Several students from Watsonville middle and high schools recently participated in the Earn-A-Bike Program hosted by Bike Santa Cruz County and received bicycles, accessories and training in bike safety and maintenance. The three day program took place late last April and met after school on the Pajaro Valley High School campus. It was partially supported with Measure D funding provided by the City of Watsonville.
The Earn-A-Bike program uses a peer-to-peer education model to provide mentoring to middle school participants and leadership experience for high school students. High school students, including graduates of the Regional Occupation Programs Bike Technology classes at Santa Cruz, Harbor, Soquel, and Pajaro Valley high schools, act as mentors and "role" models, working with their younger peers to refurbish donated bikes, teach bike maintenance skills and create empowered and self-sufficient young cyclists.
For more information about Earn-A-Bike Program and to make a financial donation or provide a bike, see the following webpage: http://www.bikesantacruzcounty.org/earnabike/