Two Wheel View

About Two Wheel View

The mission of Two Wheel View (TWV) is to provide youth development programs that use the bicycle as a tool to build resiliency in young people.

Two Wheel View (TWV) is a mission driven organization that creates opportunities for youth in Canada and the United States to learn and practice lessons in leadership, health and wellness, self-esteem, achievement, and environmental stewardship through their participation in bicycle education programs such as Earn-a-Bike (youth ages 11-17), Bike Science (Grade 4 students), Full Cycle First Nations programs, and Bike Trips in North America and abroad.

TWV programs increase youth resiliency and lessen risk factors of students through cognitive development, social competence, and emotional and physical wellbeing; thus increasing their likelihood of future success.

TWV believes all youth should have the opportunity to expand their physical and cultural boundaries. They help youth through real life experiences bring home valuable insights for positive change.

Who We Are

Rick and Tanya McFerrin founded TWV in 2000 after a two-year bicycle expedition around the world. Their experiences and perspectives on the world created the basis for TWV and our unique student Bike Trip programs.

The team at TWV offers a grass-roots approach to responsible travel where participants explore new cultures and gain valuable experiences while making meaningful community connections. As a part of the TWV Bike Trip experience, students will:

• Volunteer in local and host community projects.
• Prepare for the adventure through TWV’s unique pre-trip orientation sessions that includes bike mechanics, team building, and fun.
• Discover new cultures and natural landscapes.
• Connect with local communities, experience local events and learn new languages.
• Learn about plant and animal life unique to each ecosystem they travel through.
• Benefit from the valuable life lessons that travel provides.

Your Impact

The funds you donate through the Riding Raw Across America fundraising campaign will directly go to providing youth in the United States with the opportunity to participate in Two Wheel View’s life-changing Bike Trip programs. Not otherwise be able to participate in this type of experience, these youth will greatly benefit from the leadership and resiliency skills gained through the TWV Bike Trip program. Each year, youth from the United States will be chosen to receive support from the Riding Raw Across America fund and participate in the trip of a lifetime.

When you support TWV, you can be confident in our ability to create a positive social impact. Two Wheel View engages in continuous learning through program evaluation. Like our programming, our evaluation methods are strengths-based, focusing on contribution, strengths, and learning as opposed to attribution, faults, and roadblocks.

By supporting this campaign, you’ll be directly contributing to our mission to change kids’ lives from the seat of the bike.

Two Wheel View is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, with our US chapter based in St. Paul, Minnesota. We are also a registered charity in Canada with our head office in Calgary, Alberta and a chapter in Montreal, Quebec.

Testimonials

Every year Two Wheel View supports more than 250 kids in our programs and trips. Here are a few testimonials from participants and their parents as a result of our Bike Trip programs.

“I thought, ‘I could never cycle all that way and spend two weeks camping – that’s insane.’ But the whole journey was an inspiration. I can honestly say it changed my life.” - Bike Trip Participant

“The trip taught me that even though it feels like I just can't do anything that sooner or later I will succeed. Now I make better life choices.” - Bike Trip Participant

"When the departure date arrived [my daughter] was pumped. Through the challenging experiences she had during that trip she became a stronger, more confident, more secure person. She came back home with a more positive attitude about everything, especially about herself.” - Parent of Trip Participant

Athletics 4 Kids

THE SITUATION

All across BC, hundreds of children and youth are denied the opportunity to participate in amateur sports due to one simple fact: lack of funds. As a privately funded, BC-based charity, we are able to get dollars into the hands of those who need it most, quickly and effectively. We help families bear the expense of having their children participate in organized sports because we believe that all kids should have the chance to play.

WHO WE ARE

Athletics for Kids is a BC-based charity that helps children participate in sport by providing financial assistance for registration fees. Our vision is that all BC children have the opportunity to play sports and realize their full potential. Our mission is to ensure all BC children, regardless of socioeconomic status, can participate in organized sport by providing families with financial assistance.

In our efforts to help more kids participate in sport, we connect passionate donors, volunteers, partners, families and sport organizations to reduce financial barriers so children have the opportunity to play. By supporting the positive development of children through sport, we make a significant difference in BC communities.

Athletics for Kids is a small, nimble organization with tremendous impact. With the backing and support of a strong board of directors and over 50 regular volunteers, A4K provides the support these children and families need.

THE IMPACT

Children Benefit from Sport. It’s a Fact.

The benefits of sport go beyond physical activity. They instill confidence, teach teamwork, build self-esteem, encourage leadership, dedication, commitment, work ethic, perseverance, respect and social skills. These are all vital skills to creating a contributing member of society. And sport can be the start of it all.

Keeps children and youth active and healthy
Regular participation in physical activity during childhood and adolescence can help build a healthy body, control weight, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression.

Reduces health risk behaviours
Young athletes are more likely than non-athletes to eat healthily and weigh less, and less likely to smoke cigarettes, use drugs, engage in sexual activity, or be bored or hopeless.

Fosters positive youth development
Sport contributes positively to adolescent identity formation, a critical step in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Sport also facilitates friendships and positive social relations.

Enhances academic achievement
Sport and physical education can help improve young people’s school attendance, behaviour, and academic achievement.

Teaches positive values and life skills
Sport offers young people a means to gain and enhance a range of life skills that can improve their chances of finding employment, raise their level of income, and make them more optimistic and willing to volunteer.

Prevents youth crime and gang involvement
Youth who participate in sport are less likely to engage in delinquent behaviour and have lower rates of criminal arrest.

Athletics for Kids recognizes the importance of sport and is committed to make it available to all who want to participate. It makes a difference in the lives of families and children.