Trips for Kids budding riders and the TFKCV team at their October kickoff event

Many young people grow up in the Coachella Valley without experiencing the abundance of nature and healthy fun that the local hills have to offer. Trips for Kids Coachella Valley’s (TFKCV) goals are to identify these kids (ages 10-17), bring them outdoors, and teach lessons in personal responsibility, achievement and environmental awareness through the simple act of having fun on mountain bikes.

In conjunction with Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day in October, TFKCV launched their program bringing together 21 young riders and 29 adult leaders and mentors, for a morning of mountain biking. Riders split into two groups based on skill level and rode the 2 or 4 mile trail at the La Quinta Cove Oasis Trailhead. After the completion of the ride, each rider shared their biggest obstacle, how they overcame it, and the part they considered to be the most fun.

The TFKCV program will continue during the month of November with a group of youth from the Esperanza Youth and Family Center in Coachella. There will be three classes teaching bike safety, core values and respecting nature, and concluding with a mountain bike ride aimed at building confidence and pride in each young rider’s individual accomplishment.

Experiencing a ride from La Quinta Cove Oasis trailhead

Since respecting the environment is one of the group’s cores values, TFKCV has created a recycle cleanup effort. Each rider must leave the mountain cleaner than the way they found it. TFKCV is also working on an ‘Earn-a-Bike’ program allowing kids an opportunity to work alongside volunteers to rebuild and fix donated bicycles. After a specified amount of volunteer time, the participants earn a bicycle of their own.

TFKCV is part of The Desert Recreation District (DRD) that has served valley residents from Rancho Mirage to the Salton Sea for sixty years.

For more information on Trip for Kids Coachella Valley, visit www.cvtripsforkids.com or call 760-568-4265.