SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
For the second consecutive year Safe Kids Washoe County is helping teach area children personal responsibility for safe biking and walking behaviors with its Summer Camp program. The program, named Ready to Walk N’ Roll Summer Camp, consists of multiple week- long sessions offered throughout the summer. The program is free to Washoe County students who are 10-13 years old.
During the camp, students participate in classroom and neighborhood activities to teach and reinforce safe walking and bicycling. They attend field trips in the community to promote self-sufficiency and improve riding skills, as well as participating in educational activities addressing careers, cultural programming, nutrition, air quality and community service.
This year, Safe Kids Washoe County is holding both advanced and basic bike camps. The advanced camps are being offered to students who completed the basic camp last year.
“We are excited to be able to offer this program for a second year and continue to encourage neighborhood youth to become independent travelers who are able to safely reach the many recreational, educational and future work destinations available in their community,” said Melissa Krall, Safe Kids Washoe County coordinator. “The camp will play an important role in establishing a safe and positive walking and biking culture in Washoe County, which intersects numerous urban and semi-rural neighborhoods where recreational hiking and bicycling is not currently a widespread activity.”
Camps run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and are based out of the Sun Valley Community Center. Students who participate in the program can earn a bike, helmet, bike lock and backpack to keep.
The program is made available at no cost to participants by a $23,934 grant to Safe Kids Washoe County from the Nevada Department of Public Safety – Office of Traffic Safety.
