VAMOS BIKE PROGRAM OVERVIEW
WMBC and Vamos Outdoors Project have partnered to offer Latiné, Migrant, and multi-lingual youth in our community the opportunity to build community through weekly mountain biking on Galbraith Mountain and the Waterfront Pump Track. This program focuses on fostering a relationship with the outdoors, building community, empowering youth to use bikes as transportation, and leadership skills.
Youth participants, ages kindergarten through 12th grade, spend an afternoon outside learning bike skills, how to ride on multi-use trails, and how to navigate around their city by bike. There are many pump tracks in our county that allow youth to practice basic and advanced bike skill skills from their own neighborhood. Students aged 6th-12th grade have the opportunity to earn a mountain bike of their own plus a helmet, lock, and light. Participants must attend 80% of rides and make-up missed skills to earn a bike.
Thanks to volunteer ride leaders, monetary donations, and donated bikes from Kona Bikes and Specialized Bicycles, we are able to provide bikes, helmets, and instruction to students for free weekly from spring through Fall each year.
Vamos Outdoors Project is a local non-profit that has cultivated a strong relationship with Latiné, migrant, and multi-lingual youth in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. They provide outreach, transportation, food, and snacks for each program. Spanish language use is encouraged and supported by volunteers during rides, creating a low-pressure space for youth to explore the outdoors, and create community. Participants get a chance to share experiences in their native language with representative mentors, make new friends, and build their sense of place within Whatcom County.
This partnership is thriving and we are so happy to see many of the kids returning each season and sharing their passion with their friends and family.
The Vamos Bike Program is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.
THANK YOU SUPPORTERS!
