Doing The Hard Things – June 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureGluski Park Campaign Kickoff Event: Be a part of what we’re building!Made UP Outdoor Summit: Expanding the ConversationCountdown to 2026 Adventure Team Season906AT: Featured in Outside MagazineMTRS: Schedule Change906AT: Keeping the Mission at the Center of All We DoNew on Made UP PodcastEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure The June newsletter feels like a great time to say – Thank you. Thank you to the 600+ volunteers who make Adventure Bike Club possible every year. We couldn’t do it without you, and 1,300 fewer kids would experience adventure if you didn’t show up for em’. Thank you to the volunteer coaches who are planning to show up next week to help with Marji Camp. Year after year, many of the same people keep showing up to share their experience and stoke for all things Marji. Thank you to Bill and Emily Mason (and other volunteers who pitch in around the office @ basecamp) for doing the little things while we run around trying to get ready for the summer. We see the work you do – and greatly appreciate it. Thank you to everyone supporting Gluski Park. With your support we’ve raised $1,400,000. Typin’ that out blows me away… We’ve raised $1.4 million!!! Site prep will begin in July. Rock Solid will start building in August. So damn exciting Thank you to our donors, sponsors, and partners. Some give money. Some give time. Others provide service. Each of you gives in order to help us be stronger, and I want you to know that I see it. Every day. And last but not least… Thank you to our staff. Marc, Elizabeth, Julie, and Adventure Team Area Leads. Yer’ the heart and soul of 906AT, and you probably don’t hear it often enough. So, thank you. Thank you for always showing up to do the hard things – and finish what you start! TP “It’s for kids like me who had no idea what they were capable of before they got onto the bike.” -Sawyer Stelwagen May 15, 2026 – Not only did this day mark, perhaps the warmest day of the last six months, this particular day in May was also the Campaign Kickoff Event for Gluski Park. As an organization, 906 Adventure Team, has been behind the scenes developing, planning, preparing, and fundraising for this project – but this day, May 15th, marked our first opportunity to officially present Gluski Park to the community. We’d been anxiously counting down the days to this event – an opportunity to kickoff our public fundraising campaign, and also an opportunity to invite the community to the space at 955 N. Lakeshore Boulevard that will become Gluski Park – to set the tone for what this park will be – the energy, the excitement, the opportunity – our first community gathering – the first of many more to come. The event did not disappoint. You showed up. You brought a positive, excited and enthusiastic energy. You confirmed and solidified what this space will be. A space for all ages and all skills. A space full of promise and opportunity. The evening began with a lineup of the following inspirational speakers. 906AT Director of Adventure Todd Poquette who highlighted the vision and the plans for Gluski Park. Todd LaFave from the Daniel J. Kobasic Foundation, who shared the legacy of Daniel Kobasic and the work of the foundation after awarding 906AT $800,000. Sandy Gluski, Tara Gluski’s mother who poured her love for her daughter into her words and the space, poignantly named after Tara. Susie Fox from the Great Lakes Sports Commission, an advocate and supporter of Gluski Park through a $150,000 grant. Representative Karl Bohnak who believes in the project and mission, demonstrating his support through his work in Lansing. And Sawyer Stelwagen, an Adventure Team participant, apprentice leader in the program and now coach, shared his experience and the impact the program has had on his growth and development. Sawyer spoke on behalf of so many kids, who have found a safe space in 906 Adventure Team to Do Hard Things and push beyond their comfort zones. He recounted the first time he made it to the top of Kirby’s Hill: “I can remember so vividly feeling something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Pride. I felt proud of what I had accomplished. And with that pride came a realization. I could overcome anything. If I spent the time and I put the work in, I could take on any obstacle life threw at me. If I kept showing up, even when things were hard and pushing to do better each day, I would grow.” That’s what Gluski Park is about – that’s what you’re helping create when you give. You’re supporting our mission of empowering people to become the best version of themselves through outdoor education. With your support, this park means we’ll impact more kids and more families. It allows us to open our arms bigger, expanding our community – a group of people, businesses and organizations who understand the importance of giving every kid an opportunity like Sawyer’s moment on Kirby’s Hill. “Gluski Park isn’t just for the established racers and the top athletes,” Sawyer shared with the crowd. “It’s for kids like me who had no idea what they were capable of before they got onto the bike. This park provides more than just a place for these kids to hone their skills on the trails but rather provides a place where they can hone their character and mind without feeling like they are being judged by those around them. Gluski Park is a place of challenge for these kids to keep showing up to and one day take pride in their ability to conquer each day.” The event did not disappoint. You showed up. You brought a positive, excited and enthusiastic energy. You confirmed and solidified what this space will be. A space for all ages and all skills. A space full of promise and opportunity. Over 200 people joined us for the kickoff.
