Earn - A - Bike

EARN - A - BIKE & ADVANCED APRON PROGRAMS

EARN - A - BIKE

Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday; $25 Program Fee

Believing in the worth and gifts of Indianapolis’ youngest citizens, Freewheelin’ Community Bikes has served over 1000 Indianapolis youth though Earn-A-Bike program. While our teaching methods, staff and volunteers have changed and evolved through the years, one constant remains the same: we use bicycles as the literal vehicle for valuable life and leadership skills needed to transform the world, inside and out. Tucked away in our youth workshop in Mapleton-Fall Creek, you will find youth ages ten to eighteen (10-18) putting in countless hours of hands-on learning to earn their own bicycle. Our pillar program mentors youth learning the value of caring for their earned bicycle, problem-solving skills, determination when working through a difficult problem, sharing, collaboration, to finish what they start, and to work with focus.

ADVANCED APRON

Saturdays; $25 Program Fee

Once the wheels start turning, we don’t want them to stop. Freewheelin’ offers an advancement system through Open Shop hours, where aprons are used in the same way as karate belts: to mark a student’s level of mastery. With each apron indicating a specific level of mastery over specific skills (Green, Red, Purple and Black Apron) build confidence, and mentor other youth through mechanical and life processes. The apron advancement system provides for a culture of achievement and pride at Freewheelin’. The final “test” of the black apron youth is to build up a bicycle from the raw frame with their box of bicycle parts. At the end of our Advanced Apron program, black apron-level youth possess the skills necessary to volunteer in the retail shop, working alongside the shop mechanics and volunteers, repairing bicycles and assisting customers.

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