We’re oh-so-excited to share all the new youth biking activities we have planned for the 2026 Summer & Fall season here at Slate Valley Trails! Whether you have a little one or a teen, we have activities for all ages to keep kids off screens and get them out with their peers in nature, building confidence and developing all kinds of skills!
1. PHS Mountain Bike After School Club The afterschool bike club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 5- June 11. Students are transported from Poultney High School at the end of the school day to the Fairgrounds trailhead, where we will work on bike skills, basic mechanics, and riding the trails. If you have a student in grades 7-12, make sure to ask if they’ve gotten a permission slip from PHS!
2. Youth Mountain Bike Camp This summer, we expanded our program and will be running the youth mountain bike camp for FOUR weeks in July & August! There is currently space available in all four sessions. Whether you register for one week or all four, your child is sure to learn and grow A TON on their bike! Learn more and sign up here.
3. Taconic Cycling Club! We’re psyched to be starting our own youth mountain bike team this season with Vermont Youth Cycling đ¤đđ¤ VTYC is a mountain bike league for kids in grades 5-12 who want to compete in a fun and inviting environment, grow their love of biking, and make new friends! The season runs July-October with races beginning in late August. We’re looking for riders of all skill levels to join our team, and we are also looking for coaches! You *don’t* need to be a hardcore mountain biker to coach, but you *do* need to be excited about getting more kids on bikes.
If you or your child is interested in our team, please join us for a general interest meeting on Wednesday, May 13th from 6-8pm at Porcupine Bikes in Poultney. You can find more information here as well as at vtyouthcycling.org.
4. Poultney Bike Adventure Camp This year, we’re partnering with the Poultney Recreation Department for a new summer program for kids aged 8-12! We will be learning 1) basic bike skills, 2) how to safely ride on the streets, and 3) exploring all the cool spots around Poultney for two hours every morning, July 13-17th! Keep an eye out for more information on Poultney Rec’s summer program page, which should be updated by mid May.
5. Monthly Family Rides Grab your whole family and meet us at the Fairgrounds Trailhead for Family Group Rides! These FREE Saturday morning, beginner-friendly rides will be paced for families, and we will break into groups as needed :) There will be ride leaders for each group, but you will be responsible for your own child. Check the SVT events page for more details. We’re excited for all the youth programming to come and hope you will be, too!
We’re committed to making sure as many kids as possible have the opportunity to be outside and on our trails đ To achieve this goal, much of our programming is free, loaner equipment can be made available to youth program participants, and financial aid is available for both the youth mountain bike camp and the youth mountain bike team.
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More kids on bikes!!!