Marji Camp 2026
MARJI CAMP 2026 Thursday, June 4 – Sunday, June 7, 2026Rippling River Campground, Marquette Registration for Marji Camp will open in October with registration for Marji Gesick on Bike Reg SCHEDULE Thursday, June 43PM-8PM – Check-In (Campsites cannot be occupied prior to 3PM.)9PM – Night Ride Friday, June 5● 7:30AM – Breakfast & Coffee – provided by 906● 9AM-12PM – Ride● 12PM-1PM – Lunch – provided trailside by 906● 1PM-4PM – Ride● 5PM – Dinner/Beer – provided by 906● 8PM – Campfire Talks● 9:30PM – Night Ride Saturday, June 6● 7:30AM – Breakfast & Coffee – provided by 906● 9AM-12PM – Ride● 12PM-1PM – Lunch – provided trailside by 906● 1PM-4PM – Ride● 5PM – Dinner/Beer – provided by 906● 8PM – Campfire Talks● 9:30PM – Night Ride Sunday, June 7● 11AM – Checkout from Rippling River CAMPING Is first come, first serve. Everyone has to fit into Pioneer Circle. Be ready to share space. Camp is about community. If you want a buncha privacy – get a room. GROUP ASSIGNMENTS You’ll receive your group assignments at check in. No, you cannot pick your group, and don’t ask us to pair you with a friend. You’ll get your assignment when ya get to camp. After your first ride if you need to change groups see Elizabeth or Todd. RIDE LOCATIONS Here’s the thing you need to remember: You will ride at 3-4 different trailheads and locations. Most of them WILL require you either drive or carpool with someone. Have a plan. You’ll get more information when you check in on Thursday. BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, BEER We will provide beer each night, but when it’s gone it’s gone. Maybe you should pick up a sixer of your favorite beverage and we could do a little beer share? Up to you. Breakfast is on us Friday and Saturday morning. Lunch and dinner are, too. Here’s a look at da menu. Marji Camp Breakfast Menu (Friday & Saturday) Granola w/milk (GF)Bacon Red Pepper Crustless Quiche (GF)Lemon Poppyseed Muffins (GF)Blueberry MuffinsChocolate Chunk MuffinsHam & Cheese CroissantsCheddar Herb Scones Marji Camp Lunch Menu (Friday & Saturday) Turkey Wrap – Turkey, bacon, swiss, chipotle mayo, leaf lettuce. With kettle chips and a chocolate chunk cookie. Italian Wrap – Ham, salami, provolone, garlic mayo, leaf lettuce. With kettle chips and a chocolate chunk cookie. *Gluten Free and Vegetarian option available if needed. Marji Camp Dinner Menu (Friday): Marji Camp Dinner Menu (Saturday): Fueled by WEATHER, GEAR, LIES Don’t believe the forecast. It lies! Bring clothes for warm weather, cold weather, rain, and snow. Bring lots of layers. Bring bug spray and head nets. Bring extra tires. If you still have room, pack your mom, too. She can read you a bedtime story and tell ya it’s gonna be ok before bed. Bike or running shoes Helmet Lights (for night ride/run) First Aid kit Camping gear Rain gear Layers Knee pads, elbow pads (optional) GPS Bug spray Supplemental food, hydration, and basic nutrition NIGHT RIDES There will be night rides scheduled each night. Find out more when you check in. CAMPFIRE TALKS There will be campfire talks scheduled each night. Find out more when you check in. MARQUETTE MOUNTAIN Please do not pre-ride anywhere on Marquette Mountain property. Their trails are not open to the public. You must have a season pass to ride trails on their property. Supporting Partners
Doing The Hard Things – May 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureRemembering Tara GluskiA rising tide lifts all boatsA partnership built on confidence, trust, and compassionGluski Park Campaign Kickoff: Be There!New on Made UP PodcastEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure Much of our story over the past 12 years has been well-documented. We started with one coach and five kids. The program has since turned into 650+ coaches and more than 1,300 kids in 17 communities across the Midwest. We created events that are regarded as some of the most challenging endurance events in the Midwest. Marji Gesick is regarded by many as the “hardest single-day mountain bike event in America.” If you can qualify, you’ll be inducted into a “Hall of Pain.” We promote the doing of hard things, finishing what you start, and personal accountability, to name just a few. Neither the youth program nor the events follow traditional formats. You don’t come to the U.P. to win our events, you come up here hoping to survive them. Adventure Team, our youth resilience program, emphasizes character development and skill development. We meet kids where they are. We’re patient and invested in them beyond how fast or far they can ride a bike. The endurance event we’re focused on preparing them for is life. Sport has been historically male-dominated. Not here. 46% of our leadership is female. Girls and young women account for more than 42% of all youth participants. 30% or more of all participants in Polar Roll, The Crusher, and Marji Gesick, are women, too. Like I said at the start, all of that has been well documented. The next part has not. I have watched who we reach change. I have watched the program get to kids and families other programs cannot. We’ve expanded our reach well beyond the traditional cycling community. We’re not a race team. The majority of these kids are not rolling into bike club on two, three, four thousand dollar bikes. They’re riding a Huffy, or a hand-me-down their brother and sister rode five years ago. We see unicorn helmets, baskets hung on the handlebars, and tassels dangling from the grips. For a lot of these kids this might be their only real outdoor activity all week. This matters to them in ways most of us can’t understand. This summer, we’re breaking ground on a new chapter: Gluski Park – a community trailhead for outdoor adventure. The park will be the vehicle that allows us to create new programs, venture into outdoor education, and reach more kids. It’s not an ending, it is a beginning, and we hope you’ll join us. “My goal in life is hopefully to live it as honorably as she did.”