The Gratitude Ride - Free for Essential Workers 2025 - Adult Overnight

This ride is to acknowledge our city's Essential Workers.

The Covid19 pandemic placed an unprecedented strain on folks across industries. Essential Workers have served as the backbone to our City's operations prior to the 2020 shutdown, and we recognize the innumerable additional challenges placed on workers since the start of the pandemic. We see many of the incentives to remain employed in an essential industry are slowly expiring and many accomodations that we'd hoped would be longterm are no more.

This ride is offered as a way to say 'thank you' to our Essential Workers community. Camping spots, navigation and cooking will be covered by OOFD. All you have to do is show up.

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Mileage: Day 1: 28 Miles | Day 2: 28 miles

Support: Self supported - you carry all of your own camping gear on your own bike. No vehicle support.

Lodging: Tent (camping gear not provided). We will stay at Camp Shabbona Woods (Cook County Forest Preserve) located 15810 S. Torrence Ave, South Holland IL, 60473 (map)

Pace: 12-15mph

Trail/Route: Paved road with minimal gravel incorporated and possible snow.

Age: Adult Ride (21+)

Travel south over bridges, canals, and railroads to a hidden gem among the industrial past of Chicago: Camp Shabbona Woods. This is the closest Cook County camping site from Chicago and is an accessible low-stress ride, suitable for beginners and experienced riders. The route is almost entirely on bike paths and/or bike lanes that include the Lakefront Path, the new South Lake Shore Drive extension bike lanes, Calumet Park, Hammond, IN, and the Burnham Greenway.

The facilities at Shabbona Woods are excellent and amenities include the Sand Ridge Nature Center with animals, exhibits, and walking trails, as well as the Green Lake Aquatic Center across the street featuring a lazy river and a water slide.

Campsite features a fire pit, picnic tables, full-service bathrooms with showers, dining pavilions with electrical outlets for device charging, and camp store with concessions.

To learn more about the region we'll be traveling through, check out the Wetlands Initiative page on the Calumet Region.

• Campground fees (hated cabins, firewood, etc.)
• Food for Day 1 dinner and Day 2 breakfast.
• Education about our local history and nature
• Really nice and supportive guides

• Food for Day 1 lunch
• Food for Day 2 lunch
• Snacks
• *We will stop at designated restaurants where you can buy your lunch

Our guides are part of a community of volunteers that believe in adventure and helping others find adventure right out our front door. They exude a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive spirit which are foundational values at OOFD. They have love and appreciation for their home and like sharing knowledge about that home with others, thus helping the riders to develop a stronger sense of gratitude for our local history and nature.

The guides will be set with the route and an extensive script about the area you’ll be riding through with intentionally chosen breakpoints along the way.

They are more than someone to follow on the ride. They are trained and will be there to encourage and support you as well as support with mechanicals that may arise.

Participant Cancellation: No Refunds. By registering, you acknowledge and agree there will not be a refund if you cancel or do not show up for the event. Tickets cannot be resold.

Transfers permitted before the event and to an event in the same calendar year. Check out this Transfer Policy flowsheet to determine what next steps you need to take. Contact us if you have any issues.

Organizer Cancellation: Full Refund | Nobody wants an event to be canceled. In the rare circumstance the organizer cancels the event at their discretion, registered participants will receive a full refund.To date, this organization has canceled minimal events; primarily in response to the Covid19 pandemic.

Weather and Rain: We do not cancel an event for rain, storm, or any other weather. We ride rain or shine. Chicago weather is typically passing, if the weather requires, we will pause the ride and wait in a sheltered space then continue biking. Some of the best views of the lake and greenery on the trails are after a rainstorm.

This is included in your registration form. Showing up with a welcoming and inclusive spirit is crucial and expected of everyon that rides with us.

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