Middle school bicycle club rides the Katy Trail & creates healthy habits

Joseph Torrisi of Compton Drew Middle School in St. Louis recently sent the following interesting message:

On Monday, May 2, 2005 I will be bringing a school group of 30 middle school students, plus 20 adults to Jefferson City from St. Louis on the Katy Trail. This will be our fourth year for our Annual Katy Trail Adventure.

Compton Drew Middle School is a St. Louis Public School located next to the St. Louis Science Center and across the street from Forest Park.

We started an after-school bicycle club to combat middle school obesity and physical inactivitiy. And to provide inner city students an opportunity to experience the great outdoors from a bicycle seat. It's working.

The bike club cycles three days per week in the fall, have our meetings in the winter, and resume cycling in the spring. This school year, our club has 55 members and growning compared to 10 who made the Katy Trail Adventure in our first year.

We believe we are the only school bike club in the state and the only school group that arrives to visit the capital under our own power. We are very proud of our students accomplishments.

I would like to tell you more about us, and to learn more about the organization. It is time to take our bike club to the next level and involve our students in other opportunities bicycling will provide.

Looking forward to speaking with you soon.

Joe Torrisi
Joseph.Torrisi [at] slps.org

Click on "comment" below to read more details about how the Katy Trail trip is organized.