-Sandy Gluski On a quiet and cold morning in April, Sandy Gluski and her husband Paul, sit with me at their dining room table. We laugh, we smile, and we also wipe tears from our faces as they remember and share stories of their daughter, Tara Gluski. Tara was the 906AT Adventure Coordinator for over five years. She worked alongside Todd, growing Adventure Team programming, creating systems for managing data, sharing her love of the outdoors with youth and the community. She was well known and well loved. She had a number of jobs before moving from the Lower Peninsula to the Upper Peninsula – she worked for a cleaning company, a gardening company, for ETNA – which brought her to the Upper Peninsula two times a year. Sandy says she was drawn here for the outdoors. She fell in love with Marquette. “From day one in Marquette she worked for nonprofits – she had to do something she felt good about in her heart.” She always wanted to work with children – at one time aspiring to be a special education teacher. Her mom says she always loved kids – loved being outdoors with kids and helping them. Tara died in a car accident in 2024, ten months after 906 Adventure Team purchased the property on Lakeshore Boulevard and plans began for a park on the green space behind the building. The loss devastated her family, the community and her 906AT friends and family. The organization pressed forward determined to continue to work and find a way to honor and carry her energy, spirit and passion in everything they would do. 906AT decided to name the park, Gluski Park – a tribute to a woman who believed in the mission of empowering people to become the best version of themselves through outdoor adventure with everything she was. “It means everything to us,” says Sandy. “How many people who’ve lost someone they loved so much, has something named after them? It means everything.” Tara’s dad Paul stops at the 906AT property every morning for a cup of coffee. He feels connected to her in the space. He talks to her. He knows her car will never again be in the parking lot, but it’s a place he can go to feel the mark she made on this world. Sandy says, “We are fortunate to have known such a person, a person who created such an impact on the community that she will always be remembered. It’s heartwarming that she’s always here.” It’s beautiful to listen to the stories of Tara’s life. Of her childhood playing in the woods and in the lake. Hearing the story of her wedding day on Presque Isle, the laughter she shared with her husband, the happiness she felt traveling, spending time outdoors, adventuring. Her dedication to 906AT and the work she did with Todd for youth, families and the community. She made an impact. As we move into the next phase of the Gluski Park project it’s important to look forward, but it’s equally as important to reflect back and never forget where the project began – with Tara and Todd. Tara is an example of a life well lived, and the difference one person can make. For her work, for her dedication, for her passion, spirit and energy – we’ll honor Tara with every speck of dirt and drop of sweat that goes into
Adventure Leadership Summit 2026
ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2026 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT CHECK-IN: OPENS SATURDAY 7:30 AM Get checked-in early (Saturday), and enjoy breakfast from 231 West. Network with other Adventure Leaders from around the Midwest. Get ready for a day of engaging speakers and topics. Contact: if you have questions, or if you cannot make it. YOU’LL GET LEADERSHIP TRAINING ON AND OFF THE TRAIL* Your training will be done inside and out. What does that mean? Pack your bike/hike gear. Be ready for anything. It’s da U.P.! Seriously, though, show up prepared for anything. It’s a good time, and might get a little “enhanced”. We will train on the bike (outside) rain or shine. Be prepared. IMPORTANT NOTES: 1. Basecamp volunteers can opt out of On-The-Bike / On-The-Hike training. If you plan to opt out, please email ASAP. 2. BRING GEAR FOR EVERYTHING FROM BLIZZARD TO BEACH WEATHER. 3. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED (FOR BIKERS). Breakfast & Lunch are provided Saturday & Sunday.Sunday is a box lunch for travel to base camp. Training should be done by 2:30 pm Sunday. Download the Agenda Volunteer Panel Q&A & Social at Barrell + Beam Saturday night 6:30 – 8:30 pm A casual and relaxed opportunity to grab a beer, ask some questions, and learn more about Adventure Teams. We look forward to this part of the weekend every year. Folks who attend say it’s one of their favorite parts of the weekend. AREA LEADS: DON’T FORGET TO GO HOME WITH YOUR GEAR This is a reminder for our Area Leads that all of you have something you need to take home with you. New communities will have a lot, including bikes! Make sure you know how you’re gonna get everything back home. If you’re not sure how much stuff we have for ya get ahold of Marc at Lakeshore Basecamp. He can send ya a copy of your order. CANCELLATION NOTICE If for some reason you are unable to make it, please let us know as far in advance as possible. We have a waitlist of people who tried to get in. Contact: Supporting Partners A 501(c)3 organization, building a nationwide community one partnership at a time. Building Basecamp One Partnership At A Time
