This page shows news articles related to specific greenways and communities.
All News Clips
| Back to List | |
| Get out and ride | |
| Apr 18, 2007 | |
| Kelly Casino kcasino@kcchronicle.com | |
| Kane County Chronicle | |
| Pertains to Great Western Trail, Fox River Trail, South Elgin, St. Charles | |
| ST. CHARLES —œ Some children never have seen a deer or a beaver dam. Many don’t know the different types of birds, and spending a day outside on a bike trail is a foreign concept to many others. Laura Andersen of South Elgin and a group of local volunteers are trying to change all that. Nearly a dozen times this summer, they will take groups of children for bike rides on the Great Western and Fox River trails as part of Trips for Kids Fox Valley, a nonprofit organization aimed at getting kids outdoors. “It’s a pretty simple, down-to-earth program,” said Andersen, who founded the Fox Valley chapter in 2002. “We take kids on bike rides, and we love what we do. The more kids we got out on bikes, the happier and healthier those kids will be.” Rides typically include about 10 kids, age 8 to 17. Bikes and helmets are provided. Gayle Peneschi, program coordinator for DuPage County Area Project, said children loved the outing. “It’s just a nice little field trip,” Peneschi said. “The kids love it.” The DuPage County Area Project, which offers families and students community centers, after-school programs and events, brought children on the ride last summer and will go again this year. A July 14 ride with DuCAP currently is Trips for Kids’ first trip this summer, but the group is available before that date for rides. “We keep our dates open, and then if somebody calls and we can accommodate them, we do,” Andersen said. Of all the benefits of the bike trips, however, Andersen said her favorite part is seeing the sense of accomplishment on the faces of the children, who at the beginning of the ride said they wouldn’t be able to make it. Trips are, on average, 14 miles. “Kids don’t usually think they can do it, but they do,” she said. “They have a great time, and they say, ‘I want to come back again tomorrow and do it again.’” A volunteer meet and greet is scheduled for May 5 for current and perspective volunteers. Andersen asks that those interested in attending contact her so she can be sure to bring enough food, bikes and helmets. “That kind of kicks off the season,” Andersen said. [Link added by GPDB:] Trips for Kids - Fox Valley |
»»»»»
Greenway Trails
» » »Existing
» » »Project
» » »Potential
Greenway Maps
» » »by Agency
» » »by Scope
Community Systems
» » »Active
» » »Typical
» » »Sedentary
» » »Dead-end
Grade Separations
» » »Existing
» » »Needed
Trail Development
» » »News
» » »Events
Greenway Advocacy Materials
Bicycle Underpass/Overpass Gallery
About Greenway Planning Database
About Steve Breese
PalatineRoad.com
Contact Steve Breese
Greenway Links
ArlingtonTrotters.com
Fast Track Racing Team
COGO
Technical Corner