MEASURING SUCCESS
MEMORIES, SMILES & GROWTH BY JESSIE WILLIAMS
The young riders who participate in Norte programs inspire us all as they inspire each other. The hours together are full of laughter, riding, running, exploring, and getting up close and personal with local landmarks. These are genuine moments of making memories. Our programming’s ultimate goal is to create active-for-life students who are confident and independent. Similarly, our community services are driven by the vision that everyone should have access to being active-forlife, no matter their background or situation. One critical way that Norte is building relationships with young riders is through the Grand Traverse Regional Kids’ Bike Library. As a free resource, our bike libraries open doors to forge all sorts of new connections. Throughout the year, the library helps old friends and introduces new friends to Norte. We help keep individuals rolling while assisting others with their first bike. Or, as happens sometimes, get moving again for the first time in a long time. One key partner for Norte’s bike library is McLain Cycle & Fitness. In 2020, they donated over 200 bikes, which allowed us to create more relationships with more families, schools, and community partners. We also placed 114 bikes into circulation at local schools and traditional libraries. They were incorporated into physical education classes and checked out to library patrons. We firmly believe that the skills cultivated due to having access to a bike carry over to the rest of their lives. Independent kids aren’t only free and 8 2020 NORTE ANNUAL REPORT
confident on the trails, they’re courageous leaders in their schools and communities. Things they discover on after-school rides turn into family excursions. We find that our young riders become tour guides excited to show off what they learned. We might spend three hours per week together or see each other only when it’s time for the next bike size up. Regardless, we want to see how the skills and resources your students take away from Norte have impacted their life. That’s why in 2020, we doubled down on our commitment to surveying the participants in Norte programs and in services such as the Community Bike Shop or Kids’ Bike Library. The insights and feedback of our fantastic participants always provide motivation and inspiration. We invite you to look through our past surveys and responses on the reports page of our website at elgruponorte.org. Here, we have our 2020 Kids’ Bike Library report, as well as post-program evaluations and stories for the 2020 Summer Bike Camp, the Fall 2020 Youth Mountain Bike Season, and the camp’s academic in-school impacts months later. Here’s to happy, healthy, strong, ready-to-learn, active-for-life, incredible Norte kids!
