When the Lake Forest High School Foundation awarded a grant to wellness teacher Ray Werner for 35 bicycles and helmets, the vision was grounded in research and experience. Studies consistently show that outdoor biking delivers powerful benefits for mental health, physical wellness, and cognitive functioning, while building confidence and fostering a sense of community belonging.

Werner understood these benefits firsthand from years of teaching Outdoor Adventure classes, where biking units had become both popular and logistically challenging. Previously, students were asked to bring their own bikes from home or borrow from Werner's collection of donated bicycles – a system that often left some students without equipment and limited the program to the spring semester only due to equipment constraints.

"Getting students outdoors, away from the school environment with their peers, creates opportunities for decompression that you simply can't replicate indoors," Werner explains.

The grant would finally allow him to expand this transformative experience to both fall and spring wellness classes, ensuring every student could participate regardless of their personal equipment situation.

From Logistical Challenges to Seamless Learning

Before the grant, Werner's Outdoor Adventure classes included biking units that required extensive preparation and problem-solving. Students would spend multiple class periods learning essential bike maintenance skills – checking tire pressure, testing brakes, adjusting seats, understanding gear systems, and learning basic flat tire repair. While these mechanical skills were valuable, the logistics of coordinating student-owned equipment often meant beautiful riding days were lost to maintenance issues.

"We'd have gorgeous weather perfect for cycling, but half the class would be working on bike repairs instead of experiencing the joy of riding together," Werner recalls. The unpredictability of student-owned equipment meant the biking unit could only be offered once per year in spring, limiting opportunities for students to experience these research-backed benefits.

The Foundation's grant changed everything. With 35 reliable, school-owned bikes available on-site, Werner could finally expand the program to both semesters and ensure that weather-perfect days translated into actual riding experiences for entire classes.

Now, students in Werner's wellness classes regularly venture out on carefully planned routes through local parks and scenic bike paths around Lake Forest. Students who might otherwise spend their wellness time in traditional indoor activities find themselves pedaling through tree-lined trails, discovering hidden corners of their community, and experiencing the mental health benefits that come from combining physical activity with nature immersion.

Perhaps most meaningfully, the bikes have served an even more fundamental purpose – teaching students how to ride. For some students, these cycling sessions represented their first opportunity to master this essential life skill. Under Werner's patient guidance, students who had never learned to balance on two wheels discovered the joy and freedom that comes with cycling.



These teaching moments have become some of the program's most rewarding aspects, as students gain confidence not just in their cycling abilities, but in their willingness to try new challenges. The bikes have created a supportive environment where students can learn at their own pace, away from the pressure of more competitive athletic settings.

The success of Werner's bike program demonstrates how targeted grants can create expanding circles of positive impact. What began as 35 bicycles and one teacher's vision has evolved into a multi-departmental resource that serves students across various programs and skill levels.

The Lake Forest High School Foundation's investment has proven that sometimes the most effective educational tools are also the simplest ones. By supporting Werner's initiative, the Foundation has helped create opportunities for outdoor education, cross-training, life skills development, and interdisciplinary collaboration – all from four bicycles and the vision to get students moving through their community.



As the program continues to grow and evolve, it stands as a testament to the power of innovative thinking in education and the lasting impact that can emerge from supporting teachers' creative approaches to student wellness and engagement.

"It's been incredible to see how these 35 bikes have become a resource for the entire school," Werner notes.

Staff See Benefits, Too

According to Laurie Hektor, Senior Study Hall supervisor, the desk bike usage “really ramps up in the cooler months, during finals week, and when students are burning off their nerves when college commitments come.” Katie Pausch, Librarian and supervisor of the sophomore/Junior study Hall, agreed. “These are a great option for kids when they have extra time and need to get some movement in their day or need a change of pace to get some work done. They get a lot of use during the longer Block day lunches.” Ashleigh Malec, Director of Student Activities, added that “At Institute Days training sessions, staff hop on them.”

By introducing desk bikes, LFHS has set an example of how small changes in daily routines can have a big impact on long-term health. Students now have the chance to study actively, stay energized, and build healthier habits that will last far beyond high school.

On Grant Day 2025, we awarded $118,000 in grants across the curriculum. That is your donations at work! Our current donor list is as of September 1. Click on it to access the list.