The Joy in Mountain Biking

We love the outdoors. We love feeling the crisp and fresh air that permeates our lungs as we navigate the forest trails. We love the land. We love our community. We love our landowners, whose generous gift of access makes Kingdom Trails and programs like these possible. We also recognize that KT was founded and built upon lands first inhabited by the indigenous people of this region, the Abenaki, and we seek to honor and acknowledge their ancestors and allies, both past and present. These ideals form the bedrock of our mission and embody our core values, exemplified by commitments to "prioritize access and inclusion" and "embrace outdoor recreation, health, and safety as a shared responsibility." We find joy on the trails and exploring the land, and we wish to share this joy with everyone.

Powered Magazine is a nonprofit organization created by and for people of color who find joy in the outdoors. Powered's mission is to magnify the full spectrum of identities that represent outdoor lovers and promote physical, mental, and social well-being in communities of color through outdoor engagement. In 2023, KT and Powered partnered together to create an affinity space that provided programming for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) youth and adults to learn the joys of mountain biking in a safe and supportive environment. Both organizations saw the joy mountain biking can provide and wanted to offer an experience to those who may not have the opportunity to learn to ride. Together, we set three dates for each program throughout the summer of 2023. 

Mountain biking is more than just a recreational activity; it's a dynamic tool for engagement and empowerment. Riders learn the technical skills of mountain biking and gain confidence, resilience, a sense of accomplishment, and belonging in a mountain biking community to find joy. These Programs reached 12 new adults who learned new skills in the morning through two BIPOC instructors partnered with Powered, and then tested their new knowledge on the trails in the afternoon! Many sought a chance to return to develop their new skills further! Programs like Powered can serve as a platform for building a supportive community where participants can share experiences, overcome challenges, and celebrate triumphs together. As a group leader with Powered noted: “Our participants found joy in MTB and the natural beauty that surrounds KT.” The joy of being outside and learning with each other!

Unfortunately, the youth programs never had a chance to run due to extended rain and thunderstorms. But Powered and KT saw a deep interest in furthering youth programming with Powered and local diverse youth! Along with the vast success of the adult program, we are both invested in continuing programming in 2024!

Kingdom Trails would like to extend our deepest thanks to The Wildflower Inn for providing access to their gazebo and field next to the trail network, Sport Thoma for working with KT to provide bikes for the adult programming, and Kingdom East School District for their willingness to provide youth bikes from Burke Town School. We are SO grateful for amazing community partners that make programming like this possible!

#thankyouktlandowners, for making programs like this possible! We #ridewithgratitude for you!