Milwaukee Teen Bike Camp – Food and Culture
2026 was the first year for the Bike Fed’s Teen Bike Camp: MKE Food and Culture, where teens got a chance to explore Milwaukee’s rich food and cultural scene all by bicycle. A different neighborhood was explored each day, with accompanying tours from various Milwaukee locals as well as a survey of snacks from restaurants in the area.
The first day of Milwaukee Teen Art and Culture Camp started with a visit to Harbor View Plaza, with stops at historical landmarks along the way, where the teens read a land acknowledgement and discussed the importance of acknowledging the indigenous land they occupy.
Afterwards, the group travelled downtown to stop at Mader’s, the oldest operating restaurant in Milwaukee, where they got to share an authentic German giant pretzel.
Another day followed the Latino Diaspora, where the students got to explore Milwaukee’s south side while learning about the history of immigration in Wisconsin. Cinithia Tellez led students on a tour of murals in the neighborhood, ending at the 16th Street Corridor. One student noted, “There’s so much music being played outside that I feel like doesn’t happen in other neighborhoods,” and Cinithia confirmed that some business owners play music out on to the streets because that’s what they do at traditional Mexican markets. This is something that may not have been noticed if not on a bicycle, the students noted. The group then stopped at El Rey for chips and salsa and a talk from one of the mural artists Isa Cortes. A student noted, “I can’t wait to go back to El Rey to try new agua frescas!”
After El Rey the group went to the Mitchell Park Domes and received a tour and history of the Domes as well as a Menomonee Valley Watershed tour on the Hank Aaron State Trail.
The next day the students biked through a tour of the Bronzeville neighborhood, where the first stop was America’s Black Holocaust Museum and the students were led on a guided tour through the museum and got to ask questions at the end. A student noted, “I learned about the real suffering people went through and how they have worked to get their freedom.” The students got to learn the expansive history of Civil Rights while also learning about the local history of the Bronzeville neighborhood.
After this was a stop nearby at Kinship Cafe, where students got a full lunch and were introduced to the cafe’s goals and its Healing Workforce Training Program. Then they biked to Alice’s Garden and got a chance to see how a community garden functions. Another stop in Bronzeville was the Bronzeville Center for the Arts. There, students participated in a workshop led by Ladasia Bryant where they got to make their own zines (small, self-made booklets) to keep. Paired with the zine workshop, they got a chance to tour the Special Collections at the Milwaukee Public Library Central location and see some of the historical zines and books on display, as well as take some zines home.
On the last day, the camp ended with a final showcase where the students got a chance to put together poster boards that summarized what they learned and experienced throughout the week. They reflected on each day, put together photos, and wrote about each place they visited. Adults then got a chance to explore the showcase, eat some snacks, and learn from the students.