Portland families have a new option for high-quality summer programming this year with the launch of Biking Buds, a premium day camp where kids ages 3–12 grow biking skills, build confidence, and make friends in a relaxed, fun-filled outdoor setting. Designed for riders of all levels, Biking Buds combines thoughtful instruction with the joy of exploration, ensuring every child feels challenged, supported, and free to enjoy summer to the fullest. Biking Buds opens its inaugural season in Summer 2026, with registration beginning January 1 and early bird discounts available through January.
With Bike Bus programs in Portland just receiving significant new funding to expand safe, active school commutes—efforts that are transforming how young people move through their city—Biking Buds is launching at exactly the right moment to give kids the foundational skills, confidence, and love of biking they need to thrive in this vibrant community.
Founded and directed by veteran camp leader and Portland resident Sam Schultz, Biking Buds blends the magic and bonding of traditional camp culture with the intentionality of experiential learning and the practical skill-building of a modern bike program. The result is a straightforward, trustworthy, joy-filled camp experience built on Pacific Northwest values that puts kids’ physical, social, and emotional health at the center. Schultz shares:
“Portland families want something real: time outside, community, and activities that help kids grow. Biking Buds is built to meet that need in a thoughtful, purposeful way by providing an exceptional experience where kids can get off their screens, socialize with peers, and develop skills and confidence that last long after camp ends.”
A Skills-Forward Camp with a Heart for Community
Biking Buds emphasizes four core values that shape every camp day:
Get Outside. Cultivate Skills & Confidence. Grow Relationships. Have Fun.
Campers learn biking fundamentals at their own pace with supportive instruction tailored to their developmental stage. From balance-bike beginners to confident explorers, each child receives guidance that builds courage, competence, and resilience.
Alongside biking skills, Biking Buds incorporates social-emotional growth using accessible, real-world tools. Staff help campers manage emotions, navigate friendships, practice teamwork, and make safe choices, all woven naturally into rides, group challenges, and shared outdoor adventures.
Staff Trained in What Matters Most
The camp’s staff, many of them educators, former campers, and youth workers, complete Biking Buds’ comprehensive training program, which includes:
- Skill-appropriate biking instruction
- Social-emotional support strategies rooted in the nationally recognized CASEL framework
- Experiential learning practices based on a simple “try → reflect → try again” model
This intentional training ensures a safe, steady, and encouraging environment where every child feels seen, supported, and ready to grow.
A Streamlined First Year, with a Vision for the Future
For its debut summer, Biking Buds will offer a focused set of programs, prioritizing quality, consistency, and a smooth experience for families. The camp will run 8 weeks total, with weeklong sessions comprising four skill levels and multiple age groupings for bikers 3 – 12 years old. The typical camper-to-staff ratio will be 5:1, and scholarships are available.
Looking ahead, the camp will expand into a robust skills-based outcome program that lives alongside the traditions, friendships, and pure joy of a classic summer camp… all within Portland’s unique urban landscape.
Dates, Times, and Registration
- Weekly Camp Sessions:
- June 15 – 18
- June 22 – 26
- June 29 – July 3
- July 6 – July 10
- July 13 – July 17
- July 20 – July 24
- July 27 – July 31
- August 3 – August 7
- Flexible options:
- Morning Session (9am-12pm)
- Afternoon Session (1-4pm)
- Full Day session (9am-4pm)
- Aftercare (4-5 pm)
- Location: Ladd’s Addition, St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 2408 SE 16th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214
- Register: Visit biking-buds.com beginning January 1
About Biking Buds
Biking Buds is a Portland-based summer camp where kids grow skills, build confidence, and discover the joy of being outside together. Founded by camp professional Sam Schultz, Biking Buds brings a premium yet unpretentious experience to families seeking safe, skill-building, community-oriented programming rooted in the belief that childhood is healthiest outdoors, in motion, and in good company.
Learn more at biking-buds.com
