Team Adventure

For the first time in the event’s history, the KIDS & STAFF of Project Adventure Kids (PAK) rode in their own cycling event! In the past 19 years, the PAK kids have always just worked the rest stops at the ride. So this year, because many wonderful volunteers stepped forward to help, we were able to form teamAdventure. Many of these teens have spent their entire lives in foster care and had not even ridden a bicycle before. Growing up in the foster care system, you are always riding in group vans, so that made the thrill for the kids of riding a bicycle on the road that much more exciting!

The cycling community can probably think of how a bicycle has changed their lives – whether it’s getting physically fit, finding a healthy way to unwind or seeing the world with renewed perspective.  For the kids at Project Adventure Kids, a new bicycle and the opportunity to ride in the Covington Century is one more tool to help them overcome the obstacles they face. One more way to build their confidence, to see that a world of possibilities exists for them with hard work. One more way to be part of a caring & generous community.

Four months prior to the event, the kids (ages thirteen to twenty) and staff started the process to make the team and get into shape to ride. First, to be on teamAdventure, the kids had to earn the right by having good behavior. Then, volunteers from Atlanta and Covington cycle teams pulled together to teach these kids a healthy hobby that the kids can carry with them into their adult lives.

teamAdventure was made possible by many generous volunteers who helped get the kids bicycles, clothing, a cycling coach, and came out for practice rides with the kids. We would especially like to thank volunteer Co-event chairs Debbie Young and Lisa Ciancio who helped pull teamAdventure together. We also want to thank Coach Robert Wilhite (www.mycyclecoach.com), the Covington Conyers Cycling Club (C-4), Conte’s Bike shop (www.contesbike.com ), FreeFlite Bikes (www.freeflitebicycles.com), and the North Atlanta Riding Club (NARC - www.bmw-narc-freeflite.com) for all of their time and donations to make teamAdventure a big success!! We appreciate your making a difference in the lives of these kids!

How you can help teamAdventure:

• Your financial support always helps – waterbottles, & bicycle tubes cost money.
• Donate your gently used cycling clothing (teen/adult sizes). Cycling shorts, jerseys, etc. are helpful for our training rides.
• Donate your time & come ride with us – help the kids learn proper gearing, rules of the road and build their endurance.
• For more information on how you can get involved with teamAdventure, please email to auchenbach@comcast.net .

About Project Adventure Kids:
Since 1981 Project Adventure Kids has helped Georgia’s homeless, abused, neglected and at-risk youth overcome the barriers they face in life.  Today the program supports over 100+ kids daily, many of whom live & learn on the 130 acre campus in Covington and Milledgeville. The Project Adventure Kids program is successful – last year 10 kids graduated high school, 22 received their GED and today nine kids are in college, many of whom are scholarship recipients.   Some of the money raised from the Covington Century this year will help pay for SAT and ACT entrance exams. Project Adventure Kids is a 501(c)3 charity.  All donations are tax-deductible. For more information about Project Adventure Kids, please visit www.projectadventurekids.org

**teamAdventure News** from 2008

teamAdventure Covington Century Ride
August 2, 2008 – teamAdventure arrived at 5:00am that morning to first work as volunteers to help with the registration set up, parking, and to put on an exhibition climb at the 80 foot repelling??? Wall. The kids then changed and prepared for the start of the ride. As the 1,100 cyclists got in line to start the ride, cycling coach Robert Wilhite introduced teamAdventure to the crowd and spoke of the great accomplishments the kids and staff had made the past couple of months. PAK staff Erin? sang the Star Spangle Banner, and the cheers began as the Project Adventure Kids and staff lead the cyclists for the first 3 miles of the ride. As teamAdventure pulled over to let the cyclists take the lead, many of the cyclists congratulated the kids as they rode by. teamAdventure was eager to get back on the road and finish their ride---many of the kids rode at least thirty miles! After their ride, the kids came back to the campus and sat on the side lines and cheered the cyclists as they finished their ride.

teamAdventure Bike Parade
Saturday, June 7, 2008 – teamAdventure made their debut appearance at the Downtown Covington Bike Parade / BRAG kick-off event.    The kids' cycling coach sponsor (Robert Wilhite of mycyclecoach.com) worked with the kids earlier that day at the Project Adventure campus before heading into Covington.  The kids were thrilled to ride around the Covington square to the cheers of the crowd. Afterwards, Coach Robert treated the team to ice cream at Scoops! It was a great day for the kids! 

teamAdventure Bicycle Fit Night
Tuesday May 20, 2008 – There was a great turnout of volunteers, kids & staff, last night at Project Adventure Kids to help with the new bikes! Thanks to C4 (Covington-Conyers Cycling Club) & Conte's 14 kids and 6 staff members were fitted to their new bikes & helmets.  Checking seat posts, brakes, helmets, quick releases and providing a little guidance on shifting and how to set the bikes down gently and on the correct side, the team was an invaluable resource.  It is so important for these kids to see that people care about them.
 
Once the kids were fitted, they buzzed around in circles across the large parking lot with smiles and laughter in abundance.  On top of new bikes & helmets, the North Atlanta Riding Club (NARC) donated several years of left over, but brand new, team kits (uniforms).  Once they got over the initial giggles of wearing spandex, the kids loved the outfits.  Feeling like part of a team & having the help of adults in the community makes this a really special activity for the kids. 
 
MyCycleCoach.com Signs on as the Official Coach of teamAdventure!
Monday April 14, 2008 – Robert Wilhite of MyCycleCoach.com shares his passion for cycling with the kids of Project Adventure Kids who are riding for the first time in the 20 year history of the Covington Century.  Robert, a Certified USA Cycling Coach and coach for Clinica Union Pro Cycling Team helps his clients improve their bike fit and technique.  His patience and obvious love of his craft will be shared with a whole new generation of cyclists – the kids & teens of Project Adventure.  80% of the kids who come to Project Adventure have no where to turn and would otherwise be homeless.  The opportunity to learn a new sport with a professional coach is priceless – thank you MyCycleCoach.com for making this possible!