SODA SPRINGS — It’s often said that the current generation of youth don't measure up in comparison to the "toughness" of the generations who came before.

The students at Tigert Middle School, however, recently proved that they're without question one tough bunch.

The students braved freezing cold temperatures for an entire week as they participated in Tigert's Bike To School Week, riding their bicycles to school every morning and then returning home in the afternoon.

Tigert physical education teacher Cliff Garbett came up with the idea for Bike To School Week, held in late April, and successfully encouraged even those students who live outside of town to participate, with adult supervision.

The Idaho spring weather absolutely didn't cooperate, with below-freezing temps for most of the week, but the students didn't seem to mind.

Upon arriving at Tigert each day during Bike To School Week, the students each got a raffle ticket for the event assembly held at the end of the week where a number of prizes were awarded, including a new bicycle from Barrie's Ski and Sports of Pocatello.

Garbett has taught a number of physical fitness classes at Tigert for the last eight years. But he is far from the traditional physical education teacher where games like capture the flag and parachutes were the focus.

Garbett has found exciting ways to implement strength training into his classes and has a scale of his own to measure student improvements, yet still implementing ways for kids to get out and be motivated to move.

While traditional sports are still played, Garbett has found ways to throw in activities and challenges such as the Wall of 5 (running a mile within 5 minutes and then getting to write your name permanently on the school wall), bowling days at the local bowling alley, and agility tests.

A few years back, funding received from Fuel Up To Play 60 was used to purchase bicycles from Barrie’s Ski and Sports to use in Tigert's physical education classes to bike around town. While the idea was great and many were thrilled to use class time to go on a bike ride, Garbett sadly found a number of kids simply didn’t know how to ride a bike. So the idea of Bike To School Week came to life in hopes that more kids would want to be involved and become confident in riding a bicycle.

Tigert kicked off its second annual Bike To School Week in late April when a Barrie’s team came to generously offer free bike tune-ups for all students. As the week has since wrapped up, Garbett is thrilled with the positive participation and attitudes that have come from the event.

Garbett shared a photo he took just days before the event showing a lonely few bicycles outside the school entrance. During Bike To School Week, that number grew to 100 bicycles outside Tigert. 

Garbett, who lives roughly five miles south of Soda Springs in Bailey Creek, often rides his bike to school. One thing about Garbett, he never would ask his students to do something he wouldn't join in and do himself. Garbett was one of the adults riding with a number of kids daily from Bailey Creek during Bike To School Week.

He said, “Safety of the students during the event was most important. We met by 7 a.m. to allow plenty of time to make it to town with less traffic on the roads. Some kids showed up in shorts, no gloves or hats and still pushed a cold head wind to town. We, for sure, have some tough kids here who are willing to endure a lot. It was a very cold week but the outcome of participation was awesome.”

Tigert has an age range of students from fifth to eighth grade.

Fifth-grader Lincoln Wood said, “It was fun, hard and cold but grateful Mr. Garbett believes in all of us and wants us to be active.”

Lincoln’s mother Rikki said, “What an awesome opportunity for these kiddos to get out and get active. Big thanks to Mr. Garbett and for all the sponsors who provided breakfast for all these bikers.”

Skylar McCalister was the lucky raffle winner of the new bike.

Garbett has much gratitude for how the community has rallied around Bike To School Week and came to support the kids and kept them motivated to push through the freezing temperatures.

Garbett would like to thank the following sponsors who helped provide breakfast for the kids at Tigert every morning during Bike To School Week: Bill Mullen, Patterson Quick-Stop, Soda Springs Police Department and Gonzales Restaurant.

Garbett also thanked the following parents who rode with different groups of kids to keep them safe: Sheri Davis, Chris Gonzales, Matt Kunz and Erika Maughan.

Dave Patterson, of Patterson Quick-Stop, would like to thank Coca-Cola of Pocatello and Leonhardt Distributing out of Montpelier for donating juice for the event.

Bike To School Week was the latest Garbett success story at Tigert where the teacher has earned a reputation for coming up with innovative ways to improve the lives of students. 

He said, “This was a great year. We had 11 kids who made the Wall of 5 and a few more on the bubble who can still make it. That’s the most we have had in a single year. Jaxon Horsley became the first kid to make the wall all four years at (Tigert). I enjoy the staff and kids I get to work with. Especially all those who showed up to make Bike To School Week a success. It’s such a rewarding way to end the year.”