In short, if your child is age 8-14 and enjoys biking, then this camp will be a blast for them! We pride ourselves on offering a camp that is fun for all skill levels of mountain biking.
Below are some frequently asked questions that may help give you the confidence that you’re doing the right thing by signing (or not signing) your child up:
“Is my child ready for MBM Camp?”
The simple answer is: as long as they’re confident biking on 2 tires and in the in the age range (8-14) we’re happy to teach them everything else! We thrive on taking in new campers with little to know idea about what mountain biking is. Although most kids are nervous about their first day, this is normal. By the end the first day they’ll likely feel a lot better; by the end of the week they probably won’t want to leave.
“Can my child, who is too young but an awesome biker join the camp?”
The answer is not yet and here’s why. Although your child would most likely be able to keep up with the kids on their bike, at this stage in their healthy development they are at a different stage in their maturity. Therefore, in our experience they will have a better time with all the aspects of the camp including making friends, playing games and building their confidence if they wait until they are the right age. We want kids to love biking for life! So really, what is one more year?
“Is this too basic for my superstar?”
On the flip side if your child already has experience mountain biking that’s perfect too! So your little guy or girl is comfortable riding trails? What about technical rooted trails? Or doing a track stand (standing still on bike) for 30 seconds? We’re willing to bet that they’ve probably never thought of trying that! That’s where our coaches come into play: to challenge riders to help safely take their riding to the next level.
“Is my 12 year old going to be riding with 8 year olds?”
We group kids with coaches based on age and ability. They will likely be mixed in with kids their age as well as kids with their ability throughout the camp.
“Will the rusty bike in our shed work for the camp?”
To make sure that your child can keep up with the group they should have a bike that is in good working condition prior to the start of the camp. Please make sure they have a lubed chain, good air pressure (typically 30 PSI), and no loose bolts before coming to camp. When in doubt, take it for a tuneup at Overlanders or Old Town Bike Works. For more info on our recommendation and requirement for bikes please visit our bike page.
MBM Camp 