*Temporarily Suspended due to COVID-19*
Youth Open Shop is a program for youth ages 8 -17 years old. This is a productive learning environment where youth are surrounded only with their peers and our Youth Education Specialists. Participating youth have the option to work on their own bikes, help repair bikes for the Collective’s giving programs, or earn a bike of their own through volunteered hours.
The Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective utilizes an apron system during Youth Open Shop (YOS) where participants advance to colored aprons indicating different levels of achievement. The participants will first begin with a green apron, move to an orange apron and from that point, they will have the choice of either moving to a red apron to become a YOS peer mentor or move to a purple apron and participate in the Junior Bicycle Mechanic Certificate (JBMC) program. After completing the JBMC program and/or completing 100 hours in YOS, participants will receive a black apron with their name embroidered on it signifying they have reached mastery level youth bicycle mechanic status. Participants will keep their black aprons.
The use of aprons will allow participants to visualize their advancement through the program. In addition to earning different level aprons, participants will also have the opportunity to earn “carrots” (i.e. patch kits, tool kits, water bottles, etc.) after they hit certain mile markers. Mile markers and carrots are used to track the progress of participants while also keeping them engaged to ensure they complete the program. Our ultimate goal is to hire those who successfully complete the program as Junior Bicycle Mechanics at the SLC Bicycle Collective.
This program was implemented with assistance from Blackstone Bicycle Works in Chicago.
Youth Open Shop is free and does not require pre-registration, however, benches are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Youth Open Shop is help on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30pm-5:30pm and Saturday mornings from 9:30am-11:30am.