The health and wellbeing of young children is the foundation for developing strong communities. Wheel Fun (FUN) promotes wellbeing for rural Arizona’s youngest community members by improving public school students’ emotional, mental, and social states; teaching life skills, encouraging physical activity and spending time outdoors.

Our work began as an adventure educational program of the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition (VVCC) in late 2017 when a road cyclist convinced the VVCC board to do more for the cycling community. The VVCC, an IRS designated nonprofit corporation, was founded in 2004 to, among other things, promote bicycle safety through education and training for students in Verde Valley public school districts.

Verde Valley Wheel Fun was spun off from the VVCC in 2019 so that donations for this program would qualify for AZ charitable tax credits and that its founders could focus on this narrower mission, permitting the VVCC to focus on its much broader mission.

As of Fall 2022, over 500 students were enrolled in various programming, including 20 free after-school bike clubs. Two bike parks have been built at public schools, with a third planned. Wheel Fun is eager to expand its outreach to provide experiences outdoors on bikes to all students in Arizona. We look forward to the future ahead!