This summer, Slate Valley Trails hosted two incredible weeks of Youth Mountain Bike Camp in partnership with the Poultney Summer Recreation Program—our biggest season yet, with more than 60 kids taking part!
What makes this camp so unique is its youth-led model: teen counselors step up as coaches while adult certified mountain bike coaches act as mentors and provide guidance and support.
🌱 Since launching the youth mountain bike camp in 2021, the program has blossomed into a beloved community tradition for youth ages 7–17.
Our goals are simple:
🚴 Develop and strengthen mountain bike skills
🦺 Ride safely and with confidence
🤝 Care for ourselves and others
🌿 Respect and care for the environment
😀 And most importantly—have fun!
2025 Recap:
From July 28–August 8, our campers dove into two unforgettable weeks of riding, learning, and growing. Each day from 9am–2pm, they built essential mountain biking skills—everything from bike-body separation to braking, cadence, cornering, and wheel lifts.
But camp wasn’t just about drills. We played bike games, tested our knowledge with bike trivia, set personal goals through journaling, and even tie-dyed our own shirts. And of course—we RODE. A LOT.
Each morning and afternoon, campers practiced new skills, then put them to the test out on the trails. Small group coaching (one adult coach + one teen coach per group) meant safe, personalized learning while tackling anywhere from 5 to 11 miles per day.
Thanks to the generous support of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, our riders fueled their bodies with healthy snacks—fresh fruit, fig bars, popcorn, and more—keeping energy high and spirits higher.
The progress we witnessed was nothing short of phenomenal. Campers left more confident, resilient, and empowered—ready to take on trails, challenges, and life beyond camp.
Many campers arrive on day one having never ridden a mountain bike trail. By the end of camp, they leave feeling confident, accomplished, and proud of what they’ve achieved.
Along the way, they:
💪 Conquer fears
🌿 Spend time outdoors
🤝 Make new friends
✨ Build life skills—resiliency, problem-solving, teamwork—that prepare them for the future.
This camp is about so much more than mountain biking—it’s about helping kids grow.
Our Why:
At Slate Valley Trails, we recognize the many benefits of riding and being outside. Mountain biking isn’t just exercise—it helps fight depression, boost confidence, and strengthens self-esteem. Riding together also builds friendships and social skills, and every new challenge overcome fosters empowerment and resilience.
In today’s screen-dominated world, it’s inspiring to see kids at camp not only connecting with each other, but also building a deeper bond with the trails and the natural environment. When they’re having fun outside, they naturally become more eager to care for the places they love. By learning and practicing good trail etiquette, campers grow into not only skilled riders, but also future trail stewards and conservation-minded citizens.
Through our youth Mountain Bike Camp, kids don’t just ride trails— they grow, connect, and thrive.
What’s next? Where do we go from here?
We’d love to keep the momentum rolling — keep kids on bikes year-round and build a strong, fun, and supportive mountain biking community for youth riders.
We have a few ideas brewing — weekly rides, skill-building sessions and a team — but as a volunteer community group – we’re looking for a few committed parents or community members to step up as coaches and ride leaders. You don’t need to be a pro rider, just someone who’s excited to support kids and enjoys being out on a bike.
If that sounds like something you’d be into (or even just curious about), we’d love to chat.
Right now, we’re looking to gauge interest — is this something you think your kid would be into? Is it something you might like to support? We’ve put together a quick, no-obligation interest form to help us get a feel for what our community is excited about.
You can access the form by clicking here-> SVT Youth Programming Interest Survey
Whether you have a little time or a lot, there’s a place for you to be part of what’s next. Thanks again for being part of this awesome community — we can’t wait to see where the trail leads from here.
