CALUMET - Ray Sharp was doing his best to emphasize to a room full of fourth-grade students Friday how important it was not to leave their bicycles in the rain, because that would lead to rusting.
"That's not good for your bike parts," he said.
Sharp, who is Western Upper Peninsula Health Department community planning and preparedness manager, said several health department employees were giving various presentations during the C-L-K Elementary School's 3LK at C-L-K program.
Article Photos
Daily Mining Gazette/Kurt Hauglie
C-L-K Elementary third-grade student Annalise Bean does her best to pedal a stationary hybrid cycle, which is used to explain how a hybrid motorized vehicle works.
"We're interested in health and safety and kids being active," Sharp said.
Sharp explained to the students about oiling gears and other types of bicycle maintenance, as well as answering questions about riding, such as does he get tired riding uphill ... He does.
Karyn King, C-L-K Elementary grades 3-6 principal, said this is the second year for 3LK, which means Living, Loving and Learning in the Keweenaw, which is a program of the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and the Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education at Michigan Technological University and the Copper Country Intermediate School District.
King said the event includes participation with National Bike to Work Day, and bicycles could be seen indoors and outdoors, all over the school.
Inside the school building, King said students would move from room to room for different presentations on such things as alternative transportation, healthy eating and gardening.
Lloyd Wescoat of the LSSI and the CSMEE, said the 3LK at C-L-K program is an extension of other efforts of the group.
"It was born through the LSSI project," she said.
Besides the C-L-K staff and Tech employees, Wescoat said there are many other volunteers helping out during the day.
"We've got people from the community involved," she said.
Wescoat said the children seemed to be enjoying the program.
"I've been hearing good things," she said.
In one classroom, Chris Davis, mechanical engineering graduate student at Tech, was demonstrating a hybrid stationary bicycle, which presented an analogy for how motorized hybrid vehicles worked.
Davis said on a computer monitor, a display of the cycle gives an analogous reading of what a motorized vehicle would experience under different conditions. The cycle rider feels different loads, such as going up or down hill.
In another room, students got to hear about and ride a hand-pumped cycle developed by Tech students and instructors for use by injured American soldiers.
Danise Jarvey, senior advisor with the Tech mechanical engineering program, said the cycle was developed in partnership with General Motors.
"It's been approved to be in marathons," she said.
Outdoors, students took part in gardening and landscaping projects.
Parent volunteer Casey Strom was helping out with landscaping by building mounds next to the school building.
"The mounds will be planted at some point in time," he said. "(The students are) basically doing step one of about 20 steps that have to be done."
King said the entire day and school building are given over to the 3LK at C-L-K program, which seems to be a hit with the students.
"This has been a fantastic day for our kids," she said.