Doing The Hard Things – April 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventureCABLE POQUETTE :: The impact of Adventure TeamAdventure Team Registration :: April 18 :: BE READYVolunteer with Adventure Team :: Today’s kids need youNew on Made UP Podcast906AT/Pactimo Gear Store :: Open until 4/122026 Leadership Summit :: Sign up TODAYMTRS :: Adventure Your WayEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” I have always enjoyed reading stuff from Stephen Covey. I credit his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, for opening my 20-something eyes to how much I had left to learn about leadership and people. I was 25 at the time – a point in life when ya feel like you know it all (until you pick up a book written by a guy much older and wiser). Seriously, tho. The book had a real impact on me as a young man – an impact that has stuck with me into my 50’s. If you haven’t read it… I highly recommend it. I’m gonna date myself, and you too, if ya remember what I’m about to reference. Mastercard did a marketing campaign in the late 90’s that highlights emotional experiences over physical purchases. Each commercial would end with the tagline “There are some things money can’t buy.” To honor that iconic campaign, I’m gonna prove it. This is your April newsletter easter egg! Send me a story about an experience you or one of your friends had during a 906AT event and how it has impacted you (them). If you’re a parent, send us a story that highlights an experience from one of your kids, and what they’ve learned from it. Include a photo with your story, please. We’ll share those stories throughout the day on Tuesday (April 7th) via social media and select a winner that night. If you win, you’ll get a season pass to the endurance trilogy! I started with a story about Stephen Covey. I’ll end with one, too. Let’s talk about “Keeping the main thing the main thing.” The world is full of distractions and noise. Now more than ever. I can tell you for us, a small nonprofit with three employees, it’s not just about distractions and noise, it’s about manpower, too. It can be hard to keep the main thing the main thing, but we must. And what is the main thing? The main thing is giving kids a chance to: get outside, learn about their community, experience adventure, make new friends, feel valued, take chances, overcome failure, and learn how to embrace the journey. That is not an exhaustive list, and those items are not listed in order of importance. They’re all important. They’re all the main thing. And we need to make sure through all of the fun we have on our own adventures that we never forget it… Because if this community can’t prioritize adventure for these kids…. Who will? “It’s something to fall back on, a stress reliever – it helps kids in tough times.” -Cable Poquette I first interviewed Cable Poquette in 2020 for the TV6 Morning News. I shared his story then – as 9-year-old Cable completed his first Crusher EX40 – riding 54 miles. He inspired me then, much in the same way he continues to inspire me today. You can watch that first interview here. It’s worth watching – you can see the remarkable young man he was becoming – the Cable I interviewed again last week. I sat down with him to learn about the impact of growing up in Adventure Team, riding shotgun to the ups and downs his dad, Todd faced as he began the program in 2014 and grew it to what it is today. If you’ve ever wondered how Adventure Team programming impacts a child, I can’t think of a better example, than Cable Poquette. “Biking and Adventure Team has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When it first started, I was too young to participate, but I was always there,” says Cable. Cable began riding with Adventure Team Marquette in 2019, he looks back on that first year with a smile. He says it was an amazing experience. He admits he wasn’t used to riding with other kids, but he enjoyed the noncompetitive atmosphere. “It made us all better,” says Cable. Better on the bike and better human beings. He says Adventure Team broadened his horizons. He met kids from other schools, kids from outside his social circle, and he learned how to interact with adults. His confidence in biking grew. His skills grew. And it wasn’t long before he was riding with kids older than himself. He became a leader in the program. “The one thing that I learned pretty quickly was – don’t make kids feel bad. Everybody is where they are at. I wanted to always help – I liked telling them that they’re doing a good job – not bragging about myself.” Cable recalls learning from the other kids and adults in the program, watching the way they supported one another. It’s a lesson he continues to mimic today. “Growing up in Adventure Team and playing basketball – my dad would always tell me to show up and be the best person I can be – and help others be the best person they can be.” Cable says the best thing about the Adventure Team program is the way it brings people together and expands their world. “It helps kids get comfortable with meeting new people and making new friends. For kids who don’t like sports or don’t know what they like to do yet… at least they’re trying it – and most kids fall in love with biking. It’s something to fall back on, a stress reliever – it helps kids in tough times.” When it comes down to it – when you strip everything away – egos and influence – Cable says biking is biking – you go
Doing The Hard Things – March 2026
What’s inside: A note from the Director of AdventurePR26 MASS START: #BLAMETODDPR26 MASS START: Extreme VolunteeringNew on Made UP PodcastTeaser Alert: Marquette Trail Running Series (MTRS) 😱Adventure Team Countdown!2026 Leadership SummitEvents with 906AT A note from the Director of Adventure As you go through this month’s newsletter, you’re going to read about a lot of cool stories. Cruz, a 13-year-old young man who not only finished the Polar Roll MS15 on February 21st, he won it; while 44% of the field was quitting, and he wasn’t the only kid present for what some are calling the worst Polar Roll conditions in 11 years. There were many others, and they finished, too. You’re going to hear about Jaymie who not only showed up… she finished two minutes before the cutoff at 8:30 pm despite a cancer diagnosis, volunteers who showed up at 4:45 in the morning to setup… and were still there at 8:30 that night to tear down – and they did it all with a smile! Or