Contact: whitney@boisebicycleproject.org

WHITNEY SCHRADER

communications & marketing manager

I was born and raised in Idaho Falls, and our home was behind a vast public park with willow trees and canals. My dad was a wildlife biologist and took my brother and I camping, fishing, and hunting a majority of our childhood. When we weren’t exploring Eastern Idaho on his work trips, I spent most of my days playing in Reinheart Park. Like many kids, as soon as my training wheels came off I used my bicycle to zoom around to visit my friends. We’d pretend our bikes were trusty steeds and ride all around the park, meeting new people, spotting furry and feathered friends, and pedaling as fast as we could to get home before dark (curfew)!

As I got older, my love of bikes started to fade. Moving to a suburban area, I depended on my car to get me from place to place. When I attended Boise State University, my love of the outdoors began to revive as I gained access to the wonderful trails in the area. After graduation,  I decided to move to Thailand and immerse myself in another culture. I purchased my first mountain bike while I was there and rode among stunning emerald green rice fields where water buffalo roamed and colorful stilt houses speckled the hillsides. The Thai people (and my bike!) taught me how to slow down, be an integral part of a community, and enjoy beauty in my surroundings.

When I came home from Thailand I further developed my professional skills in business and marketing- hoping that someday I could use those tools to support a cause near and dear to me. At BBP I’m filled with joy helping others rediscover what it’s like to explore their own backyard, slow down, and take in their surroundings. When I’m not riding bikes, I enjoy making pottery, sailing Idaho’s lakes & reservoirs, and reading books. All slowly, of course.