PORTLAND — The first Fall Foliage Fun Ride for Camp Susan Curtis will begin Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Northport Business Park.

Developing tomorrow’s leaders since 1974, Camp Susan Curtis in Stoneham meets a compelling community need to provide children in poverty with the tools, tuition-free, to take ownership of their lives, their communities and their futures.

The ride is open to families and bicycling enthusiasts alike with 15-mile and 50-mile distance options ($35 and $90, respectively). Both routes include food donated by Binga’s Wingas at the end as incentive to finish the ride, and as encouragement to fundraise even more for the cause.

Riders will start the 50-mile loop in Portland at 8 a.m. and travel through Yarmouth and Gray, enjoying the beautiful fall scenery along the way and returning to the Northport Business Park at noon; the 15-mile ride begins at 9 a.m. from same location.

Based on one of the most widely-used approaches to positive youth development, tuition-free programming at Camp Susan Curtis helps children identify and strengthen many of the Search Institute’s Developmental Assets essential to success. Positive adult role models work with children during the summer, reinforcing the skills that help young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible.

Already faced with having to fundraise almost 80 percent of its budget each year, Camp Susan Curtis must significantly expand those efforts to meet the growing demand for its services. For more on how to help through donations and volunteering, visit www.susancurtisfoundation.org.