Mountain Bike Camp Parent Guide

Mountain bike Camp at Warner Park engages children in outdoor play and informal environmental education to raise awareness, foster respect, and share enthusiasm for the natural environment. At Mountain Bike Camp we are furthering this mission by developing life-long outdoor recreation skills.

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.

• 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

Deep Well Entrance, Pavilion 2

Sign your camper in with the camp director each morning. Please arrive between 8:45-9:00 am for drop-off. Be sure your camper has their riding equipment and camp packing list for each day.

At Check out, have your ID ready when you sign your camper out each day.  Check out is from 3:45-4:00 pm for pick-up. You are responsible for supervising your child(ren) until signed in with Mountain Bike Camp staff.

Before and after care from 7:45am-5:15 pm for $50/week. A late pickup fee of $1/minute may be assessed.

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. We love that.

Here is a list of things to bring each day.

Bike: Must be proper Mountain Bike, have passed a Safety Check**.  The bike must be transported to and from camp each day.

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 pedaling

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.

Other Gear to Bring Each Day:

• A plastic refillable water bottle preferably 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. BPA-free water bottles are sold in our camp store.
• 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.

*CWP 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.

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.

*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.

All campers should bring rain gear and be ready for new adventures when the rain falls. Our staff will monitor the weather and if lightning or thunder is detected campers will be moved to shelter. On Rainy Days the trails are often closed. If the trails are closed due to rain we will be at Pavillion 2 at Deep Well or at the Field Station (for predicted severe weather.)  Any change in morning drop off will be communicated by email no later than 8 am the day of camp. At the Field Station, we are still able to ride in breaks from thunder and lightening, our activities will include skills practice, games, obstacle courses, hiking, and learning trail etiquette as well as traditional camp activities like games, crafts, and songs.

Due to the outdoor location of our programming, your camper may come in contact with bugs or plants  that makes them itch. Our staff will educate your camper about these hazards and remind them to check themselves for ticks. We do request that you thoroughly check your camper when they arrive home as ticks will often hide under clothing in areas that will not be checked by our staff. Although we do not promote the use of bug repellant, we do allow campers t bring it and apply it to their skin.

Please administer all medications before bringing your camper to Mountain Bike Camp each camp day. Please alert the camp director of any issues or if your child will be bringing an inhaler or Epi-Pen. Leave all other medications at home.

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, that 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.