Omro eighth graders bike 28 miles

Some Omro students embarked on a unique field trip Friday, but they didn't take bus.

The eighth graders rode their bikes nearly 30 miles, ditching the classroom for learning in the great outdoors.

They're not expert bikers, but by the end of the ride, teachers say the students will know quite a bit about teamwork and bike safety.

"It's really hot and it's really fun cause you have to do like all these questions and stuff," eighth grader Amber Jeffers said of the trip.

The 100 students weren't told where to go, but followed clues along the 28 mile trek.

"The rest was nice and what a feast, now saddle up and head out east," a student said, reading one of the clues..

"I'm the transport for those who can't make it," chaperon Cheryl Grabner said, pointing to her van.

The group made nine stops for team building activities and talks on fitness and biking.

"My job as a teacher is to get them to expand their comfort zone on what is, what is fun," gym teacher Joe Horvath explained.

Horvath says Omro has been holding the ride for ten years now. He says it's making an impact.

"We're already taking about having to buy more bike racks at school," Horvath said. "We're getting more kids that are biking to school and that's the whole idea."

"With the nice weather, with gas prices going up, with childhood obesity, there's a number of issues why students should get out and walk and bike," bike safety advocate Dave Kress said.

There were some tired faces, towards the end.

"It just gets kinda harder and your legs are getting tired and you gotta go up the hills," eighth grader Kara Senkerik said.

But students say they enjoyed the challenge and its lessons.

"Teamwork, team building, exercise," Jeffers said.

Teachers say biking isn't a one day deal for Omro. The middle school has a fleet of 40 bikes and helmets for students to use during breaks at school. It also uses bike activities in gym class.