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From YouTube: Lose the Training Wheels
Description
Lose the Training Wheels is an extraordinary camp that teaches children with cognitive and developmental disabiltilies to ride bicycles through an ingenious series of rollers, sponsored by Arlington County's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department. The results are stirring. Come celebrate with these kids, their volunteer helpers, and their parents.
A
For
years,
you've
heard
us
talk
about
fit
arlington,
promoting
a
culture
of
fitness.
It's
something
we
value
very
deeply
that
everybody
should
get
to
have
a
fit
and
healthy
lifestyle,
and
so
it
was
a
real
thrill
for
us
when
we
heard
about
lose
the
training
wheels,
a
camp
for
kids
with
developmental
disabilities,
where
therapy
recreation
and
fun
all
come.
C
C
They
don't
have
the
same
sort
of
social
interactions
and
you
won't
see
a
lot
of
them
actually
ever
get
on
a
soccer
team.
They
won't
be
around
typically
developing
piers
and
the
beauty
of
this
is
we're
giving
them
something
that
really
levels
the
playing
field
or
levels.
The
bike
trail.
If
you
want
to
say,
because
you
put
them
on
a
bicycle
and
they
can
do
something
that
everyone
else
is
doing
lose.
The
training
wheels
is
a
program
that
teaches
kids
with
disabilities.
How
to
ride
bicycles.
C
We've
got
specialized
equipment,
these
bikes
that
have
been
retrofitted,
with
a
roller
in
the
back,
which
really
provides
a
lot
of
stability
and
balance.
The
number
one
roller
is
the
most
flat
the
most
stable
and
then,
as
they
show
that
they're
able
to
stay
upright
more
and
they
show
some
confidence
in
their
pedaling.
Then
they'll
move
them
up
to
rollers.
They
graduate
once
they'll
get
to
seven
or
eight.
D
You
see
it
on
monday.
These
riders
come
in.
Some
of
them
are
scared
to
death.
They
don't
know
what
to
expect
as
they
progress
they
get
happier.
They
love
the
program
and
then
on
friday,
when
they're
outside
writing
that
just
you
really
can't
put
into
words,
it's
something
you
have
to
see
it
to
believe.
It's
incredible.
E
B
My
daughter
is
emma
she's
11
years
old
and
she
has
down
syndrome.
She
has
special
challenges.
Many
special
challenges:
one
is
focus
the
one
we're
dealing
with
the
biggest
she'll
pedal
right
along
just
a
real
happy
trooper.
She
looks
down.
Well,
that's
a
little
dangerous.
You
know
she's
fascinated
with
watching
her
legs
move.
You
know
so
you're
dealing
with
some
very
rudimental
elementary
problems
like
that.
Obviously,
there's
balance
and
all
the
other
issues
you'd
associate,
but
she
loves,
she
loves
biking.
We
have
a
tandem
bike
that
I've
been
toting
her
along.
B
F
This
is
a
program
where
kids
feel
really
successful
really
quickly
and
in
addition
to
giving
them
a
recreational
activity,
it's
giving
them
a
skill
for
lifelong
independence,
and
that
is
really
the
goal
of
so
many
of
these
kids
and
their
parents
and
I've
just
been
absolutely
amazed.
It
works
like
clockwork.
F
It's
so
smooth
and
they've,
really
figured
it
out
and
they've
really
simplified
the
role
for
the
volunteers,
which
I
think
is
sometimes
really
important
for
therapeutic
recreation,
because
we
have
people
in
here
who
don't
have
much
experience
with
people
with
disabilities,
but
the
simplicity
of
their
role,
I
think,
has
made
even
the
volunteers
feel
really
successful,
really
quickly.
The.
C
Most
important
factor
is
the
volunteers
who
come.
We
recruited
volunteers
from
all
over
the
place,
and
we
try
and
get
two
volunteers
for
every
rider
because
by
the
third
or
fourth
day,
they're
running
and
they're,
the
ones
that
are
really
making
it
happen,
they're
out
there
with
the
child
every
day,
and
we
really
we
get
volunteers
that
can
come
and
commit
for
a
session
or
two
of
the
whole
week,
and
they
establish
that
bond
with
the
rider
they're
invested
with
him
or
her,
and
they
make
it
work.
G
My
daughter
is
sophia
she's,
eight
years
old,
going
into
the
third
grade,
and
this
is
giving
her
a
fair
amount
of
confidence,
learning
how
to
ride
and
big
smiles
and
things
like
that
she's
been
so
excited.
I
got
a
note
that
said
thanks
for
finding
the
camp
she's
really
I
mean
her.
Confidence
has
been
boosted
quite
a
bit
from
this
camp.
She
loved
it.
C
After
we
ran
this
in
2009
got
an
email
from
one
of
the
moms
who
said
so.
I
just
got
back
from
ride
on
the
wnod
trail
and
it
was
the
first
time
we
had
a
family
bike
ride
and
we
made
that
possible
for
them,
so
they
they
ride.
They
go
out
and
ride
together
and
her
son.
He
went
on
road.
The
next
day
he's
a
bike
rider
and
he
is
now
an
independent
person.
A
We
really
loved
getting
to
meet
these
kids
and
their
parents,
and
we
can't
thank
michael
and
his
volunteers
enough
for
letting
us
hang
out
all
week
at
camp.
We
actually
met
a
family
that
had
come
all
the
way
from
minnesota
just
to
take
part
in
the
program.
So
it's
really
a
privilege
to
have
parks
and
recreation
sponsored
here
in
arlington,
and
we
want
to
get
the
word
out
if
you
want
to
find
out
more
about
the
program
go
to
losethetrainingwheels.org
and,
of
course,
arlington
offers.