Climate Ride Events
In addition to reading updates and reflections, you can experience the journey by watching the recordings of our townhalls, featuring stories from riders, input from local community members, and focusing on different climate-related themes.
Community Townhalls
May 30, Seattle, WA
“Moving the Story on Climate Change, Our Obligation to Respond”
What motivates people to respond to climate change? What should the climate riders be asking communities along their journey?
In our kickoff of the climate ride we talked with folks working on the frontlines of climate change, and riders talked about what motivates them.
July 1, Lincoln, NE
“What is our call to climate justice?”
What does it mean to have climate justice? What do we need to hear and learn from Communities of Color?
Hear from those working on racial justice for a conversation about how climate justice and racial justice go hand in hand.
This event was cosponsored by First Mennonite Church, Nebraska Sierra Club, Lincoln Friends Meeting, First Plymouth Church Climate Action, Citizens' Climate Lobby, and Interfaith Power and Light
July 28, Washington, DC
“Keep the Climate Story Moving: Where do we go from here?”
What did riders learn along their journey? Hear their stories from across the country. How do we keep momentum to work against climate change?
In our culminating event, riders reflected on where they saw hopeful progress in communities across the country, and what steps they've learned about how to overcome barriers to working on climate change. Our event was a celebration of 3737 miles well ridden!
June 23, Crazy Horse, SD
“The Land is Not Empty”
What can we learn from Indigenous communities? How is climate change interwoven with issues of land justice?
Watch the webinar with Sarah Augustine who released her new book "The Land is Not Empty". Climate riders used this book as a common read, and gave their reflections from the Indigenous lands of the Black Hills.
This webinar was in partnership with Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery.
July 14, Goshen, IN
“How should we as the church respond to climate change?”
Do Anabaptist churches have something unique to say about climate change? What are effective ways the church can respond to climate change?
Hear from those working with Mennonite and other churches about how faith communities can effectively engage with climate change. Riders gave their reflections on what they saw in churches they've visited along their journey.
Community Climate Rides
Local Riders joined the group at a number of locations along the trip, such as those listed here.
Leaving 7:30 a.m. from Seattle Mennonite Church.
Ride with the group up towards their first night at Tinkham Campground near Snoqualmie Pass.
Leaving 8:00 a.m. from First Mennonite Church.
Ride with the group from Lincoln towards Omaha.
Ride with the group from the Geyer farm near Windham, to Iowa City.
Check with Isaac Alderfer for details, 540-214-6836
Leaving 8:00 a.m. from Assembly Mennonite Church.
Ride with the group from Goshen to Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
Leaving 7:30 a.m.
Ride with the group from Millerburg to New Cumberland, Ohio.
July 23, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Leaving 7:30 a.m. from Pittsburgh Mennonite Church.
Ride with the group from Pittsburgh to Confluence.
Joining the Climate Riders for the last 5 days
A number of cyclists joined the 16 riders and two leaders for the last five days of their 2-month trip (July 24-28). This was a chance to enjoy a scenic ride, talk about climate issues and learn about what these young people have discovered as they traveled across the country. Doug Kaufman, the Director of Pastoral Ecology at CSCS, joined to lead reflections during this section as the group learns together what it means to faithfully respond to the climate crisis.
The last leg of the route was cover 326 miles along the renowned Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath. The trip ended in Washington DC with a celebration on the national mall, Capitol Hill visits for the riders and a townhall meeting in the evening where participants reflected on their journey.
Tell stories with the riders over coffee and food!
Are the riders coming close to you, and you'd like to just sit and chat with them? The riders are keen to talk with folks like you, to hear your stories and to tell their own stories. Let us know where you are, and we'll let you know.