They slip, they slide, they fall. But the dozens of inner-city youths who trade in their sneakers for skates at the Inner Harbor Ice Rink each Tuesday always have fun.
"It's an adventure. I'd never been on ice skates before Project RAISE brought me down here," said Carl Johnson, 11, of Charles Carroll Elementary School in East Baltimore.
Since Jan. 10, Project Raising Ambitions Instills Self-Esteem II, a local nonprofit education program, has provided about 60 underprivileged youths ages 10 to 16 from city public schools with an afternoon of free skating.
"The kids love it," said Zavra Taru, director of the program. "It's an activity that inner-city kids really don't see unless they watch the Olympics."
Some even manage to complete a lap or two around the rink.
Shilenna Brown, 12, a sixth-grader at Lombard Middle School, fell several times on the rink Tuesday.
But it was only her third time on ice skates.
"It's really fun," she said. "I always wanted to go ice skating, but I never had the chance to go before now."
An anonymous donor gave money for the eight-week skating program, which includes free lessons, skate rentals, skating time -- and even a slice of pizza.
The youths, who come from several city neighborhoods, also get bus transportation to and from the rink.
Gilles Boisvert, manager of the Inner Harbor rink, said the program is good for the youths.
"They're laughing, sliding and falling down on purpose," he said. "This keeps their minds occupied, and maybe in the future they'll bring their kids down."
During the weekly trips, the youths are joined by Project RAISE II mentors and parents, who pay their own expenses.
Rodney Carter, program coordinator for the Project RAISE II program at Bethel AME Church, praised the skating program.
"It's a different type of recreation for the kids instead of roller-skating and basketball," Mr. Carter said.
"It gives the kids a chance to let off some of their frustrations in the midweek and to get together once a week with their friends," he said.
And Patricia Townes, who volunteered to join the youths Tuesday, has been pleased with Project RAISE II since her daughter, Eboni Powell, 12, joined four years ago.
"This program is such a positive thing," she said. "They have tutoring and trips. This is very helpful for my child."