On a crisp fall morning, a line of Victor J. Andrew High School students pedaled single file through the Orland Park Grasslands. Helmets strapped, eyes on the trail, they followed instructors who shouted reminders about gears, posture, and pace.
For the third semester in a row, the school’s Adventure Education program has taken teenagers out of the gym and onto bikes, giving them a new spin on physical education. The unit, introduced in spring 2024, combines fitness with real-world safety lessons and outdoor adventure. Victor J. Andrew High School is located at 9001 W. 171st St. in Tinley Park.
“Adventure Ed is an opportunity for students to be exposed to a myriad of outdoor, adventurous, and team building activities,” said Jennifer Genslinger, a physical education teacher who co-leads the class with P.E. and health teacher Kevin Wolski. “Students at this grade level have put their bikes in storage or packed them away in a garage or shed to collect dust. The opportunity to bring back a childhood favorite was a huge motivator for us.”
Wolski said the inspiration has paid off.
“What we have discovered since launching the biking unit is how much students have reengaged with the activity with the hopes that they will continue to ride long after they graduate from VJA,” he said. “The feedback from students has been incredible.”
This fall, about 120 juniors and seniors are enrolled in Adventure Education. The biking unit is one piece of a semester-long course that also includes kayaking, rock climbing, camping skills, and team-building exercises. Students have taken field trips for zip lining, high ropes courses, archery, and for the first time last spring, a trip to the Tinley Park Roller Rink.
“The opportunity to try something new each and every day is exciting for both of us,” Genslinger said. “Each day, our activities change and our challenges allow each student to feel a part of a team, be a leader, and advocate for themselves. Students leave this course with a greater sense of self-confidence.”
The biking portion builds in difficulty. Students start with lessons on bike maintenance and short rides around campus. As they gain confidence, the group advances to neighborhood loops and eventually longer excursions through forest preserves.
This semester, Still Ride Bike Shop in Tinley Park joined the program, offering demonstrations on safety checks and free tune-ups. Past guest sessions have included roadway safety tips from the Illinois League of Bicyclists.
The structure pushes students out of their comfort zones.
“When a student combats their fear of the water, or fear of heights and can overcome those fears, that keeps us inspired with each class,” Wolski said.
Seventeen-year-old Qasam Alzir of Tinley Park said the variety is what keeps him engaged. “Adventure education is really fun because I enjoy all the challenges that take place during kayaking,” he said. “Not only that, but rock climbing makes you really think and challenges you physically as well.”
For classmate Daniel Moss, 17, of Tinley Park, the teamwork lessons stick. “I like Adventure Ed because we do fun activities like kayaking and team building,” Moss said. “I like these activities because they teach how to work with others.”
The students’ enthusiasm is part of why the program has quickly become one of Andrew’s most popular electives. Teachers hope the experiences, whether on a bike, in a kayak, or on a climbing wall, keep rolling long after graduation.
