Work to Ride facts for kids
Work to Ride (WTR) is a special program in America that helps young people from cities. It's a nonprofit, which means it's not trying to make money, but instead helps others. The program is for kids and teens aged 7 to 19.
Work to Ride offers cool activities like learning about horses (horsemanship) and playing horse sports like Polo. It also helps with education. Lezlie Hiner started this amazing program in 1994. Its main goal is to inspire city kids who might not have many chances to try new things, especially through the sport of polo.
Kids in the program learn to work hard by taking care of horses, the stables, and the farm every day. This teaches them that privileges come from effort. The "Family" polo team from Work to Ride competes against other school polo teams. This helps the kids learn about teamwork, never giving up, and many other important life skills.
Work to Ride is located at Chamounix Stables in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. This gives city teenagers a chance to be around animals and nature. Young people who want to join must promise to stay in the program for at least one year. They are encouraged to continue until they finish high school.
When students graduate from Work to Ride, they get help applying to college. Some even come back to Chamounix Stables to become mentors for newer teens joining the program.
Amazing Achievements in Polo
In 2011, Work to Ride made history! Their polo team became the first all-Black team to win the United States Polo Association's national interscholastic championship. This was a huge accomplishment! The members of that winning team were Kareem Rosser, Daymar Rosser, and Brandon Rease. Kareem Rosser even wrote a book in 2021 called Crossing the Line about his experiences in Work to Ride. The team was so good that they won the national championship again in 2012!
Recognizing Their Impact
Work to Ride has gained attention across the country. They have even received funding from Polo Ralph Lauren, a well-known company. Lezlie Hiner, the founder, was honored for her great work. In 2016, the United States Polo Association gave her the "Woman of the Year" award. This award recognized her big contribution to the sport of polo through the Work to Ride program.
External links
- Official site: http://www.worktoride.net
