Mission
Leadership Academy Mountain Bike Camp seeks to grow the knowledge and the ability of youth cyclists in the area. At Mountain Bike Camp we are furthering this mission by developing life-long outdoor recreation skills, while fostering an appreciation of the natural features of the environment.
Our Program
Expect to spend everyday working on riding skills through workshops, skill drills and instructor demonstrations and student practice sessions. Most days will include 1-3 hours on the trails to apply what was learned. We will also play fun games, set up obstacle courses, learn how to read trail maps, learn how to maintain our bikes and how to ride within your limits. Trail access is limited to the conditions and rider ability. Participants need to already be comfortable riding a bike and have good riding skills on the pavement before signing up for Mountain Bike Camp. Equipment, gear and rider ability will be evaluated at the beginning of each session and riders are grouped together by skill level.
During breaks in between skills sessions, trail riding and other activities it is time to rest. Many campers may not be used to being outside all day long exposed to the heat while constantly doing some type of physical activity. Resting is very important as it helps our muscles and cardiovascular system recover. Doing so results in less fatigue throughout the day and being able to stay more focused and pace ourselves which reduces the chance for injury.
Camp Schedules will be altered weekly based on the skill level we are catering towards. This is an outline to touch on what we will learn throughout the week at Mountain Bike Camp.
- Day 1: Skills/riding ability assessment, bike setup, learn campers expectations, trail etiquette and learn/review basic fundamental skills.
- Day 2: Trail ride, learn intermediate skills, bike maintenance
- Day 3: Obstacle courses, review intermediate skills, trail riding with stops for skills practice.
- Day 4: Trail safety, importance of proper nutrition, introduction to advanced skills, trail ride
- Day 5: Trail riding with stops for skills practice, advanced skills
We highly recommend campers attend multiple sessions of the level they sign up for; you shouldn’t assume your child will be ready to level up after one week of camp!
Our Staff
Our coaches are experienced mountain bikers that have been trained by local pros and trained by Leadership Academy. They are CPR certified and go through courses to set our campers up for a great week of learning and fun.
What to Bring
Your camper will need to be dressed and ready for an active day of outdoors and bike riding. This often means getting wet and muddy, especially on the trails.
Here is a list of things to bring each day to make sure your camper is prepared for a fun day!
Bike: Must be a proper Mountain Bike, have passed a Safety Check at one of the bike shops listed below**. The bike must be transported to and from camp each day. If you do not have access to a proper mountain bike, please contact our Camp Director, who will point you towards a shop or try to help in acquiring a mountain bike for camp. Clip-in peddles are not recommended except for our most advanced riders.
Required Safety Gear:
- Helmet – should fit properly and be in good condition. A helmet with any type of damage, especially impact damage even if it is minor is compromised. Also a helmet that is older than 4 years should be replaced.
- Gloves
- Shoes with a stiff supportive sole. Some skateboard or hiking shoes, “low-hikers” will work. Lightweight, flexible running/tennis do NOT provide adequate protection as well as being inefficient for pedalling.
Recommended Safety Gear:
- Full face helmet
- Body Amor – Shin guards
- Chest Guard
- Knee/shin guards (as one unit)
Although there is specific gear for mountain biking, similar sports gear can be substituted, like skateboarding or soccer pads.
Wipeouts, crashing, and falling will happen and protective gear will make these incidents less severe.
Important Gear to Bring Each Day:
- Refillable water bottle: Preferably one that fits in the bottle holder on the bike. We strongly recommend the wearable hydration packs. Proper hydration keeps our campers happy and cool. We will refill the bottles throughout the day. Bike water bottles are sold at camp as well. Please inquire about these before the camp day so we can make sure the camper gets a water bottle.
- Sunscreen: We will spend much of our time in the forest, but sunscreen will be important for field games. Please apply both before you arrive & our counselors will reapply as needed throughout the day.
- A hat
- A rain jacket
- Lunch & a snack: packed in a reusable lunchbox/bag. All wrappers/uneaten food will be kept in the lunchbox and returned home so parents can be aware of what their child is eating at camp.
*Leadership Academy is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please label all of your child’s belongings. Unclaimed items will be displayed at check-out daily, held for 1 week, then donated to charity.
