2025 Camp Outride Recap
For the past three summers, something special has taken place at Specialized headquarters in Morgan Hill. Teachers from across the U.S. and parts of Canada travel to the quiet suburb south of San Jose for an unconventional two-day professional development experience.
At Camp Outride, educators, most of whom work at schools serving students from low-income backgrounds, learn how to implement the Riding for Focus program, Outride’s rider education program designed to equip youth with the foundational skills and knowledge needed to experience the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of cycling.
This year, the enthusiastic educators jumped straight into the 14-lesson curriculum, placing themselves in their students’ shoes – many of whom, according to our research, may have never learned to ride a bike. Through hands-on and on-bike instruction led by our team of experienced trainers and veteran R4F teachers, participants experienced the program exactly as their students will in the weeks to come.
Teachers quickly recognized how the erosion of this once-common childhood rite of passage reflects broader challenges facing today’s youth: rising mental health concerns, limited access to engaging physical activities, and increased screen time at the expense of in-person connection. Riding for Focus offers an opportunity to disrupt these trends, and Camp Outride serves as an introduction to the lasting impact the program can bring to communities receiving the grant.
After their time on the bikes, teachers escaped the California summer heat for indoor sessions covering key topics: adapting lessons for varying abilities, training additional instructors on their campuses, and maintaining program equipment. This face-to-face time with the Outride team proved invaluable for navigating the unique challenges of bringing a cycling program into schools, particularly those in rural or densely populated urban areas where access to bikes has been uneven.
To close out the first day, teachers put their skills to the test in a spirited tire-changing competition, a surprisingly tricky task on brand-new bikes with tight rims!
Day two brought more on-bike learning, but with a twist: teachers stepped into the role they will soon hold back at their schools – as instructors and coaches. For many, it was their first time teaching cycling, yet they handled the lessons with confidence and contagious enthusiasm. Experiencing both perspectives of student and teacher allowed educators to develop empathy for the challenges of learning to ride, as well as the joy that comes when everything finally “clicks.”
The day wrapped up back in the air-conditioned auditorium at Specialized HQ, where lead trainers shared heartfelt stories, insider knowledge, and personal motivations that moved the room to tears. By the end, one thing was clear to everyone: the transformative power of cycling goes far beyond simply learning to ride – it’s about growth, confidence, and connection.
Now, these teachers are back in their communities, gearing up to launch their programs. Trucks are rolling in with fleets of bikes and bundles of helmets. What began at Camp Outride, with training, teamwork, and a whole lot of fun, is about to spread nationwide, as students gain access to the many benefits of movement through cycling.
