SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Shredders, a local nonprofit whose mission is to get more young girls on mountain bikes, has donated a fleet of balance bikes to Greenfield Elementary School, to be used in kindergarten gym class.
The equipment donation of 24 balance bikes, 24 pedal conversion kits, 24 helmets, and a learn to ride PE curriculum, was accepted by the Saratoga Springs School Board Tuesday evening. Anna Yarsevich, a 6th grade alum of Greenfield Elementary School, presented to the School Board, explaining that she learned to ride on a balance bike and saying how thrilled she is that kindergartners at Greenfield Elementary will have a chance to learn how to ride a pedal bike in gym class.
This kindergarten pilot program will run this Spring, led by Coach Coop as the head PE teacher at Greenfield Elementary. Funding for this pilot program was provided by families of Greenfield Elementary school kids: Will & Jen Aldrich, Dr. Amy Knoeller, Dr. James North, Thad & Talara Hedgpeth, Peter Mulford, Jane Cramer Varian, and the Winter Family.
Saratoga Shredders runs programming for kids on bikes in the spring and fall, with summer camps in the Summer. Program registration for Spring opens Feb. 1. Summer Camp registration is already open.
There are 4 different programs running this spring between Albany and Queensbury, girls-only programs and coed programs for kids in grades K-12. Their aim is to remove as many barriers to entry for the sport of mountain biking. They provide full program scholarships and bikes to kids in need, thanks to their local sponsors Teakwood Builders, Grey Ghost Bicycles, KindNest, Women’s Care, and Trek Saratoga.