Required Safety Check
**REQUIRED SAFETY CHECK for each bike must be completed before the start of camp. RIDE615 Bicycle Shop is providing a FREE inspection for Mountain Bike Camp.
RIDE615 Bicycle Shop
- Located: Hermitage
- Address: 3441 Lebanon Pike #103, Hermitage, TN 37076
- Phone: (615) 200-7433
OR
- Located: Sylvan Park
- Address: 4511 Charlotte Ave. Nashville, TN 37209 [Parking Map]
- Phone: (615) 922-6511
Safety Check Inspection (Free for campers) but tune-ups or other repairs will be at the normal prices.
Drop off anytime during regular business hours, there is no need to make an appointment. Inspection, Tune-up and repairs typically require 1-2 days turn around.
Other Shops in the Area to Get a Bike Check (Click for Location):
Murfreesboro Outdoors And Bikes (MOAB)
Website: www.moabbikes.com
Phone: 615-807-2035
Phone: 615-678-8762
Phone: 615-893-7725
Trail and Fitness
Website: www.tf.bike
Phone: (615) 499-4634
Address: 5133 Harding Pike, Suite A6
Nashville, TN 37205
Can I use my local bike shop?
Yes! We will accept bike inspections from other shops, especially if you are coming from out of town. We cannot guarantee that you will not be charged for an inspection if you use a bike shop not listed as a partner.
What NOT to Bring
Mountain Bike Camp is a place to explore the natural surroundings so we ask you not to send ANY electronics or items that could distract from your child’s experience in the park. This includes but is not limited to:
- cell phones,
- iPods or MP3 players,
- trading cards,
- hand-held video games
DIGITAL CAMERAS. (Our staff will upload photos each day.)
Also, do not bring: drugs, alcohol, pornography, weapons, fireworks or tobacco.
*Personal sports equipment is allowed with the permission of the camp director.
Camp Behavior Policy
*Please review this with your child*
At camp, we want to cultivate the outdoor adventure enthusiast in your child and engage them with their immediate environment. It will be a FUN week at camp, especially if the campers already know what is expected from them. Read these guidelines with your child.
Campers are expected to listen to the instructors and counselors and follow all safety rules. Horseplay, inappropriate language, and disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. Cell phones are not permitted. Failure to comply may result in being asked to leave camp. Camp is a place for fun and learning.
Camp staff will work with your child to redirect minor behavior issues with listening, cooperation or positive participation. More disruptive behavior will be brought to the attention of the camp director and the parent will be notified at check-out or called by phone.
A camper may be asked to leave camp (without a refund) if the director determines that the camper is compromising the safety of themselves or their group. This could include verbally threatening other group members or acts of aggression/violence such as hitting, kicking or biting. Also, if a camper repeatedly leaves the group unannounced and are unable to be kept safely supervised, they may be sent home without a refund.
Inclement Weather
We follow the trail closure recommendations of local mountain biking groups, such as SORBA, and do not ride when trails are wet. It is crucial that mountain bikers follow this etiquette to keep trails from having heavy erosion. If it is raining and lightning is not detected in the area, we may be able to ride on the road. However, we follow Leadership Academy policy and shelter in the pavilion during thunderstorms. Our engaging coaches lead games, build campfires, and teach bike maintenance during those camp times that riding is not possible. We will communicate with parents about any severe weather and provide you with an opportunity for early pickup.
Emergency Communication Plan
Although we do our best to stay safe and prevent injuries and accidents, sometimes accidents happen. In the case of an injury or an emergency, we will do our best to communicate with parents (or emergency contacts) as soon as possible. Please note, Leadership Mountain Bike Camp does not provide any transportation. In case of an injury or emergency, the camp staff will assess the situation and call emergency services as appropriate. Once the nature of the injury/emergency has been established, parents will be notified by the camp director or the CEO. If the child’s parents cannot be reached, the designated emergency contacts will be called. If the injury or emergency is not life-threatening but requires further medical attention, the parents or emergency contacts will need to provide transportation to seek care.
Additional Questions?
If you have any questions please feel free to contact the Camp Director or text/call at 833-590-6736.
