Sharing the Joy of Independent Bike Riding

SummerTime Kids has supported creative and engaging summer experiences for children across Stark County— including he Autism Society of Greater Akron’s iCan Bike Camp where more than 30 children with disabilities experienced the joy of learning to ride a bike.

SummerTime Kids
Est. 1992 / Competitive Funding Opportunities

For more than 30 years, Stark Community Foundation has been enriching the lives of local youth through its SummerTime Kids initiative. This program provides grants of up to $2,000 to fund creative and engaging summer experiences for children across Stark County, including museum visits, day camps, summer reading programs and backpack giveaways. Since its inception in 1992, more than $1.5 million has been invested to ensure children have access to meaningful and memorable summertime opportunities.

One of these grants in 2024 helped more than 30 children with disabilities experience the joy of learning to ride a bike—an unforgettable childhood milestone. Through the Autism Society of Greater Akron’s iCan Bike Camp, children ages eight and older gained confidence and independence as they transitioned from adaptive bikes to riding on two wheels. Hosted at Jackson High School, the five-day camp used specialized equipment and individualized instruction to teach balance, steering and pedaling. By the end of the week, many participants rode independently for the first time, opening up new possibilities for family bike rides and adventures with friends. Thanks to the SummerTime Kids initiative, these children not only learned a valuable skill but also experienced the freedom and joy that come with riding a bike.