Edwards YMCA camp to sponsor 3-ride 'Bike for Kids" fundraiser June 16

Pick Your Challenge

EDWARDS YMCA CAMP TO SPONSOR

3-RIDE ‘BIKE FOR KIDS' FUNDRAISER JUNE 16

EAST TROY, WI, May 16, 2012 – Participants in the “Bike for Kids” fundraising event sponsored by Edwards YMCA Camp on Saturday, June 16 will have the opportunity to choose between three different bike ride courses, depending on the rider's age and abilities. All three rides will begin from the Camp's main parking lot off Army Lake Road in East Troy, Wisconsin at 10:30 a.m.

A two-mile ride route will stay within Camp Edwards' boundaries, including the Camp entrance road and trails through “The Pines”, a heavily forested area. This is planned as a fun, off the highway, experience for children old enough to ride by themselves and for adults who are not looking for a strenuous challenge. A15 mile route will head around the east and north shore of beautiful Lake Beulah, then south past the Beulah Bog State Natural Area and Swan Lake, with the return trip along the same route. Travel will be on paved roads, and include some hills.

A 45-mile ride challenge is recommended for experienced riders who will be rewarded with some of Wisconsin's most breath-taking hills and scenery, as it travels north into the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Registration for any of the three rides costs $25 prior to May 25 and $35 after that date and can be accomplished by completing a form available on the Camp's website at www.campedwards.org. The registration fee includes a ride t-shirt (not guaranteed if registration is after May 25), rest area snacks and a barbeque lunch at the conclusion of the respective rides. Also included are certain Camp activities, including games, swimming and banana boat rides ($5 additional fee).

On-site registration and check-in will begin at 9:00 a.m. the day of the event, and tours of the Camp facilities will be available.

As part of the fund raising event, those not riding may sponsor riders at $.40 per mile for the number of miles they believe the rider will complete. The same registration form is available for such sponsorships.

The “Bike for Kids” event is organized by The Tribe of the Nani Ba Zhu, the alumni honors society of Edwards YMCA Camp, which represents individuals who have achieved “Honors” during five years of camping at Camp Edwards. It is the purpose of The Tribe of the Nani Ba Zhu to assist in the life of Camp Edwards by such means as may be requested or appropriate, including projects to improve physical facilities, leadership training, and preservation of ceremonies.

Proceeds from the ‘Bike for Kids' event will be used to finance summer camp scholarships for youth who otherwise may not be able to attend Camp, capital improvements to and equipment for Camp Edwards and supplies for the Camp's “Honors” program. “Honors” is an 83-year tradition of building strong character and developing leadership skills.

Participants must provide their own bicycles (Camp Edwards is not able to provide bikes for use or rental), helmets (strongly recommended), bicycle repair kits and dress for the weather. The ride will go rain or shine.

This is considered a family event and children 15 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult.

The challenging 45-mile route will head around the east and north shore of Lake Beulah, and then turn north through the Lulu Lake State Natural Area (high quality and diverse wetlands) and west to the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The area contains very hilly terrain and glacial landforms. The Forest is host to its own system of bike trails, as well as the Old World Wisconsin, a collection of farmsteads, recreating the homes and lives of settlers (separate entry fee applies). The return will follow the same route back to Camp.

Edwards YMCA Camp, which was established in 1929, is located at N8901 Army Lake Road (off of County Road ES) in East Troy, Wisconsin. It is a branch of the Prairie Valley Family YMCA in Elgin, IL and it is approximately a 90 minute drive to Camp from Elgin, Illinois and 40 minutes from the Milwaukee area.

For more information regarding “Bike for Kids” and the other Edwards YMCA Camp programs, please call 262/642-7466 or visit the Camp's website at www.campedwards.org.