General Information on I Can Bike Camp
Dates: July 6 – 10, 2015
Location: Pearkes Recreation Centre (behind Tillicum mall) Victoria BC
Cost: $150
Eligibility Criteria:
· Must be at least 8 years old by start of camp
· Must be able to walk without an assistive device and sidestep to both sides
· Able to wear a properly fitting bike helmet
· Must be able to attend the same 75-minute session each day of the 5-day camp
· Must be under 220 lbs. and have a minimum inseam measurement of 20” (measure from floor with sneakers on)
· Parent, guardian, or other designated responsible adult is available to remain on site during assigned session daily
Overview of the Camp:
There are enough spaces for a total of 40 riders in the camp. Riders are assigned to one of five 75-minute sessions each day. Each session has no more than 8 riders at any one time which ensures adequate individualized attention for each rider. Session times are allocated as follows:
Session 1 8:15 am – 9:30 am
Session 2 9:50 am – 11:05 am
Session 3 11:30 am – 12:45 pm
Session 4 1:45 pm – 3:00 pm
Session 5 3:15 pm – 4:35 pm
Each rider attends the same 75-minute session for each of the 5 days (Monday through Friday) and is assigned two volunteers that will work with the rider throughout the week. The volunteers provide encouragement and motivation to the riders who often find it reassuring to work with the same volunteers each day. The volunteers also find it immensely rewarding to see their individual riders progress through the week of the camp.
The riders all start off riding a roller bike, which is a specialized bicycle with a roller replacing the back wheel. The rollers are gradually progressed from a flat cylinder, to increasing amounts of taper in the middle. This design allows children to learn to balance a bike using the body’s own reflexes to stay upright. The children are also taught on a specially designed tandem bike that is generally well received by most riders.
The first two days of the bike camp (Mon & Tues) will take place solely inside on roller bikes. Beginning on the third day (Wed), some riders may graduate to a two-wheel bike and transition to riding outdoors spotted by their assigned volunteers. As riders graduate from the roller bikes to a two-wheel bike between Wednesday and Friday, they will transition to the outdoor riding area. It is recommended that riders have their own bike available to practice on during the last day or two of the camp to assist with the transition and comfort of riding their own bike.
More Information:
Click on the link below to watch a short presentation from last year’s camp held here in Victoria:
knews.ca/i-can-shine-teaching-disabled-kids-to-ride-a-bike/
Click the link below for access to the iCan Bike website for more information and to view a number of short videos of the iCan Bike camp:
www.icanshine.org
Any further questions can be directed to one of the camp directors listed below:
Sharon Stangeland, Physiotherapist
Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health
250-519-5390, local 36695
Mark Koslowski, Occupational Therapist
Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health
250-474-9863, mailbox 32764
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Document # 1016A