Bike Indiana May Term 2016
Dates: May 11th – June 1st, 2016
Application Deadline: October 15, 2015
Program Description: What is sustainability? What needs to be sustained and why? Is it the environment, ecosystems,
ways of life, indigenous peoples, cultural traditions, languages, historic building, artistic practices, agricultural practices,
foods? How do we define and live out our values surrounding sustainability? Why is it important to live sustainable?
What happens when our ethics conflict with our personal culture or the culture in which we’re living? To answer these
questions, we will take an 18-day biking and camping trip through northern and central Indiana, encountering the
people, places and things about which we must ask: should this be sustained and how can we sustain it? By introducing
Earlham students to the unique landscape and culture that is Indiana, we’ll explore the multiple facets of sustainability
and discover ways to answer this call to action.
Faculty: Alexia Springer, former Earlham Coordinator of Outdoor Education, brings a wealth of outdoor education
experience to Earlham’s Bike Indiana May Term. A Recreation, Parks and Tourism major at Radford University, Alexia
has led courses in dog sledding, sea kayaking, canoeing, numerous hiking and climbing trips as well as the EC August
Wilderness program and managed the climbing wall at Earlham. She is passionate about the issues surrounding climate
change and sustainable living. Having recently completed a half-country cycling tour and ridden her second Climate Ride
(her first from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Chicago and her second from Bar Harbor Maine to Boston), she’s eager to
share her skills and promote sustainable forms of travel.
Danielle Steele, Assistant Director of Choral activities, is an avid cyclist and outdoor enthusiast who became involved in
leading wilderness excursions for Earlham’s Outdoor Education program for the past two years. Danielle recently led
Earlham’s first Bike Indiana May term. She has also led the Outdoor Training Leadership course in North Carolina and
the Canoeing May Term in Killarny, Canada as well as August Wilderness in Wabikimi Provincial Park. Danielle’s interests
also include gardening, conservation, green living practices and Ashtanga yoga, which she’ll lead as part of this trip to
help the long-distance cyclists’ bodies recuperate each day. Danielle recently completed a 300-mile bike trip, the
Climate Ride, from Grand Rapids, Michigan to Chicago. The trip, completed in 4 days, focused on sustainability and was
used as a fundraiser to benefit regional organizations doing positive work in the areas of climate change, environmental
education, sustainability and green energy.
Location: Beginning with 3 days of on-site learning on Earlham’s campus which will include bike safety and maintenance
components, the Bike Indiana May term will then depart and trace a route north of Interstate 70 from Richmond up to
Indiana Dunes State Park, curve southwest to visit Indiana’s wind farms, head back south to visit cities such as
Layfayette, Culver, and Kokomo, as well as Indianapolis to visit a sustainable, grass-fed cattle dairy farm, tour the
Indianapolis local food scene and visit sites in Indiana’s capitol, finishing by taking the same route as the Ride Across
Indiana (RAIN) ride on historic highway 40 back to Richmond.
Course: AWPE 399, 3 credits
You will learn about sustainability as it relates specifically to Indiana environment and culture through an immersive ecotourism experience, the Bike Indiana May Term will focus on sustainable travel/tourism as well as sustainable living
practices as the group bikes over 400 miles through northern Indiana, camping each night along the way. Study topics
during the ride will focus on susatinabi9lity in three forms: places that need sustaining, cultures that need sustaining and
the people/places that foster sustainable energy and living practices. Learning opportunities include presentation from
guest speakers, tours of organic farms and CSAs, wind farms, historic places and state parks. Assignments will be in the
form of group discussion, reflective papers and readings.
Living Arrangements: While on campus, students will camp with supplies provided by Earlham’s Outdoor Education
Center. Tents, sleeping bags, liners, camping stoves, fuel and cooking implements will be provided. Students are
responsible for buying and cooking their own food while on campus. Students may feel free to eat out. While on the
road, students will primarily be camping and preparing their own meals (the Program will provide food during the biking
portion of the trip), There is a possibility of homestays in certain cities. Accommodations for food preferences and
allergies will be mad whenever possible. If a student has sever restricted dietary needs, please inform the planning
team well in advance so proper supplies can be purchased for you.
Materials Needed: Earlham students will be responsible for providing their own road bike which passes a standardized
inspection by Cycling Fitness Warehouse, Earlham’s outfitting partner for this May Term. Requirements will be provided
to students at interest meetings prior to the course. If a student does not own a road bike, CFW has agreed to rent bikes
at a discount to Earlham students for the duration of the trip with the option to buy the bike on a layaway plan
throughout the school year. CFW will sell these bikes, as well as related gear, at a discount to Earlham students. All
bikes will be professionally fitted to the student, whether they own or choose to rent/buy a bike. Students are also
required to purchase their own tubes, patch kits, bike bags, head lights, tail lights, water bottles and water bottle
cages for the ride. A rider will need a minimum of two water bottles and cages for the ride. Riders must also own a
helmet, two pairs of padded cycling shorts and appropriate-weather gear for spending days and nights outdoors in
the elements. A more comprehensive list of gear will be provided second semester at orientation. Appropriate gear is
not optional but obligatory.
Orientation: There will be required physical training during the entirety of second semester in preparation for this
course. Students will be required to cycle at least three times a week, either in a spinning class (if weather is
inappropriate for outdoor biking) or on the road. Mileage requirements and time requirements will increase as we get
closer to the May Term dates. Cycling may happen on one’s own or in a group. Students will be required to document
their training rides. Rides will be led by the course instructors as well as groups from Cycling Fitness Warehouse multiple
days a week as well as on the weekends. Spinning classes as well as stationary bikes are available in the Wellness
Center. A complete spinning schedule will be available at the start of second semester at the Wellness Center.
Charges: The course fee for this May Term is $700 if you own a bike which as been approved for the trip by Cycling
Fitness Warehouse and is deemed suitable for a long-distance trip. The course fee for this May Term is $850 if your bike
does not meet the standard requirements or you do not own a bike (or simply wish to rent a better bike than the one
you currently own). Food and lodging will be provided to the student while on the road. Students who wish to purchase
souvenirs or participate in extra experiences on days off are responsible for bringing money to do so. Eating out is also
at the student’s expense. Labor to repair bikes will be provided free of charge on the road for normal wear and tear on
the bikes. If a students purposefully damages a bike or is negligent in its care they are responsible for any fees for
repairing or replacing the bike. Students must also expect to purchase appropriate clothing and gear associated with
this course, a complete list of which will be provided at the end of first semester. There will also be a non-refundable
enrollment fee of $385.00. Earlham tuition fees will apply if applicable.
Applications: Applications are available in the International Programs Office in LBC 131 or online at:
http://earlham.edu/academics/off-campus-study/may-term-application-procedures/ deadline is October 15, 2015.
Further Information: Patty Lamson, pattyo@earlham.edu, Danielle Steel, steelda1@earlham.edu, Alexia Springer,
sprinal@earlham.edu.
May Term Policies: http://earlham.edu/academics/off-campus-study/program-policies/for-may-terms/
Program Routs Subject to Change Based on Campsite Availability