Curriculum

Curriculum Overview
Our curriculum blends the excitement of mountain biking with the important therapeutic life lessons that come from social and emotional growth. Each week, riders embark on an unforgettable ride, where they develop technical biking skills and explore a meaningful personal growth topic that connects directly to the day’s ride. For Example, they learn when to break or switch gears, both on the bike and in life. The combination of physical activity, time spent outdoors, and reflection, creates a therapeutic experience that supports both mental and emotional well-being.

Goals of the Program
Our program is designed to:

  • Build confidence and self-esteem through achievable challenges.
  • Foster teamwork and collaboration by working together on and off the bike.
  • Strengthen focus and concentration through engaging, skill-based activities.
  • Improve social skills, helping riders communicate and connect with their peers.
  • Develop physical abilities, coordination, and endurance through exercise and outdoor exploration.
  • Cultivate a sense of resilience and perseverance.
  • Promote responsibility by teaching riders to take care of their bikes, show up prepared with required equipment, and follow safety and environmental rules.

Philosophy
We believe that the best way to learn is through experience. By combining hands-on biking practice with guided therapeutic discussions, riders not only develop their abilities on the trail but also gain tools to navigate life off the bike. Our program emphasizes learning by doing and encourages riders to reflect on their experiences and growth, creating a therapeutic and structured environment that fosters physical, emotional, and social development.

Group Structure
To ensure every rider feels comfortable and supported, groups are organized by age and biking ability. This structure allows for personalized instruction, meaningful peer interactions, and a supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

A Typical Session
Each session includes three key components:
  • The Ride: Riders enjoy an exciting and skill-appropriate mountain biking adventure, building endurance and enjoying the benefits of exercise in the fresh air.
  • Skill Building: A specific biking skill is introduced and practiced, helping riders improve their technical skills, confidence, and ability to care for their equipment.
  • Therapeutic Life Lessons on Two Wheels: Each ride is paired with a social or emotional growth topic, seamlessly tying personal development to the day’s biking experience.
In addition to technical and emotional skills, riders learn the importance of maintaining their bikes, arriving prepared, and respecting safety and environmental rules. By integrating physical challenges with personal reflection, our curriculum equips riders with skills that will serve them both on the trails and in their everyday lives.

SAMPLE LESSON
LESSON: Looking Ahead

BIKING GOAL: Understand what to focus on while biking to improve scanning and decision-making on the trail.

Guideline: Scanning, or reading the trail, is the process of looking ahead to see what’s coming, interpreting what you see, and making decisions to adapt. The way you scan the trail makes a significant difference in your riding. Here are two key techniques to scan like a pro:

Technique 1: The Golden Rule of Mountain Biking
  • "Look where you want your wheels to go, not at what you want to avoid."
  • This is the number one rule of mountain biking. Your wheels will follow your eyes—not your hands—so focus on where you want to ride, not the obstacles you’re trying to miss.
Tips for Following the Golden Rule:
  • If you’re struggling on the trail, think about how well you’re following this rule.
  • Don’t let the trail come to you. Reach forward with your eyes as far as possible while staying in control.
  • Looking ahead gives you:
    • More time to think and adapt before reaching a feature.
    • More time to prepare for bigger obstacles.
    • More time to choose the best line.
Technique 2: Judge Quickly and Dismiss Often
  • Train yourself to make quicker and fewer decisions by focusing only on trail features that matter to your forward progress.
How to Apply This Technique:
  • Focus only on obstacles that require attention. For example, if there are small step-down ledges you know you can handle, immediately shift your focus to the next important feature.
  • Build your "trail knowledge bank." With every ride, you’ll learn more about terrain types, obstacles, and how to ride them. Over time, this will help you judge what to ignore and what to focus on.
Activities:
  • Pairs Challenge: Partners ride in a circle, staying directly across from each other and maintaining full eye contact throughout.
  • Pairs Drill: One rider bikes toward their partner, who is standing ahead on the trail. The rider maintains eye contact with their partner as they approach and enter a switchback or tricky turn.
Life Lesson: Looking Ahead with Focus and Confidence

LIFE GOAL: Riders will explore how focusing on what’s ahead, prioritizing what matters, and staying calm can help them navigate challenges—both on the trail and in life.

Introduction: Begin by connecting the biking skill to life: On the trail, looking ahead helps riders stay focused and confident, avoiding the temptation to get distracted by every little obstacle. Similarly, in life, focusing on what truly matters helps us stay calm and in control, even when things seem overwhelming.

Discussion Questions:
  • What happens when you focus too much on the obstacles instead of the path ahead?
  • Can you think of a time when focusing on the right things helped you succeed?
  • Why is focus important?
  • Why do you think it’s important to focus on where you want to go, rather than on what you want to avoid?
  • How does focusing on the right things help you stay on track in school, with friends, or at home?
  • What does it mean to judge quickly and dismiss often on the trail?
  • How can you use this idea in life? Examples: Letting go of small frustrations, focusing on important tasks, or ignoring distractions.
Building Confidence Through Practice:
  • How does practicing looking ahead help you feel more confident on the trail?
  • How can practicing focus in life help you feel more prepared for challenges?
Activity: Eye Contact and Focus Challenge
Pairs Eye Contact Drill: Have riders try the pairs challenge from the biking lesson: riding in a circle and maintaining eye contact with a partner. Afterward, ask: What helped you stay focused? What made it challenging?

Life Connection Exercise:
Ask riders to think of one "obstacle" in their life that distracts them (e.g., worrying about a small mistake, focusing on negative comments). Then, ask them to identify one "line" they want to focus on instead (e.g., a goal, a positive habit, or a project).

Reflection:
  • What’s one thing you learned about focus today—on the trail or in life?
  • How can focusing on what’s ahead help you feel calmer and more confident?
  • Reinforce that learning to look ahead is about trusting your skills and staying focused on what truly matters, rather than getting stuck on small distractions.
  • Remind riders that whether on the trail or in life, looking ahead and focusing on the path they want to take helps them stay in control, make better decisions, and feel more confident about what’s coming next.