how bout Steve Flemming, an ultra rider who missed the 48-hour cutoff but refused to go home until he finished… and finally did after 60 hours. He didn’t do it to win the race or get a buckle; he did it because he believes in finishing what he started. I really hope you can take ten minutes to read what we’ve put together for you this month, and then take a few minutes to let it sink in. I’ll tell ya what I took away from last weekend and all of the stories we’ve heard. Who you surround yourself with is incredibly important. I believe it has the power to change your life; in fact, I’ve watched it happen countless times over the past 11 years. When you hang out with people who have high standards, your standards change. When you hang out with people who won’t quit, you don’t wanna quit. It’s contagious. When you learn to stop comparing yourself to everyone else, it frees you – and all of a sudden you can just show up and compete against yourself. If you don’t like drama, you need to start hanging out with people who don’t do drama. It makes sense when you say it out loud, right? Enjoy the newsletter. The team puts a lot of time into it for you. You might even wanna share it with someone who needs to hear some of the stories, or maybe they just need a place to feel welcome and accepted. PR26 MASS START: #BLAMETODD In true 906AT fashion – we don’t make anything easy – and this year’s Polar Roll was anything but! From grooming the trails to participants battling the Mackinac Bridge to snow, wind, and conditions that pushed people to Find Their Limits – Polar Roll 2026 will be remembered and talked about for years to come. It seemed to be more of a mental test than a physical test. When you showed up to ride your bike in the snow and ended up pushing more than pedaling – could you find the will to keep going? Could you adapt to the experience you were in versus the experience you expected? 545 people signed up for Polar Roll.429 people started.185 texted #Quitter.244 finished. It Gets Worse, Before It Gets Worser. Polar Roll is perhaps too often considered the ‘gimme’ of the 906AT Trilogy. It’s just 15 or 30 miles. For those working toward the Secret Event and the Triple Crown – Polar Roll is the first to check off the list, the event with the least amount of miles. But surprise? “I’d rather do Marji 100 than ever do that again,” said one PR finisher. And isn’t that the point? Isn’t that why we put these events together? Isn’t that what you show up for? An experience that pushes, tests and takes you out of your comfort zone. Polar Roll 2026 certainly did that. What is hard? The answer to that question is different for everyone. In fact, while there was a lot of frustration during Polar Roll – there were also a lot of people enjoying the experience, riding, walking, laughing through the challenge – whether they finished or texted #QUITTER. 13-year-old Cruz Woodbury, the first place finisher of the MS15, who may never realize the significance of his accomplishment, said he just rode his bike and never looked back. Was he excited to take first place? Sure, he seemed happy – it was hard. But, he also was just out enjoying a day on his bike. That was his perspective. Now, let’s flip that to the perspective of the last finisher. Jaymie Smith was out there to do a hard thing. To feel every mile, every push, work through the challenges, and FINISH, no matter what. And she did with just two minutes left to cutoff. For Jaymie it was a celebration of life. Days after Polar Roll Jaymie said, “I finished chemo – I just wanted to celebrate that I’m alive by doing something that is me – going on an adventure, pushing my body and my mind.” Jaymie’s first 906AT event was supposed to be Crusher last year – but a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment kept that from happening. And so, her first 906AT event became Polar Roll. And after 12 hours on the course… she finished, tears streaming down her face – not out of frustration, but with gratitude – for the adventure, the experience, the opportunity to push her body. That was her perspective. “If I can make it through these awful procedures and experiences – come on, I can do this,” said Jaymie. “I think it helped that I knew I was going to be slow – it wasn’t about physical fitness, it was about what was between my ears.” It’s easy sometimes to get lost in the way things were supposed to go – but it’s something really remarkable and beautiful to watch 429 people dive into the possibility of what happens
IT’S TIME TO ROLL 2026
“Pain is temporary, Slayer is forever” -John F. Kennedy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DECp8LKurKs Polar Roll MS, EX, and Ultra Courses are hosted on RWGPS. Make sure you have the correct file before starting your event. DOWNLOAD FIELD MANUAL POLAR ROLL-MS DOWNLOAD FIELD MANUAL Your single source of truth for all things related to the Polar Roll Mass Start Event is contained within the PR-Field Manual. Packet pickup, Locations, Start Times, and more… all in the Field Manual. Read it. Also in the PR-Field Manual: A detailed explanation of the inherent dangers associated with this event, safety precautions, and the rules. Your preparation is your responsibility. When you show up and take the line you are telling us you have read everything we provided and ya know what you signed up to do, and you’re ready. If that’s not the case… you should stay home. GPX FILES LIVE RESULTS NEED A HUG? POLAR ROLL GEAR STORE CLOSES March 1, 2026 @ 11:59 PM BUY NOW POLAR ROLL ULTRA DOWNLOAD FIELD MANUAL Your single source of truth for all things related to the Polar Roll Ultra is contained within the PR-Field Manual. Packet pickup, Locations, Start Times, Required Gear and more… all in the Field Manual. Read it. Also in the PR-Field Manual: A detailed explanation of the inherent dangers associated with this event, safety precautions, and the rules. Your preparation is your responsibility. When you show up and take the line you are telling us you have read everything we provided and ya know what you signed up to do, and you’re ready. If that’s not the case… you should stay home. Supporting Partners
