. After five minutes, the leaders finally realized that a couple of people were missing from their group and learned an important lesson about a leader’s responsibility for participant safety and enjoyment. From then on, the riders were more keenly aware of their participants’ whereabouts.
Over the week-long camp, participants learned how to coordinate group rides, teach a riding lesson at a BMX track and a velodrome, and lead a series of iRide games. The camp culminated with a big test and a ride on one of Squamish’s most popular trails – Half Nelson.
This is what one of the participants had to say about the camp:
“I had a lot of fun and met new friends. I also learned from Ben and Andrei on how to coach kids from age 7 to 13 and how to be a good leader. The last day of the camp I had one of the best experiences ever. We went to Squamish and I tried many trails that were way better than the ones close to my home. I’m looking forward to becoming a leader and helping a new generation of riders keep cycling alive.” – Nicolas Lutz (13 yrs old)
Cycling BC is looking forward to seeing these future leaders leading their own iRide extra-curricular programs in their communities in the near future.
If you or someone you know are interested in leading a cycling program in your community, Cycling BC will be hosting a NCCP Let’s Ride! Community Initiation Course on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Registration is FREE for Cycling BC members ages 14-19 if registered by October 12, 2018. Register Now
