Vancouver school accepted 24 new Strider Bikes from the HDR Foundation through a partnership with the All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-To-Ride Program

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

Students at Fruit Valley Elementary School got a surprise Tuesday afternoon, courtesy of the HDR Foundation and a partnership with All Kids Bike.

The school accepted 24 new Strider Bikes, and kindergarten students were able to test out the new wheels with a couple of laps around the gymnasium.

The school applied for the grant in November, and on Tuesday welcomed HDR representatives to an assembly.

This initiative, made possible by a donation from the HDR Foundation, seeks to impart the joy of bike riding and promote essential life skills among young learners. The HDR Foundation had already worked with a couple of schools in Bend, Ore., four in Portland, and now one in Vancouver in the Northwest. Across the nation, the foundation is helping 37 schools this academic year with the program.

It is part of the All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-To-Ride Program.

Matthew Fechter, the principal at Fruit Valley Elementary, said it is a gift that will keep giving for years. These bicycles will be part of the kindergarten PE curriculum for the foreseeable future.

“With the population of our school, this is often the first time they are going to learn how to ride a bike, which is pretty neat,” Fechter said. “It’s a unique way to bring the love of the outdoors inside, so they can learn to ride a bike in the winter time, and in the spring we can actually take them out on to the black top. It’s a life skill forever.”

“One thing that is near and dear to us is … giving back to the communities,” said Tracy Ellwein, area operations manager for HDR.

The gift of 24 bicycles will help to teach life skills and communication skills, Ellwein added. 

“It really helps them build friendships and meaningful relationships,” Ellwein said. “It starts at this age. It really sets them on a trajectory for life.”

The Learn-To-Ride Program includes teacher training and certification, complete curriculum with lesson plans, games and activities, along with a fleet of 24 Strider balance-to-pedal bikes. Those bikes come with pedal conversion kits when students are ready, adjustable helmets for the students, an instructor bike, two rolling storage racks, and more.

“Learning to ride a bike is one of the most exciting and memorable milestones in our lives,” Stephanie Macdonald, a Fruit Valley Elementary teacher, said via a press release. “The All Kids Bike Program gives every child, no matter their ability, the chance to experience the joy and freedom of cycling. It’s amazing to see how it boosts their confidence, independence, and physical coordination. This program is a wonderful way to instill a love for active, healthy living in all of our students, setting them up for success both in the classroom and beyond.”

The All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-To-Ride Program launched in 2018 with the mission to give every child in America the opportunity to learn how to ride a bike in school.

HDR is an employee-owned professional services firm that was founded more than a century ago to bring electricity to a changing world. HDR is now a global company specializing in architecture, engineering, and construction services. 

The HDR Foundation provides grants to organizations that align with HDR’s areas of expertise: education, healthy communities, and environmental stewardship.

For more information on All Kids Bike, go to: https://allkidsbike.org/