Doing The Hard Things – February 2026
What’s inside: Todd UpdateNew this Year: Adventure by HIKEMarquette Trail Running Series: Adventure Your WayPR26 – Polar RollTriple Crown: “I just want to see if I can do it.”New on MADE U.P.Monkey Loob: “I can’t imagine where I would be without these experiences.”Become an Adventure Team VolunteerEvents with 906AT Excerpt from the Mental Health Foundation: “Adventure experiences for children are diverse. They might include forest schools, high ropes courses, adventurous play, camping, water sports, and climbing, amongst many other activities. Adventures range from once-in-a-lifetime experiences, to everyday adventures, accessible to all.” Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation added, “Adventure helps to generate a range of positive emotions, including excitement, joy and wonder. It also helps to develop a healthy relationship to uncertainty. That is so important in boosting confidence and in children learning how to manage fear and anxiety.” The key elements of adventure include: Connection with nature Physical activity Unfamiliar experiences Challenge and risk Physiologically energized Working together and Supporting relationships From Todd Poquette, Director of Adventure: More than 10,000 people receive this email every month. Several thousand more people are reached through social media. I want to challenge you. Each and every one of ya. Are ya ready? Here it goes… Help us put wonder back into childhood adventure and stop conditioning kids to be afraid of everything around them. Instead of advocating for avoidance help us teach kids how to prepare for challenges, and overcome them. New experiences and the unknown shouldn’t scare us – they should excite us. Advocate instead for preparation, and learning how to properly asses risk. Let’s be real… If we are teaching kids to avoid every little thing that is scary and uncomfortable… What are we leaving them with? I’ll tell ya what I think it is… A phone, or a tablet, or an Xbox, or potentially more common and concerning, we’re leaving them with nothing but an empty room and anxiety. This doesn’t have to become our legacy. We don’t have to be our kids hero. We need to give them the space to become the hero of their own story, and that should be enough for us. Adventure: an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. You don’t have to threaten me with a good time 😉 See ya out there. New this year: Adventure by HIKE 906 Adventure Team in Marquette is piloting a new program this summer: Adventure Hike Club. We’re starting with 50 spots on Wednesday nights from 6:00-8:00 PM at Tourist Park through the summer. This is a youth resilience program for kids 5-17 years old. First hike: June 10Last hike: August 19Cost: $150 The concept mirrors that of Adventure Bike Club – create a space for kids to adventure and do hard things – surrounded by a community of leaders who support their personal path of growth and development. We’re taking everything about the bike program and bringing it to kids minus the bike. All the same core values: respect, effort, grit, consistency. Growth Mindset and the “Power of Yet.” You vs. You! Registration opens April 18 – based on the response from the community, we expect spots will full up fast! We also need volunteers. We need dedicated volunteers who will show up for the kids. This is the most important part. If we can’t get volunteers we can’t get kids. Simple, right? Click the link below. Everything ya need to know is there. And then sign up. Our cap as of today is 50 kids, but if we get enough folks who wanna step up we’ll reach more. Two hours a week for 12 weeks this summer could change a kid’s life. LEARN MORE Adventure Your Way The Marquette Trail Running Series was created in 2009 and is the longest standing trail running series in Marquette. MTRS was formed by Andrew Rickauer and a small group of volunteers. Andrew’s commitment to organizing these runs and building community is truly commendable. As he steps away and 906AT takes over the series, we move forward with the intent to honor the work he’s put in and the community he’s created. MTRS has been under the 906AT umbrella for the past four or five years… and this year, we’re diving in a bit deeper and shaking things up a bit. We want to broaden our reach. We want to see more people get into the woods. And we want to offer a program that serves people of all ages and abilities. Running has always been a part of 906AT events – it’s an area that we’ve seen continue to grow over the years – and one we’re excited about! Director of Adventure Todd Poquette and Dawn Lundin are going to lead the Marquette Trail Running Series this year. We’ll be sharing more information in March but expect all new routes this year, including trails in the West End and the North Country Trail system. Our intention is to offer two distances each night of the series – a beginner/kids distance (3 miles or less) and a longer more advanced distance (6 miles or less). Before we finalize the details of this season – we’d like your input. Below is a link to a 3-question survey. If you’re interested in MTRS, take a few minutes and let us know what you think! Take the Survey PR26 – Polar Roll We are just under three weeks away from this year’s Polar Roll Mass Start in downtown Ishpeming on Saturday, February 21. Mother Nature has hit the U.P. with a winter to remember – from blizzard conditions to arctic temperatures – we can’t predict what she has in store for Polar Roll – but now feels like a good time to highlight the environment – quoted from the PR Field Manual: “The environment will be hostile. The topography features punchy climbs, deep snow, and potentially frigid temps. Frostbite is possible, water containers will freeze, and trail conditions
