Youth Programs

Riding a bike? Fixing a bike? We got you covered! For high school and middle school aged students, we have programs ranging from a girl's only program to a co-ed program where you can earn your own bike, to a program where you learn how to become a real bike shop mechanics or sales employee.

All the programs are low cost programs geared towards anyone who really loves bikes. Whether you are into the mechanics or more into the idea of riding a bike safely around the city, you should stop in, give us a call, or drop us an email to find out more about our programs and what you can take home with you... because it will probably be a bike and the skills to fix it.
Read on for the specifics of each program!

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Earn-A-Bike
Want to earn yourself a bicycle (to keep!) while learning how to fix it in this fun after school program? We go for rides, learn a lot of bike mechanics and bike safety, and explore some environmental issues. You pick out a bike, we teach you to rebuild it, and then you keep it!

Find out more!

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Girls In Action

Winter session:
January 25th - April 4th

Spring session:
May 2 - June 27

Fridays 4:00-6:30, and occasional Saturday events

In Girls In Action, girls ages 10-13 have the opportunity to engage in basic bicycle mechanics, bicycle outings, sleepovers, arts and crafts and discussions on girls' issues. It's a good time for any girl who likes bikes and wants some positive time with a cool group of girls. The group is also invited to all of the Saturday morning youth bike rides, and does some of its own girls-only Saturday outings. Program cost is $30 for the whole session (scholarships available).

Contact Christina Illarmo at 617-522-0222 or christina@bikesnotbombs.org.

Download the Spring application to fill out and return to us.
Download the Spring poster with the program details in English and Spanish.

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Apprenticeship Job Training In Bike Mechanics
January 12th - March 25th, 2008

Interested in the bicycle industry but don’t know where to develop your skills? Bikes Not Bombs is offering a 100 hour bike mechanics apprenticeship course designed to graduate participants into jobs at local area bike shops upon completion. BNB offers 9 class placements, for teens (15 and up) and adults that are serious about becoming professional bike mechanics, but don’t have formal training. In past years graduates have taken jobs at Bikes Not Bombs, Broadway Bicycle School, Ferris Wheels, Community Bike Shop, Cambridge Bike and other bike related businesses.

The course meets three days a week:
Tuesdays 3:30-6:30
Thursdays 3:30-6:30
Saturdays 2:30-6:30

The application form needs to be emailed or delivered to Bikes Not Bombs by Friday January 4th.

Download an application here OR for more information and to have an application sent to you, email carl@bikesnotbombs.org and make sure to include a mailing address. You can also call Carl Kurz at 617-522-0222.

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Youth Instructors
Graduates of BNB's programs can become paid staff or volunteers as youth instructors of On The Bike, Earn-A-Bike, and Girls in Action, or as BNB Bike Shop Mechanics. The current training builds on past efforts to let young people take the lead whenever possible.

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Youth Drop-In
The Youth Drop in Program (YDIP) meets Wednesday from 3:30-6:00pm and is a chance for graduates and current enrollees in our programs to get some homework help, do some mechanics on their own bikes, and put in some volunteer hours. Participants need to have taken part in BNB's programs prior to coming to YDIP. Contact Matt Soycher at 617-522-0222 or matt@bikesnotbombs.org.

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Saturday Morning Rides
On Saturdays in the Spring and Fall, from 9:00-12:30, we do youth rides all over the city - a great chance to have fun on a Saturday morning, and get to know your neighborhood and far beyond under your own power on a bicycle! You need to be a current or past attendee in our youth programs in order to join us on these great rides! Contact Matt Soycher at 617-522-0222 or matt@bikesnotbombs.org.

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