BERKELEY, Calif. (BRAIN) — REI is working with the National Interscholastic Cycling Association and the International Mountain Bike Association to promote the Teen Trail Corps initiative, which will teach young mountain bikers to demonstrate respect, empathy and compassion toward fellow trail users and the environment.
The Teen Trail Corps framework is built around IMBA's key tenets of "speak, build, respect, ride." NICA student-athletes will earn badges in each of those respective areas before gaining the status of "Trail Captain." Trail Captains will then be eligible for recognition at the NICA Awards Banquet and other season-long events.
Austin McInerny, NICA's executive director, said, "With the exploding number of young mountain bikers entering the sport through NICA's growing interscholastic cycling programs — over 7,500 students participating this past year in 15 leagues across 14 states — it is critical that we educate them on how to responsibly ride while also empowering them to be effective advocates and stewards; it's necessary to ensure the growth of the sport, the bike industry, and to help ensure improved relations amongst all trail users. REI takes outdoor stewardship seriously and is making our collaboration with IMBA on this important initiative possible."
To learn more about the Teen Trail Corp visit teentrailcorps.org.