Doing The Hard Things – January 2026
What’s inside: New Year. Same Mission.RESEARCH: Playing in dirt transforms children’s healthVolunteering in 2026: Register NOWLeading Adventure Summit: April 25 & 26Adventure Team Youth ProgrammingYouth & Family InfoAdventure Team Registration: Get Ready!New on MADE U.P.Events with 906AT We’re dedicating the entire newsletter to the youth program and kicking off volunteer recruitment. The LMS (Learning Management System) has been updated. Quizzes have been streamlined and shortened. Video was added to diversify the training experience, and you can complete your training on a mobile friendly app. Progress. Ya know… I remember a time when the LMS was a three-ring binder. We had a handful of coaches and one Adventure Team. The training was nothing more than stuff I collected to hold myself accountable… A handful of ethics, core values, and rules of engagement. We focused a lot on HOW we would do things because how you do things creates your culture. IMO nothing is more important than an organization’s culture. When you have a group of people who believe in each other, trust one another, and like each other… You can do and overcome anything. Nothing can stop you. Failure is not an option. I’m a big believer that we’ve been successful because of the kinda people that get on our bus. Before I let you go, there’s one thing I would like to add. It’s something that keeps me up at night. I’ll call it the “Tyranny of Safety.” Our society has become obsessed with scaring the sh!t out of us so they can swoop in and be the safety police. It’s infecting our minds. It’s impacting our kids. We are losing touch with the world around us because we’re afraid of it, and that brings me to this. Our organization will continue to focus on personal accountability, resilience, courage, adaptability, and helping people become more independent. We will continue to provide difficult experiences to test you, and bring you together. We will continue to serve you before ourself, and lead by example. The world is a dangerous place. No one is going to change that. What we (you) can change is our level of readiness and training. So on that note, it’s 2026… let’s get started. RESEARCH: Playing in dirt transforms children’s health A few weeks ago Todd forwarded me and Marc a link to an article in The Guardian, “read this when you have a quiet moment.” I wasn’t surprised to see the article had to do with kids and the impact of play outdoors. I also wasn’t all that surprised to read about the positive impact on kids who were not just playing outside, but getting their hands into the dirt. I grew up in a small town outside of Grand Rapids. A highlight of my childhood was spending nearly all of my days playing outside. It wasn’t a question of whether we were going to go outside every day – we woke up, had breakfast and were sent out the door, often only returning for snacks, lunch and the occasional bathroom break. We had an endless number of made up games, tree forts, and shenanigans that were top priority. We took a bath nearly every night because we were typically filthy when we came in. Of course, I didn’t realize, and I’m not sure my parents did either the added benefits of playing in the dirt. It’s just what we did. We’re beginning to now understand those benefits on a deeper level – because of the negative trends that began popping up when kids weren’t spending their days in the outdoors. Medical experts are asking and beginning to learn the answer to – why are heath trends in today’s kids on a decline? Our world is different today than it was when I was a kid. Today’s world moves faster, it’s louder, distractions are everywhere. Play, like what’s discussed in the article, often has to be intentional – but that doesn’t make it any less impactful. I don’t think it’s ever been more important to make sure we’re creating opportunities for kids to adventure, play in the mud, and get dirty – it opens up a whole new realm of imagination and discovery – and how great that at the same time, as the research in this article suggests, aids in healthy growth and development. This article also presses the importance of protecting green spaces, parks, trails and places for kids and families to spend time outside together. We need to work together as a community to ensure there isn’t a barrier for this type of play – that our kids have the spaces and places to get dirty. I loved reading the below article and learning about what they’re doing in Finland – I only wish there was more of that happening on a larger scale. But, we can all do our part – and it’s rewarding to know we’re all a part of a community, the 906AT community, that’s creating opportunities and spaces to do just that!By Elizabeth Peterson READ THE ARTICLE VOLUNTEER IN 2026: SIGN UP IS OPEN! The number of kids we’re able to sign up for Adventure Team programming is directly tied to the number of volunteers in each community. For every volunteer, we’re able to open up three youth spots.Volunteers do NOT need to be expert bikers. We provide the training to be an effective volunteer. Volunteers DO need to Lead by Example and commit. Commit to the program. Commit to the 906AT ethos and mission. Commit to putting Service Before Self. And commit to showing up and being present. This program doesn’t just positively impact the kids participating – it changes the adults – for the better. Volunteers must pass a background check and successfully complete the 906AT online training module. You’ll also have the opportunity to attend the Leading Adventure Summit in Marquette in April to further your training and development. 906AT needs active, engaged and dedicated volunteers who believe in building up today’s kids – not by
Crusher 2026
