What happens when four great non-profits focused on improving our quality of life get together? A bike ride, a picnic, and an opportunity to learn more about giving back to YOUR community!

It’s free. And it’s a no-brainer. Join BikeDenver, Denver Botanic Gardens, the Denver Zoo and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) for a Summer Park-to-Park bicycle ride from City Park, through the Denver Botanic Gardens, to the Dos Chappell Bathhouse at Washington Park to celebrate green volunteering and the summer solstice on Tuesday, June 21st.

See the Ride Map:  Summer Solstice Ride Map

Join us for a fun summer social event and meet other “green” residents and volunteers!

Ride Start Waves: 5:45pm, 6:00pm, 6:15pm

Ride Start Location: Denver Zoo Gate Three (see map)

Bring your own bike and helmet (highly recommended).

A Special Experience!

You’ll be treated to live animal demonstations and get a free admission ticket to the Denver Zoo at the start of the ride, then, you’ll have the unique opportunity to ride your bike through the Denver Botanic Gardens (in the front entrance and out the back gate to Cheesman Park!).   The ride pace will be casual. Ride guides will remind you to ride on the designated roadway or bike route and  obey all traffic laws. When we ride through the Botanic Gardens we will be riding single file.

Post-ride picnic for the first 400 registrants! *** SOLD OUT***

Avery Brewing Co., Illegal Pete’s and Clif Bar are kicking in some great food and brew for this event!  If you are one of first 400 people to register you will be treated to a free Illegal Pete’s burrito and a tasty brew from Avery Brewing Company.  Limited quantities are available and are reserved for the 1st 400 people who register.  Your ride registration receipt will serve as your food/beverage coupon.  Bring your receipt with you as proof of registration.  There will be a mobile vendor on site for those who forget to register, or in case you are extra-hungry!

The post-ride picnic will be  held  at Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado’s headquarters at the Dos Chappell Bathhouse by the North end of Smith lake in Washington Park.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about “green” volunteer opportunities with BikeDenver, VOC, the Denver Zoo and Denver Botanic Gardens.

GET REGISTERED.  Help us out this year by registering, or unfortunately there’ll be  ”no soup for you”.  Operators are standing by:  ***THE PICNIC IS SOLD OUT!*** Try registering a little earlier next year.

Check out the organizers:

BikeDenver is Denver’s bicycle advocacy organization. Volunteers help us staff free community bike corrals at major Denver events to encourage more people to ride their bike for short trips in cities. In 2010, BikeDenver provided secure bike parking at events with a total attendance of over 1.6 million. www.bikedenver.org

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is a statewide non-profit based in Denver that encourages outdoor volunteerism to steward our natural resources. Over 3,000 volunteers participate in over 50 outdoor stewardship projects each year in some of the most beautiful areas of Colorado. www.voc.org

Denver Botanic Garden volunteers help one of the largest and most visited botanical gardens in the U.S. accomplish their mission of connecting people to plants (especially the plants in the Rocky Mountain Region). www.denverbotanicgardens.org

The Denver Zoo connects people with animals and creates defining moments to inspire everyone to respect, value and care for the natural world. www.denverzoo.org

Avery Brewing Company is based in Boulder. They are dedicated to making beer from the inside out: they brew what they like to drink–with utter disregard for what the market demands– and search out fans with equally eccentric palates. www.averybrewing.com

Illegal Pete’s is a local favorite fast casual mission style restaurant. They offer a full bar with Denver’s cheapest happy hour and boast great margaritas, chips and salsa as well as amazing burritos, quesadillas, and fish tacos. Catering, too! www.illegalpetes.com

Clif Bar started on a bike ride. Founder Gary took a bite of another energy bar and thought he could make a better bar. Today, Clif Bar is a leading maker of all-natural and organic energy and nutrition foods and drinks. www.clifbar.com