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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
The Seven Hills Middle School's Bicycle Recycle Project in Nevada City is doing just that.
Anthropologist Margaret Mead didn't know about the Seven Hills Middle School's Bicycle Recycle Project when she wrote that quote. But, she probably would have agreed that this group is a wonderful example of people working together to change the world.
The Bicycle Recycle Project, created in January 1999 by Seven Hills Middle School counselor Steve Davis teaches sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls and boys how to repair/rebuild bicycles that would otherwise end up in the landfill. More than 800 students have completed this program.
In Davis' class, the students learn more than the mechanics of bicycle repair. "The idea is to teach life skills as students rebuild old bicycles," Davis said. He believes problem-solving, persistence and cooperation are learned by doing. What could be better than a class that recycles old bicycles and teaches students valuable life lessons?
Davis teaches more than replacing chains and rebuilding bottom brackets. He encourages his students to consider whom to give the bike to. "I want to make it clear to the kids that this is a project they are responsible for and to decide what to do with it when completed," Davis said.
While some of the students rebuild and repair for their own use, they all have the opportunity to donate bicycles to needy families and to the homeless. "Kids are excited to give it to someone," Davis said. More than 500 student-repaired bicycles have been donated by the students since the program began.
This excitement is ever-present during an incredible heart-warming annual event at the Loaves and Fishes homeless shelter in Sacramento. Loaves and Fishes is a private sector charitable organization dedicated to feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless. The students take the bicycles that they have repaired and spend the day fitting the homeless/needy people onto the repaired bikes and/or fixing their existing bikes. One student commented, "It was amazing to see how happy they were to get a bike, to get something that you worked on and built."
"Bikes open up the world to them considerably," Davis said about the homeless. Many need the bikes for their primary mode of transportation as they try to rebuild their lives.
By the end of the day at Loaves and Fishes, the students have done real work with real tools and have improved the lives of some folk who truly depend on bicycles for transportation. "It just takes your breath away. It's a real powerful experience. Their completed project is something they are proud of," said Davis.
One student commented, "It was strange at first, but once you started working on the bikes and talking to the people who will get them, it was fun. People might be afraid of homeless people at first, but once you talk with them, you realize they are regular people. They just don't have a home."
What these students have learned goes far beyond bicycle repair and maintenance. They have experienced what it means to make a difference in someone's life.
This is very apparent in a comment from Jimmy McCox, a bike recipient at Loaves and Fishes. "The bike is great, but not near the feeling you guys put back in me. I cannot thank you enough; therefore, I will try harder to be like you. All of you."
If you would like to learn more about the Seven Hills Middle School's Bicycle Recycle Project and how you can participate in and/or support this program, contact Steve Davis at (530) 265-1840 ext. 454.
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Laurie Bell is a road cyclist and a member of the Sierra Express Bicycle Club. For more information about bicycling visit the Sierra Express Bicycle Club Web site at www.sierraexpress.org. The club's voicemail phone number is (530) 470-5090.
- Margaret Mead
The Seven Hills Middle School's Bicycle Recycle Project in Nevada City is doing just that.
Anthropologist Margaret Mead didn't know about the Seven Hills Middle School's Bicycle Recycle Project when she wrote that quote. But, she probably would have agreed that this group is a wonderful example of people working together to change the world.
The Bicycle Recycle Project, created in January 1999 by Seven Hills Middle School counselor Steve Davis teaches sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls and boys how to repair/rebuild bicycles that would otherwise end up in the landfill. More than 800 students have completed this program.
In Davis' class, the students learn more than the mechanics of bicycle repair. "The idea is to teach life skills as students rebuild old bicycles," Davis said. He believes problem-solving, persistence and cooperation are learned by doing. What could be better than a class that recycles old bicycles and teaches students valuable life lessons?
Davis teaches more than replacing chains and rebuilding bottom brackets. He encourages his students to consider whom to give the bike to. "I want to make it clear to the kids that this is a project they are responsible for and to decide what to do with it when completed," Davis said.
While some of the students rebuild and repair for their own use, they all have the opportunity to donate bicycles to needy families and to the homeless. "Kids are excited to give it to someone," Davis said. More than 500 student-repaired bicycles have been donated by the students since the program began.
This excitement is ever-present during an incredible heart-warming annual event at the Loaves and Fishes homeless shelter in Sacramento. Loaves and Fishes is a private sector charitable organization dedicated to feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless. The students take the bicycles that they have repaired and spend the day fitting the homeless/needy people onto the repaired bikes and/or fixing their existing bikes. One student commented, "It was amazing to see how happy they were to get a bike, to get something that you worked on and built."
"Bikes open up the world to them considerably," Davis said about the homeless. Many need the bikes for their primary mode of transportation as they try to rebuild their lives.
By the end of the day at Loaves and Fishes, the students have done real work with real tools and have improved the lives of some folk who truly depend on bicycles for transportation. "It just takes your breath away. It's a real powerful experience. Their completed project is something they are proud of," said Davis.
One student commented, "It was strange at first, but once you started working on the bikes and talking to the people who will get them, it was fun. People might be afraid of homeless people at first, but once you talk with them, you realize they are regular people. They just don't have a home."
What these students have learned goes far beyond bicycle repair and maintenance. They have experienced what it means to make a difference in someone's life.
This is very apparent in a comment from Jimmy McCox, a bike recipient at Loaves and Fishes. "The bike is great, but not near the feeling you guys put back in me. I cannot thank you enough; therefore, I will try harder to be like you. All of you."
If you would like to learn more about the Seven Hills Middle School's Bicycle Recycle Project and how you can participate in and/or support this program, contact Steve Davis at (530) 265-1840 ext. 454.
ooo
Laurie Bell is a road cyclist and a member of the Sierra Express Bicycle Club. For more information about bicycling visit the Sierra Express Bicycle Club Web site at www.sierraexpress.org. The club's voicemail phone number is (530) 470-5090.