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 31ST AT 9:06 AM Days Hours Minutes Seconds Register CRUSHER-MS Date: 07.18.26 Copper Harbor, Michigan Mass Start events are about community and doing hard things together. The Crusher MS format is harder than your average gravel event. The experience will test you. You will learn about “Yooper Math” and “Checkpoints.” You’re not gonna find a better place on Earth to spend a weekend or a better group of people to spend it with. All MS events begin and end in Copper Harbor (loops), except for the P2P, which is a point-to-point. Join the Crusher Facebook group. It’s the best source for up to date Crusher information and help from the community. Go join it today. Signage: There is none. GPS is required. Routes: We’re headed back to Crusher Country (da Keweenaw). This year, you can choose from the 500-mile bikepack, MS175, MS100, MS40, and MS25, or leave the bike at home and sign up for the MS50NFR or MS25NFR*. Follow the Facebook group and public Crusher page for updates between now and next summer. Teaser routes for each distance have been put out there! * NFR = Not Fun Run MS stands for Mass Start. Learn the Crusher nomenclature. The Mass Start is July 18th-19th, 2026 at the Trail’s End Campground in Copper Harbor. You’ll get to crush it with 400-500 fellow Crushers. We camp together. We cry together. We CRUSH together. Self-supported/Neutral Support. You’re expected to be fully self-sufficient and carry all recommended gear. We’re telling you up front no one is coming to save you. Be prepared. If you’r not prepared stay home. Checkpoints. Are required. Reference the field manual for details. Field Manual. The Field Manual is your single source of truth for all things Crusher. It will contain everything you need to know about the event. The new Field Manual will not be available until early summer 2026, but for now you could download one of the digital copies of the manual on our website to get a feel for what the event is all about. Distances (in miles): 500, 175, 100, 50, 25 (50 and 25 can be biked or run). Timing: Superior Timing. Wanna visit their website? Google it. Photographers: Ryan Stephens Photography, Rob Meendering Photography, and Fresh Coast Exposures. CRUSHER-P2P 500-MILE BIKEPACK Date: 7.13.2026 – 7.19.2026 Somewhere, UPPER PENINSULA Join the Crusher Facebook group. It’s the best source for up to date Crusher information and help from the community. Go join it today. Signage: There is none. GPS is required. Satellite communication devices are recommended for this event. I.E. Garmin Inreach, etc. Route: This is a bikepack route/event. P2P means you start in one place and end in another. There will be logistics. You will need to figure them out. Expect to encounter everything you’d expect from a gravel event, and a lot of stuff you wouldn’t. This includes singletrack. P2P. Point-2-Point. Self-supported. We’re offering you a chance to declare at registration that you’ll complete this challenge unsupported. That means no one can help you from outside the event. If you accept help from anyone, you will be disqualified. We will not move you from unsupported to supported categories mid-event. All P2P riders are required to be fully self-supported. No one is out there to save you. You will be alone. There are inherent dangers in activities of this nature that can only be mitigated by preparation, experience, and grit. Neutral Support. If you register to complete this event “unsupported,” you cannot accept the support of any kind. For everyone else, you know the drill. If you offer help to one rider, you must be willing to help them all if you can. Checkpoints. Are required. Reference the field manual for details. Field Manual. Field Manual. The Field Manual is your single source of truth for all things Crusher. Download a copy of the 2026 field manual as a starting point. Distance (in miles): 500 miles. Date: 7.13.2026 Start Location: Peninsula Point Lighthouse End Location: Trail’s End Campground, 14203 M-26, Copper Harbor, MI 49918 Camping: You can camp at Trail’s End Campground at the finish*. Timing: Superior Timing and Trackleaders. * If you finish CRUSHER-EX Enhanced solo adventuring at it’s worst. Date: 7.01 – 9.30.2026 Also referred to as our expedition format. The ultimate adventure experience. No crowds. No dog and pony show. Just you and the challenge in front of ya. You can complete your ride anytime within the three-month window. You will be all alone. No one is out there to save you. The variety of routes that were offered last year we’re a hit (EX40). We expect to do the same this year. Join the Crusher Facebook group. It’s the best source for up to date Crusher information and help from the community. Go join it today. Signage: There is none. GPS is required. Self-supported/Neutral Support. You’re expected to be fully self-sufficient and carry all recommended gear. We’re telling you up front no one is coming to save you. Be prepared. If you’r not prepared stay home. We’re gonna say this once, and it’s not meant as a comparison of the two formats, but it has to be said: EX is gnarlier, harder, and much more remote than the MS. Go into it fully prepared to be tested in ways you haven’t been tested before. Checkpoints. Are required. Reference the field manual for details. Field Manual.The Field Manual is your single source of truth for all things Crusher. It will contain everything you need to know about the event. The new Field Manual will not be available until early summer 2026, but for now you could download one of the digital copies of the manual on our website to get a feel for what the event is all about. Distances (in miles): EX40BEERS, EX40EAGLE, EX40HUMBODLT, EX100, EX225, and a EX50NFR. Refer to the manual for details. Date: 7.01 – 9.30.2026 Location: Start locations vary. See manual for details. Camping: Not provided. Timing: Trackleaders. Beacons are required for this event. See manual for more details. Photographers: