My Big Bike Adventure in Soulard
By Miriam S.

When I first started my bike adventure, I felt so happy and proud! I had finished the class, and got my bike that we talked about every week in class!

My bike ride adventure was on the very last day of the class. The teachers took everybody that participated in the class on a bike ride. We first went to a playground that had a big parking lot. We rode our bikes around in it. My favorite part of my adventure was having bike races with my sister. It was fun because I won most of the time : ).

The playground had a mini rock climbing wall and lots of twisty, turny slides. After the racing, we played hide and seek (with and without our bikes). That was super fun, but also super hard, because as you would think, it’s hard to play hide and seek with lots of people and lots of bikes. Plus, there were not that many places to hide since it was a big open parking lot with a small playground in the corner. Everybody hid behind the playground and, like I said, it was a small playground, so everyone’s bikes were sticking out. After that we rode around the Soulard area, which has lots of historic homes and fancy places to eat. We also rode right past my friend’s house.

Our bike adventure was not over yet. We went to another playground to play on the swings and play tag. I was still wearing my helmet (which was a plain white helmet with a lot of stickers on it), which I am glad about because I tripped and hit my head, but thanks to my helmet, it did not hurt.

I still ride my bike all the time, unless my brother is using it, since he broke his. We’ll have to go to Bworks to get it fixed!

OUR FIRST BLOGWORKS POST

   Photo illustration by D. Doyle

I was one of those no-nonsense hard news reporters for a large southern paper who worked with typewriter, reporter’s notebook and big-leaded copy pencil for a decade before heading to grad school for a degree I hoped would pay better than in bylines.

Concise  just-the-documented-facts journalistic writing, born of limited “newsholes” on actual paper newsprint, is dying.  It is replaced by online journals written by enthusiastically untrained opinionists launching words into cyberspace on web logs or “blogs.” Yes, I bitterly miss my clacky manual typewriter.

“I DON’T WRITE A BLOG,” said a friend who wrote and edited big-circulation magazines but now writes and illustrates http://www.thecelebrityfrontpage.com. “I am an online journalist.” He was accurate with his facts behind is self-image. Much online is social pablum, not-so-sly self-promotion, and poorly conceived attempted trendiness.  It is rarely compelling writing with illustrations that draw the eye and the reader’s interest.

Blogs or online journals proliferate online with topics ranging from astrophysics to teddy bears to zymurgy. Whatever you choose to call them, they are an online fact of technological life.

BWorks is evolving, too.  We will soon offer classes to our kids on how to blog effectively, creating interesting copy and art that we hope will illuminate young minds. And maybe develop future online journalists who will set a new and higher standard for blogging?

More to follow from our less jaded kid bloggers!

DD

St. Louis BWorks Celebrates three decades of building character through teaching how to fix and ride bikes.

To view the article online click here.

POSITION AVAILABLE

Would you enjoy teaching a St. Louis youth how to ride a bicycle?

St. Louis BWorks is currently accepting resumes to fill the role of Programs Lead, a teaching position that helps St. Louis BWorks, a 501(c)(3) organization, accomplish our mission.

The ideal candidate has a background in elementary education and experience working in the nonprofit sector. Applicants must be passionate, motivated, and flexible, as this role requires the ability to articulate program objectives to a wide array of individuals and operational needs may change quickly.

This position is based out of BWorks’ Soulard location but requires travel to partner organizations in the St. Louis Metro area.

Qualifications

All potential candidates must possess the following:
● High school diploma or equivalent
● Enthusiastic passion to achieve BWorks’ mission
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills
● Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team setting
● Ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines in a busy environment

Preference will be given to candidates who possess the following:
● Bachelor’s Degree in Education
● Prior experience working with children ages 8 ­ 17
● Prior administrative and/or teaching experience
● Experience working in the nonprofit sector
● Proficiency in a second language

Job Description

This is a position to support the needs of the BWorks education programs. While BWorks has made an effort to provide a general description of the duties and tasks of this position, you must understand that this is not a fully comprehensive job description. Tasks and duties may be modified as needed.

Hours per week can vary depending on qualifications and the number of classes being taught. The number of classes being taught will depend upon the staff hired and availability. In general, this position will work 3-9 hrs a week in 3hr hour blocks of time.

Instruction Duties

The instruction portion of this role will enable BWorks to of er more learning programs on and of the BWorks premises.
Examples of tasks relating to instruction include, but are not limited to the following:
● Preparation for and facilitation of BWorks kids programs
● Maintenance of the prop and supplies used during classes
● Completion of inventory for program deliverable’s and needs

Administrative Duties

The administrative support portion of this role will minimize risk and maximize consistency related to BWorks programs.
Examples of administrative tasks include, but are not limited to the following:
● Assistance with paperwork relating to volunteer instructors
● Coordination of program paperwork (release forms, pre and post assessments, etc.)
● Establishment and maintenance of Program Partner relationships
● Coordination with Programs Administrator of classes and schedules at partner sites

Salary Range: $15­ to $30/hr with the potential for modifications after one (1) year of employment.

Application Process

Please apply online by submitting a cover letter, resume, and 3 to 5 references to BWorks’ Executive Director, Patrick Van Der Tuin at Resume@BWorks.org

Due to the volume of applicants, no phone calls, please. Only applicants considered for interviews will be called. This position will remain open to applicants until filled.

Send application to 2414 Menard St, St Louis, MO 63104-4330, United States