One “teachable moment” from biking summer camp in California

An Avid4 Adventure Staff talks about a teachable moment during Bike Day at summer camp in California.

Elementary education major Reagan Anderson, 22, an instructor at Avid4 Adventure’s day camps in Cupertino, California, didn’t know what was in store for her the day she taught a big kid to ride a bike.

Typically an instructor for the younger “explorer” groups in kindergarten and first grade, Anderson stepped in to help an older child work on bike skills during the multisport day camp in Silicon Valley.

This 8-year-old camper was struggling. Having lived in the urban crowds of Bejing, China before relocating to California, he had never learned how to ride a bike. 

This was his chance to practice getting proficient, but he was shy and most likely a bit embarrassed that the rest of the children had headed to test out the trails while he needed extra time learning on the forgiving flats of a suburban Cupertino park.  

“On the first morning of camp, his dad told me that his son was still shy with his English,” Anderson says. “I didn’t know a single word of Mandarin, but I figured I could still be kind and encouraging throughout the week to try to get this camper to open up.”

It was a challenge. Even though this boy was smiling during the kayaking and hiking skills sessions, he remained reserved and struggled to talk to other campers. But Anderson persevered.  

“On Bike Day I stayed behind to teach him, but it’s one of those hot days and we’re both sweating within two minutes and need a break in the shade. While sitting there my camper said something I did not understand, so I asked if he could teach me some Mandarin,” Anderson says.

“The numbers 1 through 5 seemed manageable. He immediately lit up and began saying each number and waiting for me to repeat them. I was so excited that he wanted to teach me all the way up to 10. After a whole week of silence I finally had this kid opening up to me by teaching me something! It was incredible.”

When the camper got on the bike, Anderson explained it was her turn to teach him something just like he had taught her Mandarin.

“He got a determined look on his face and straddled the bicycle. I would count down from three in Mandarin and he would start off, and after a few tries he actually got some pedaling in. I have never seen a child look so excited and proud,” she says.

It was a teachable moment that Anderson (and Avid4 Adventure) will never forget. It was a precious connection that was never about the bike; it was about a young person learning confidence through the compassion of his counselor.  

“Of all the campers I taught to ride a bike last summer, teaching this kid and seeing his perseverance was the most rewarding,” Anderson says. “When his parents picked him up, he walked over and gave me a hug and said thank you. For a shy kid of few words, this was the best thing he could have said to me.”

Learn more about our summer camps in California today! 

Writer: Over the last 15 years, Julie Kailus has earned marketing communications credentials working behind the scenes for clients and companies in a broad scope of industries. However, she has never stopped embracing the joy and inspiration it brings her to tell stories about people, products and places pushing boundaries in the outdoor world.  Julie spends most weekends chasing her sons around the Colorado mountains. 

Tagged: adventure camp, Biking, Kids biking, learn to bike, summer activities, summer camp, summer camp in California