Conard High School
July 26-30, 2010

 A special thank you to everyone who helped make our 2009 LOSE THE TRAINING WHEELS CAMP a success!

Please check out the Local Online News TV segment and the Hartford Courant article and photos.

The Kiwanis Club of West Hartford and the West Hartford Human and Leisure Services are pleased to sponsor the "LOSE THE TRAINING WHEELS” program for special needs children, ages 8 to 18, with the desire and determination to master riding a two-wheeled bike.  The innovative program is the brainchild of Dr. Richard E. Klein, retired faculty from the University of Illinois, Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 1968-1998. The program uses a specially designed bicycle referred to as an “adapted roller trainer bike.”  Children pedal a series of trainer bikes which are designed to be ultra-stable and then progress towards conventional two-wheeled bicycles.  The adapted trainers are intended as stepping-stones to allow the children to graduate onto conventional bikes and become successful riders.

“LOSE THE TRAINING WHEELS” will be offered to children who “have sufficient cognitive ability to want to ride a bicycle, as well as being able to follow simple instructions, and to be able to make minimal cause and effect connections” as stated by program Founder, Dr. Richard Klein.  Children should be aged 8 – 18 and able to work in a group setting with instructors and volunteers.  Parents are requested to be outside of the children’s visual field while the lessons are being conducted.  Special accommodations may need to be made for some campers.  

The camp will be held at the Conard High School gym and eight campers will be accommodated in each of the 5 daily sessions.  Instructional sessions last 1 ¼ hours, and campers will attend the same session for five consecutive days.  Each camper will be assigned an aide to assist with the bike riding and the following of directions given by the Camp Director. Lose the Training Wheels Staff will be on site to guide the lessons and rotate bikes according to the child’s progress.  Children will be videotaped and photographed throughout the program.

We invite you to visit the website, www.westhartford.org/losethetrainingwheels.  If you believe this would be an appropriate, fun activity for your child; please consider submitting an application.  Applications are available online or at the Leisure Services office, Room 128, in Town Hall (50 South Main Street).  Please submit your application with your check in the amount of $125(R), $175(NR) made payable to Town of West Hartford, and mailed to West Hartford Human & Leisure Services, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT, 06107.   If you have questions about the application process, please email us via the website.

If you are interested in volunteering, please complete a volunteer application and submit to Tom Proietti, LTTW Chair, lttw@westhartfordkiwanis.org.

Thank you,

Tom Proietti, LTTW Chair                                 Jim Capodiece, Director
The Kiwanis Club of West Hartford                 West Hartford Human & Leisure Services