Judging by their grins, the newest batch of iCan Bike Camp participants couldn't be happier to be on two wheels.
"I've been wanting to take bike lessons," said Vincent Hammond, who lives in Fulton. "I knew how to ride a bike, but I needed to practice my balance."
By Thursday, after just four days of practice, Hammond was riding with confidence. That's the magic of iCan Bike, Fulton iCan Bike founder Nancy Hanson said.
"By our first session we had everybody up on two wheels," Hanson said. "It's going great. There's lots of happiness."
iCan Bike is a one-week camp for individuals who need a little extra help in learning to ride a bike. This year, it was indoors and in the parking lot at 54 Country in Fulton. Participants are primarily children but adults like Hammond and Hanson's own father were welcome, as well. Aside from participants, dozens of volunteers show up daily to cheer, help participants balance and jog endless laps around the track.
Taylor Hallman, a student at the University of Missouri, was among the volunteers. He said he'd been looking for summer volunteering opportunities online and stumbled across the camp. He said he loved watching the joy on participants' faces.
"(Riding a bike) seems like such a trivial thing, but it really is something kind of special," Hallman said. "It's a life skill they can take with them. It teaches them that if they work at something, they can do it."
He then sprinted off to offer extra support to a wavering rider.
Some volunteers are iCan Bike alums themselves, such as Zane Miller. The Fulton resident works at Remade for a Purpose. After he participated in the inaugural iCan Bike camp, he began riding his bike to work every day. He returned to cheer everyone on.
"It's a work out," Miller said.
Family members of those participating praised the hard-working volunteers.
"They have a lot of patience to work with them," John Castilow said.
Tyler Reichel was among the young participants riding laps outside. At age 8, he'd tried to learn how to bike before but struggled with coordinating his legs, his grandfather Greg Stratman said. The two drove from Freeburg to participate.
"He's got a little more self-confidence," Stratman said. "It's been fun watching all of the kids progress."
Reichel rode with a look of intense focus. He said balance was the hardest part, but he thought he was getting better.
As for what he'll do when he's got biking down: "I'll just ride," Reichel said.