Looking for a summer bike camp? Check out these seven local options

Get those kids out of your hands and into the city – on bikes!
(Photo: Jonathan Maus)

Summer in Portland means it’s time to make sure the young people in our lives get as much exposure to bicycling as possible.

It’s also a time when school is out and working adults need a place to plop the little ones while they work. That’s where bike camps come in! Since this is Portland, we have a bunch of great options.

Here are the details on seven local bike camps we’ve heard about…

Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition

Details:

(Photo: WashCo BTC)

Website
Ages 9-11
5-days, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday – Friday
Cost: $295 per camper

Dates and locations:
— Week of July 9th – Forest Grove
— Week of July 16th – Hillsboro
— Week of July 23rd – Tigard
— Week of July 30th – Beaverton
— Week of August 6th – Hillsboro

Blurb:

WashCo BTC is proud to present its fourth year of Bike Adventure Summer Camps as a way of giving children the gifts of freedom, empowerment and adventure, (much like when you rode your bike for the first time) but with an emphasis on fun and safety skills that will last a lifetime… At this fun and informative week long day camp your child will enjoy the outdoors with new friends while learning about the joys and safe riding practices under the instruction of two trained instructors who are experienced cyclists themselves… The campers can enjoy lunch in a park, map out a route to eat ice cream on a hot day, feed ducks at a local pond, explore new trails, stop for a game of frisbee, all while making new friends.


Bike First!

Details:

(Photo: NW Down Syndrome Association)

Website
Ages 8 and up
3 or 5 days
Cost: $150 – $250

Dates and locations:
— June 18th to 22nd at Concordia University Gym (northeast Portland)

Blurb:

Riders blossom and beam with pride over their new-found skill, volunteers cheer, and parents tear up to see their child take flight, alone, for the first time. Bike First! is open to children 8 years and up; meaning there is no cap on the end age! People who experience a variety of disabilities have had success at the clinics—some of these conditions include Down syndrome, mild to moderate autism, mild cerebral palsy, visual impairments, extreme fear of falling, fine motor skills, and other developmental delays.

Typically-developing children learn to ride a bicycle with help from their family and friends. Unfortunately, most individuals with disabilities who try this route are unsuccessful…The BikeFirst! program works with children, youths, and adults who experience difficulty getting past training wheels and onto conventional two-wheelers.


The Lumberyard Shred Academy

Details:

(Photo: The Lumberyard)

Website
Ages 6 – 14
One week sessions from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Cost: $395 for each week of camp

Dates and locations:
— Starts every Monday from June 18th through August 27th at The Lumberyard (2700 NE 82nd Ave)

Blurb:

Our Summer Bike Camps Offer: Indoor and Outdoor riding with over 70,000 square feet of space; Exclusive kid friendly curriculum created by our expert teachers; Experienced instructors; Skills taught transfer to any style of biking and skill level; Bike parking available for campers; Bike rentals available for campers; Snacks provided by CLIF Kid for every day of camp; Ride free for the rest of the day after camp with parent or guardian supervision.”


Sprockettes

Details:

(Photo: Jonathan Maus)

Website
All ages
Two days (weekend)
Cost: Suggested Donation of $60 per child or $30 for two or more kids (No child will be turned away)

Dates and locations:
— Saturday, June 9th 10:30 am to 4:00 pm at Irving Park (northeast Portland)
— Sunday, June 10th 10:30 am to 4:00 pm at Peninsula Park (north Portland)
* Big performance Sunday 4:00 pm at the water fountain

Blurb:

The Sprockettes are Portland’s premier mini-bike dance troupe. 2018 marks our 7th Semi-Annual summer camp for girls. Our summer camp is a two-day celebration of bicycles during which your little ladies will explore their creativity and strength through group dancing, acro-balance, bike tricks, DIY decor and more!


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Pedalheads

Details:

(Photo: Pedalheads)

Website
Ages 3 to 10
One-week sessions with half and full-day options – 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Cost: $219 – $409

Dates and locations:
– 11 sessions starting Monda June 18th to August 27th at Holy Redeemer Catholic School & Church in north.
– Six sessions starting Monday June 11th to August 27th at Reedwood Friends Church in southeast.
– 12 sessions starting June 11th to August 27th at West Hills Christian School in Hillsdale.
– Seven sessions starting June 25th to August 20th at Holy Family School in Eastmoreland.
* View schedule here.

Blurb:

Atlantis Programs Inc. provides innovative and effective programs that are safe, fun and challenging. Our delivery of camps and lessons that promote kids’ health and development has earned us a reputation of excellence in the communities that we serve. During the last 30 years we have taught over 200,000 children to bike, swim and develop physical skills, using our own teaching methods combined with small classes and exceptional instructors. Our comprehensive programs open up a world of opportunities for a lifetime of cycling, swimming and physical activities.


Community Cycling Center

Details:

(Photo: Community Cycling Center)

Website
Grades 1st to 8th
21, one-week sessions
Cost: $360 – $400

Dates and locations:
— Camps start June 13th and run through August 20th at the CCC on NE Alberta and 17th.

Blurb:

Bike Camp brings kids in grades 1-8 together for a summer of bike adventures, learning, and friendship. Campers learn how to ride safely and maintain their bikes in a supportive, hands-on environment. At Bike Camp, kids build confidence, skills, and a life-long love of biking.


Alpenrose Velodrome Junior Track Camp

Details:

(Photo: Jonathan Maus)

Website
Open to any junior racer with an OBRA license
Three days (Thursday – Saturday)
Cost: $175 (includes bike rentals, race fees, and more)

Dates and locations:
— June 28th to 30th at various locations including a sleepover at the velodrome and riding at The Lumberyard

Blurb:

This trip will challenge you as a cyclist and open your eyes to new riding types you may not have done before. You’ll learn from some great coaches and ride with other kids from OR and WA teams. You’ll get a chance to step outside your comfort zones and push yourselves physically and mentally through a series of awesome adventures. Lots of off-the-bike time with other juniors to socialize and have fun


If you know of a great local bike camp, let us know in the comments and we’ll consider adding it to the list.

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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SilkySlim
SilkySlim
5 years ago

Wish there wasn’t an upper limit on Lumberyard Shred Academy… Otherwise I’d be putting in for some PTO from work immediately!

Caitlin D
5 years ago

Very useful round up–thanks! I love that Portland has so many bike camp options.

Jay Thatcher
5 years ago

I’m leading some camps in Corvallis again this summer. The June camp is full, but there’s still room in the basic camp July 16-20 and in an advanced camp August 6-10.

Register through Corvallis Parks & Recreation: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/parksrec

• Build skill, confidence, independence.
• Ride safely in traffic.
• Maintain your bike.

Jay Thatcher, LCI & Lorie Bailey have years of experience teaching cycling to youth & children.