Grant Application for
Top of Michigan Trails
Mission Statement:
Kids Pedaling With A Purpose (KPWP), a biking program, will provide the youth in our area with a structured educational experience that facilitates their growth toward making healthy lifestyle choices.
Fiscal agent if applicant is not tax exempt:
Top of Michigan Trails Council
Tax ID Number:
38-3263521
Contact First Name:
Contact Last Name:
Cindy
Okerlund
Address:
1687 M-119, Petoskey, MI 49770
Email:
Phone Number:
231-347 7034
Website:
Project Name:
Kids Pedaling with a Purpose
Project start and end dates:
September 9, 2025
June 9, 2028
Amount Requested:
$
5000
Project Description:
KPWP provides the opportunity, equipment, education and guidance for Emmet County 4th graders to ride 8 miles from Spring Lake Park to the Oden Fish Hatchery and back. In January the KPWP director teaches a lesson in the classroom on bike safety, trail etiquette and details about the spring field trip. Each student's biking ability is tested in the school gym, with the assistance of 3 program volunteers. After the 1st round of testing, every school is visited again to work with kids who are unable to ride a bike or who are struggling riders. Those who can't ride a bike are given the option of riding a specialized bike so they can participate. On the field trip lessons are reinforced: bike safety, trail etiquette, group riding, map reading, nature and a practice ride. The kids ride 2.5 miles to the Native American Hiawatha site on Round Lake for a history lesson and proceed to the Oden Fish Hatchery to learn about raising trout, stocking lakes and the impact of invasive species.
Goal of the Project
How many people will you reach?
1300
What percentage are female?
50
If your program serves both males and females, how will Hestia funds specifically target women and girls?
The health challenges facing youth today are staggering. The percentage of children age 10-17 in the US who are overweight has risen from 7% in 1980 to 26% in 2022. It is estimated that 1 in 5 American children are over-weight or obese, with statistics slightly higher in girls. Type 2 diabetes is a growing chronic disease in the US with children being diagnosed at a rising rate of 62% between 2016-2021. The CDC reports girls are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at an earlier age because of their puberty changes. The goal of KPWP is to turn to biking as a form of cardiovascular exercise they can carry with them the rest of their lives. It is also an opportunity to be outside, exercising and experiencing beautiful Northern MI. Starting in 2017, over 2,000 Emmet County kids (50% girls and 50% boys) have participated in all-day bike-rides. In addition to kids, there are currently 160 volunteers (56% women and 44% men) who participate with the kids. We strive to message healthy choices and life long physical activity. The rides help to build self confidence, self esteem, team building, while partnering with adult role models. KPWP estimates each ride to cost $50 per child. The money requested will support the cost of the girls riding.
How are recipients identified or selected to receive services? Is financial need considered?
Our target group for this program is all 4th grade students in Emmet County. This program is not based on financial need. KPWP currently serves the public/private schools of Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Pellston, Alanson, St. Francis Xavier and Harbor Light Christian. There is no charge to these schools, other than paying for their transportation to the starting site at Spring Lake Park located on M-119 just outside of Petoskey. The budget presented is for 3 years, as this mostly volunteer, grassroots project has conducted its business in this way. All children in these schools participate, with special consideration made for those who have not mastered riding a bike on their own. Nine percent of kids are accommodated on adaptive bikes so they can participate. For these students the budget requests a trailer for tag-alongs, tandems and the pedal assist side-by-side bikes. Also requested is a new fleet of bikes to replace the older bikes purchased when the program began in 2017.
What do you hope to achieve? What difference will this make in the lives of women and girls?
How will this project meet Hestia's mission statement?
Our education program has provided over 1,000 Emmet County 4th grade girls, roughly 150 per year, the opportunity to experience the life-long physical activity of riding a bike, while appreciating the beautiful area in which they live, and enhancing their health and well-being. KPWP's goal is to continue that outreach. The impact this program has had, and will continue to pursue, is based on its 3 educational objectives: to appreciate northern MI while riding a bike, to exercise - especially the heart, and to have fun. Having fun is directly impactful on everything that is necessary to be healthy and successful. Having fun not only nourishes physical well-being, but also strengthens well-being mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Being strong and grounded in all of these areas provides lifelong well-being and self-sufficiency for girls. Hestia’s mission statement goes hand-in-hand with the mission and purpose of KPWP, which provides the opportunity for girls to be successful and happy. There are over 50 women who volunteer in this program. Many have openly shared how their lives are positively effected by participating, which in turn has added to their own health and well-being.
How will you evaluate or measure your success:
The success of the program will be measured by the satisfaction of the students in response to the following questions:
1. Did you enjoy riding a bike and learning about our area? Y N
2. Did you learn that biking is a healthy activity that is good for you? Y N
3. Will you wear a helmet when you ride a bike? Y N
4. Did you have fun? Y N
5. What are 3 things you learned on this field trip? You can write or draw a picture.
Grant Project Budget Form
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