13 Apr Mountain Bike Skills for School Camps

For many humans owning, and being able to ride a bicycle, is our first experience of independence.  I scrimped and saved my pocket money and at age ten excitedly bought my first bike, a 10-speed, off-the-rack “Western Flyer”.  Said purchase opened up several suburban blocks to me, and long afternoons with the neighbourhood kids racing circuits.  It also meant I was expected to ride the 7km to school each morning – didn’t see that one coming.

For us Gen Xers riding bikes everywhere was something of a rites of passage, but busier roads, smaller yards and societal trends means not every child learns automatically gets the opportunity to feel the wind on their face and the freedom of two wheels.  Mountain biking is an important part of many expeditions programs, but it’s not uncommon for several teen participants to arrive on a journey-based program with little or no bike experience.

Seeing this prompted Vertec Adventures to install a Mountain Bike Skills Park at our Mountain Retreat Campus on Tamborine Mountain.  This is a low-risk environment where children on school camp can learn some basic bike-riding skills and, when ready, try their hand at around 1km of gentle single-track trails snaking around the property, taking in some of Queensland’s best views.

This new facility works on many levels for school camps.  For primary schools it’s a great way to introduce children to bike-riding skills, and in middle school years it can be a way to prepare them for more challenging expeditions programs.  Tamborine Mountain will soon be a significant destination for MTBers when the Guanaba Experience is completed, so it’s fitting our Gold-Coast Hinterland campsite offers entry-level biking experiences for the next generation of riders.

There’s been a significant investment in Outdoor Education facilities at our Gold Coast Hinterland Campus.  Part of a precinct boasting a combined 500 beds, tent-camping and 50 gorgeous acres for Outdoor Education, QCCC Tamborine can cater to the largest school groups.  The property has hosted school and youth camps since the early 1960s.  The provision of outdoor education activities like the MTB Skills Park to school and youth groups is a continuation of a proud tradition of using the outdoors to grow resilience and adventure in young people.  Bookings for QCCC Tamborine and its associated activities can be made through the QCCC website.