At Ruth Asawa San Francisco's School of the Arts Outdoor Leadership Club, we coordinate and execute entirely youth-organized wilderness expeditions ranging from weekend-long treks in Mount Diablo State Park, to the annual 23 day-long backpacking trip through the Sierra Nevada Mountains, known as the John Muir Trail. 

Here in California, transportation is a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions and air quality issues. As young people growing up in a world shaped by the effects of changing climate, we are anxious to take action. The John Muir Trail showed us how far we could travel on our own two feet. 

This upcoming summer, we're looking to create a longer-lasting impact for our school club,  which is why we're going to bike across America, and spread our environmental message along the way: "Pedal towards the future." From early June to late July, 6 teenagers, along with our adult project chaperone, are cycling from San Francisco to New York City, a trip that'll take 45 days, and 3,350 miles of biking. 

However, no cross-country bike trip with the inclusion of a 45 day-long food plan, accommodations/campgrounds, gear, bikes of course, misc costs, and Amtrak tickets that'll take us back home from NYC is free. We hope our message and goals resonate with you. Any donation is appreciated, large or small.  With a little help from friends, family, and the public, we can turn our dream into a reality, and continue to explore the ways of getting around without the dependency of fossil fuels.

Follow our journey on Instagram: @youthbikeamerica