Doing The Hard Things – June 2025
What’s inside: Breaking Records – Staying Focused: An update from ToddStrengthening Family Through Adventure TeamDetermination Driving Force Behind New Adventure Teams906AT Heads to Bay Cliff Health CampMade U.P. PodcastsMarquette Trail Running Series TransitionMarji Camp Kicks Off ThursdayJumping into the Outdoors: ConnectionSummer events with 906AT Breaking Records – Staying Focused In May, our Adventure Teams registered 1,175 youth for Adventure Bike Club this summer. That is a record. Since January, we recruited and trained more than 560 volunteers. Also, a record. Why am I sharing the numbers? It’s not to celebrate. And it’s not to gloat. It’s to remind us, and you, why we’re here. When I started the 906 Adventure Team eleven years ago, sitting at my kitchen table, it wasn’t to run epic events. That came later. In the beginning, it was about creating something special in our community, specifically for kids. We cannot ever forget that… We are here for the kids. How do we show it? By showing up… because we have 1,175 reasons to do it, and 560 volunteers who care, not for what they have to gain, but for what they can share. That friends, is the essence of “Doing The Hard Things.” Enjoy all of the stories Elizabeth and the team put together for this month’s newsletter. Todd Poquette ADVENTURE TEAM INFO Adventure Team became a steadying force For Liz Kyer and her three kids, Adventure Team has meant so much more than riding bikes, it’s meant stability, adventure, and a place to grow – together. Liz’s kids are heading into their 4th year with Adventure Team Lansing – ages 15, 12 and 9 – they began the same year their family began working through the divorce process. Liz says bike club nights became a steadying force. The clear expectations of the program combined with the opportunity to do something together – yet separately – gave the family a place to connect and work through challenges. She says the “Power of Yet” has become a huge part of her family dynamic – and Adventure Team gave them all a first hand experience of “maybe I can’t do something right now, but eventually I will.” From handling conflict to building resiliency and forming friendships – the experiences of bike club spread into their lives. She says they’ve learned things will be okay, even when it’s hard (and even when you don’t like it) – and that they can tackle challenges and come out the other side with new skills. And perhaps most impactful – that sometimes you just have to slow down, give people space and be patient when coming together to solve a problem. The impact hasn’t just been with her kids. Liz started coaching the second year they were involved. And she says the impacts have seeped into everything she does. “It’s allowed me to do things I never thought I would. I never had mountain biking on my radar.” Liz is enjoying the ride, carrying with her the motto, “let’s try this, even if it’s uncomfortable.” The family of four now rides together outside of bike club. They don’t compete, they don’t go fast. They’re in it for the time together and to get outside into the woods. She says that’s what she wants other families just getting into the program or considering it for their kids to know – that it’s not about being in a certain group, perfecting a skill, or having the best equipment – it’s about being present, noticing things around you and encouraging one another – and of course hanging out in the woods.By Elizabeth Peterson “We need this in our town” This year marks the start of two new Adventure Teams in Michigan, groups are kicking off new programs in Kalamazoo and Ludington. For those who’ve started an Adventure Team, you know the feeling of excitement leading up to that first day and the hard work that happens long before the first ride. We wanted to learn a bit more about the inspiration behind these two teams and how these teams came together. We start in Kalamazoo: The story behind Adventure Team Kalamazoo begins in 2020 when Nick Travis decided to do the Crusher EX. It was his first 906AT event and he was thrilled that despite all the canceled events COVID caused that year, there was an option to hit the trails. Getting checked in for the race he noticed a couple of guys wearing Barry-Roubaix shirts – he chatted with them and learned they were all from the same area, Kalamazoo. One of those guys was Travis Hutchens. A friendship was created through a shared interest in adventure biking. They began biking together, getting their families together. They continued to participate in events, learning more about the organization behind The Crusher, Marji and Polar Roll – 906 Adventure Team. Travis recalls it all just came together and fit. As a teacher he remembers thinking, “we need this in our town. Kids are seeking this – they just don’t know what they’re looking for.” Nick and Travis, along with Steve Anschuetz and Josh Torrans have all been instrumental in getting this summer’s program started. Nick says they made it happen by keeping focused on the goal and keeping things light and fun. He says there is an undercurrent of people in Kalamazoo who want an Adventure Team to happen because they believe in the mission and the positive impact on today’s kids. There’s momentum in Kalamazoo. Nick believes in his community and sees an opportunity to grow not just the infrastructure but the biking community – to grow what’s already there from trail access to businesses – one step at a time. For now – he’s anxiously waiting for the first night of Adventure Team – seeing basecamp set up for the first time – volunteers in place – the flags and canopies – and that moment when he can exhale and say, “Damn, we did it.” “Kids need this program” Now to Ludington:
WE REGISTERED FOR ADVENTURE TEAM. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? 2025
WE REGISTERED FOR ADVENTURE TEAM. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Between now and the first week of June, we’ll be working behind the scenes to get everything ready for a successful summer. Local Adventure Team Area Leads will begin to reach out (contacts listed below) and provide guidance. If you haven’t already done it, now is a great time to take your bikes to the local bike shop and get em’ checked out before we start riding! A lot goes into creating memorable adventures and experiences. Each of us (staff, volunteers, and parents) plays an important role. We need to be prepared and understand what we can do to set one another up for success. My best piece of advice? Be prepared. If you can’t find an answer to a question, go find it. Don’t wait for it to come to you. Leading by example starts now 👊🏼 Todd PoquetteDirector of Adventure ORIENTATION SCHEDULE 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Dates & Locations can be found HERE This next part is really important: We do not ride on orientation night. Make sure the kids know that before you get there, or it’s gonna be a long night for all of us 😂 All families and youth have to attend orientation night. Orientation night is for: bike safety checks, helmet checks, reviewing medical information you may have shared, and answering your questions. Youth will receive their Adventure Team shirt (required for every ride) and their nameplate (also required for every ride). Youth cannot participate and ride until they’ve gone through the orientation process with you, their bike, and helmet. Orientation is a low-pressure walk-through. Youth will get to meet their coaches and see who’s in their group. Parents will get a “lay of the land” (i.e. see how basecamp is set up) and meet the folks who will be taking their kids on adventures. It’s how we set everyone up for success and ensure a great experience. CONNECT WITH YOUR AREA LEADS Mary Feuerbachmaryfeuerbach@gmail.comDELTA COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Mickey Trottiermtrottier2@yahoo.comDELTA COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Jackie Halleyjackie@upsportandspoke.comDICKINSON COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Sanj Petersonsanjp54@gmail.comDICKINSON COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Nick Leiszleisz.nich@gmail.comEAU CLAIRE COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Vanea Gauthiervaneagauthier@gmail.comGOGEBIC COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Tom Bergmanbergmantab@gmail.comGOGEBIC COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Gabe Berghuisgabe.berghuis@gmail.comGRAND RAPIDS AREA ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Dan & Charlee WeatherwaxDan.weatherwax@gmail.comGRAND RAPIDS AREA ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Kelsy Kellermannkelsy@906adventureteam.comGREEN BAY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Matt Bergmattbergwi@gmail.comGREEN BAY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Benjamin Garciabenjamin.906.garcia@gmail.comIRON COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD James Kochkoch.james@gmail.comIRON COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Travis Hutchenstravh_98@yahoo.comKALAMAZOO ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Nick TravisNtravis395@gmail.comKALAMAZOO ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Randi Serres Pueschnerrandi@smithsbikes.comLA CROSSE COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM CO-LEAD Isaac Pischkeiwpischke@gmail.comLA CROSSE COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM CO-LEAD Laurie DeYounglauren.e.deyoung@gmail.comLANSING-BURCHFIELD AREA ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Liz Kyerlzbthkyer@gmail.comLANSING-BURCHFIELD AREA ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Jim Kellyjkelly517@gmail.comLANSING-EASTGATE AREA ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Steve McLeansqmclean@gmail.comLANSING-EASTGATE AREA ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Kyle NicholsKyle@trailheadbikeshop.comLUDINGTON ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Alison Helminskiahelminski@lasd.netLUDINGTON ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Todd Poquettetodd@906adventureteam.comMARQUETTE COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Marc Salmmarc@906adventureteam.comMARQUETTE COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Candice Blackstone-Larsoncandice@906adventureteam.comMARQUETTE COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Julie Cunninghamjulie@906adventureteam.comMIDLAND COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD Darren Bartledarrenleebartle@gmail.comMIDLAND COUNTY ADVENTURE TEAM LEAD ATTENDANCE POLICY This is a reminder: Youth have to make 80% of the rides. If you need an exception, contact your Area Communication Lead. INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY Adventure Teams don’t ride in the rain. Now, that’s not to say it isn’t possible we could get caught in an unexpected shower, but you will never see us go ahead with a ride if we know the odds are good it’s going to rain while we’re on the trail. There are a lot of reasons for this: Trail impact and perception being number one. Adventure Teams put a lot of people into the woods and on the trails. We need to be cognizant of the example we set. We also need to limit risk and manage safety. Yes, it’s disappointing to cancel rides. Sometimes life is disappointing. It’s a great opportunity to talk to kids about safety and protecting the trails. Your Area Leads will be responsible for flagging potential inclement weather and communicating with 906AT staff. Decisions to cancel will be communicated three hours prior to the scheduled start. Cancellations will be announced through Stack Team App by 3:00 PM local time. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW IS ALSO HERE FAMILY HANDBOOK Flip through or you can also download the pdf below. Download Family Handbook
Doing The Hard Things – May 2025
What’s inside: Adventure Team Registration is openMarc’s making a list and checking it twiceAT Volunteer Spotlight: Jeff BarschCrusher 2025: T & A CyclesMade U.P. PodcastsAdventure Leadership Summit RecapJumping into the OutdoorsSummer events with 906AT Adventure Team registration is open and the numbers are strong! Over 1,040 kids signed up over the weekend for the 2025 Adventure Team season! A number of communities are sold out and others are close to filling up! If you’re interested in joining this year registration will be open until Sunday, May 11 at 11:59 PM ET. Here’s the latest numbers:Adventure Team Delta County – SOLD OUTAdventure Team Dickinson County – 17 spots left Adventure Team Eau Claire County – SOLD OUTAdventure Team Gogebic County – 18 spots leftAdventure Team Grand Rapids – SOLD OUTAdventure Team Green Bay – 19 spots leftAdventure Team Iron County – 20 spots leftAdventure Team Kalamazoo Area – 23 spots leftAdventure Team La Crosse – SOLD OUTAdventure Team Lansing Burchfield – SOLD OUTAdventure Team Lansing East Gate – 10 spots leftAdventure Team Ludington – 26 spots leftAdventure Team Marquette – Monday – 1 spot leftAdventure Team Marquette – Thursday – 6 spot leftAdventure Team Midland – SOLD OUTAdventure Team Marquette – Monday Running – 19 spots leftAdventure Team Marquette – Thursday Running – 12 spots left ADVENTURE TEAM REGISTRATION INFO Marc’s making a list and checking it twice! The behind-the-scenes of preparing for 15 Adventure Teams looked a little like a storage unit after moving day. Boxes, signage, garbage cans and bikes filled just about every available inch of Basecamp on Lakeshore Boulevard in Marquette. On any given day for the past month you could find Marc Salm walking around with a clip board, checking, double checking and triple checking every community had the supplies they needed to successfully run their Adventure Team this summer. Nothing was left out. He meticulously counted every pen, zip tie and band-aid. The end result? We’re ready! Every team has what they need. The boxes have been distributed and come next month every community will unpack, set up their own Basecamp and kick off an epic Adventure Team season! “It’s a new adventure every year, there’s nothing routine about it.” Jeff Barsch has been volunteering for the 906 Adventure Team in Marquette for the past eight years. He began as a coach when his son became involved in the program, and while his son has graduated – Jeff remains as a volunteer..“I love biking, being outside. I see the value of the program,” says Barsch. His passion for 906AT was solidified in 2020 when he watched Todd Poquette, Director of Adventure, push to keep the program alive despite state mandated orders and restrictions. Jeff says watching him put so much time and energy into making the programs and events work – meant he would follow suit and do his part by volunteering. Jeff watched for years as his son developed his skills, learning the trails, challenging himself, getting to know other kids in the program – and now he’s dedicated to ensuring other kids have that same opportunity. He says there’s something special about watching the wonder of kids as they explore new trails, of getting to know a new group of riders each season and watching them develop socially and on the bike. It’s about preparing today’s youth for the challenges they’ll face in life. And it’s about giving back to kids, and to the community – plus, he admits it keeps him on the bike, active, connected and building new relationships every year. For those on the fence, wondering if they should get involved with 906AT, he says, “Just do it!” If you’re interested in being a part of the 906 Adventure Team, reach out to learn about volunteer opportunities and ways to make an impact!By Elizabeth Peterson VOLUNTEER NOW T & A: “It’s the adventure of it all!” It’s nearly impossible to say the names, Tammy Warner and Angie Palmer-Loiselle, in the cycling community without cracking a smile. The duo has been riding together for nearly 10 years – and while they’ve hit incredible cycling milestones and achievements together – they’ve also created an energy and air of positivity that might be more relished and cherished than any race finish. They are T & A – they have their own logo, represented on jackets and stickers – they show up in pink – smiling and ready for just about any challenge. They’ve created a brand – a brand representing friendship, doing hard things, and having fun doing it. T & A’s experience with 906 Adventure Team endurance races began in 2020 with the Crusher EX. At a time when everything was being canceled due to COVID – the Crusher EX gave riders a place to participate and keep moving forward. They started the course that year with a team of 6 – they spent a night in an outhouse – and learned the term self supported truly meant no one was coming to rescue them. All six riders failed, they didn’t finish. Tammy and Angie tried a second time that year – but again, didn’t finish. They were tested. They were challenged. They learned a lot about friendship. And they were hooked. The pair came back in 2021 – with unfinished business. Riding 262 miles, finishing the Crusher MS250 in 35 ½ hours. Angie recalls the race with a smile, though she laughs at how angry she remembers being – feeling delirious, battling the heat, the bugs – at one point she remembers yelling at Tammy, “Just leave me, I don’t need you.” Tammy did no such thing, yelling back, “You don’t get to be mean to me.” The heated exchange – emotions raw and real – fueled them to the finish. They both leaned into the mantra, “pedal, pedal, coast.” They both came out stronger. Tammy says they’ve learned a lot about what it means to show up for each other. “We’re just there for each other, to pull each
Adventure Leadership Summit 2025
ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2025 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: julie@906adventureteam.com if you have questions before the leadership weekend. YOU’LL GET LEADERSHIP TRAINING ON AND OFF THE BIKE* Your training will be done inside and out. What does that mean? Pack your bike and 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-Training. If you plan to opt out, please email julie@906adventureteam.com ASAP. 2. BRING YOUR BIKE AND ALL YOUR BIKE GEAR. 3. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED. 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 – 8:00 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 most (if not all) of you will 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: julie@906adventureteam.com 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 2025
What’s inside: From the Director of AdventureAdventure Team Registration2 New Communities Set to Launch ProgramsVolunteer TrainingMade U.P. PodcastsLeadership SummitJumping into the OutdoorsTraining Day 160 If you’re worried about doing it wrong, don’t! I came home from spring break with a story to share. Cable (my 14-year-old son) and I went to camp for a few days during spring break. We had a bunch of stuff planned, like shooting the bow he got for Christmas, scouting our hunting area for the best spot to put a bow blind, and getting all the gear (rods, reels, and tackle) ready for spring fishn’. Cable loves to fish, and he has collected a lot of gear over the last several years that’s all kinda been living in a hogpog of small tackle boxes and little plastic boxes. When we got to camp, I surprised him with a brand new tackle box I figured was big enough to consolidate all of his stuff into a one-stop shop. He was pretty excited. When he was ready, I helped get the stuff together and set him up with a workspace. Then, I discretely moved on to another project… leaving him to figure things out independently. Of course, that didn’t last long 😂 “Hey, Dad. Can you come here? I don’t know how to do this.” I went over to the table and asked, “What’s up, bud?” There was gear everywhere. He had a lure in each hand and looked up at me, kinda overwhelmed, “I’m not sure what to do. I don’t think it’ll all fit.” This was an important moment for both of us. Naturally, I have opinions about how I would set up that tackle box, but this was his box, not mine, and I wanted him to own every step. So, I just started asking him some questions. “How do you think you should organize the lures? By species? Or maybe by lure type?” He pulled out two plastic trays from the tackle box and said, “At first, I was gonna have a tray for bass, another for pike, and one for walleye, but a bunch of the lures can be used for multiple species, so that doesn’t make sense.” He set the trays down and got quiet. “I think organizing by lure type makes the most sense.” I nodded. He continued, “I can put all of the floaters together in this (showing me an empty bin), countdowns in this one, and spoons in another.” He smiled. I smiled, too. “I think you’re onto something, Cable,” I said and started to walk back to what I was working on, but then stopped and added, “If you’re worried about doing it wrong, don’t. This is your tackle and box; you can set it up any way you want. If you don’t like it… change it. You’re the boss.” I wanted to share this story with our 906AT community because I think we (adults) all too often miss opportunities to encourage curiosity and empower kids to get creative and make decisions. In this example with Cable, I was trying to let him take control and let him know I trusted him! I also wanted to make sure he knows there’s no wrong way to set up his tackle. Even if there was a right and a wrong way – what’s the worst that can happen? He has to do it again? Heck, there’s nothing wrong with learning that way (hands-on). It’s fun for adults to feel like they have all of the answers, but what’s the cost for our kids? Let’s give em’ some space to run with their ideas. Who knows. Maybe they’ll teach us something we didn’t know. By Todd Poquette Mark your calendars! AT registration opening soon! Adventure Team Youth Registration: Saturday, May 3 @ noonEarly Registration for kids of volunteers: Friday, May 2 @ 6:00am – 9:06pm Step 1: Sign upStep 2: Show upStep 3: Enjoy the ride (especially the hard stuff) Many of the teams sell out within a few hours. Set a reminder and be ready to register! Adventure Team kids learn how to do hard things AND that they are capable of doing them without always needing an incentive. Learning how to do the hard stuff for the sake of doing it is a skill that will serve them as children and adults. The goal of Adventure Team is to reach all youth, regardless of ability, goals or equipment. From there we focus on discovery. Everyone rides at AT, no one sits out – regardless of age or experience. This is about developing a lifestyle, building a community, and removing the finish line. Failure is viewed as an opportunity to learn. Competition is within the individual: You vs. You. If you’re on our mailing list – watch your inbox, we’ll be sending more information via email regarding registration as the date gets closer. In the meantime – click the link below and watch the video on how to prepare for registration and make sure you’re ready to claim a spot. ADVENTURE TEAM REGISTRATION INFO We’re adding 2 new Adventure Teams! This year we’re excited to be running Adventure Teams in 15 communities in the Midwest with the addition of Adventure Team Kalamazoo and Adventure Team Ludington. This means more kids will be given opportunities to get outside, get off the sideline and get into the elements. This is what it’s about. This is what we show up for. Today’s kids, tomorrow’s leaders. Adventure Team Coach Training: Get er done! Volunteers! Don’t wait – get your online training started (and finished)! Deadline to complete: April 23 If you’ve registered to volunteer, check your inbox for instructions on how to go through the online training. It will come from 906@csod.com There are nine modules covering everything from Adventure Team mindset, basecamp logistics and expectations to trail etiquette, riding, first aid and abuse prevention. Take this seriously – take notes – and come prepared to Adventure Team! VOLUNTEER Made U.P. Episode 3:
Doing The Hard Things – March 2025
What’s inside: From Basecamp – Podcasts are LIVE – Become a Volunteer Leadership Summit 2025 – Jumping into the Outdoors The Polar Roll – Experience I’m finally a part of the 906 Adventure Team! To understand my excitement is to go back to the beginning. Now, I wrote a lengthy story for this newsletter – I am not a human of few words – but many. However, rather than fill up the entire first edition of this newsletter – I asked Todd if he wanted to record a podcast and talk about the experiences that brought me here and why my passion for this organization is so personal. I’ve never been afraid of doing hard things, in fact, I seek them out. A quiet and shy child I was drawn to broadcast television not because I wanted to be famous or loved the spotlight, but rather because it scared me…. pushed me outside of my comfort zone. From my time in the news industry as an anchor, reporter and co-host of a lively lifestyle program to backpacking Isle Royale, Pictured Rocks, Glacier National Park and beyond… I have throughout my life sought out challenges and adventures that pushed me to my limits. It’s where I found myself. It’s where I connected to that “something that is bigger than all of us.” It’s where I found my strength and cemented my values. I shared that with my daughter from a young age. Taking her backpacking, canoeing, hiking… I watched her thrive, connect, push her limits, break and build herself back up through outdoor adventure. Parenting my son was a completely different experience, one that pushed me to 906AT. This organization was the catalyst to incredible growth for my son. And it’s the story I wanted to share with all of you. It’s a story about commitment, doing hard things, having open conversations and never giving up. Click here to listen to my conversation with Todd and the first episode of the new #blametodd pod. After you listen, I think you’ll understand why, I have for years been waiting for an opportunity with 906AT that fits my skills, my beliefs, and my life’s mission. And why I want to be a part of the team that cultivates a space that encourages and creates space for kids to push their boundaries, do hard things and find their inner strength, confidence and worth. I’m here for it all. I’m here to do it myself… to keep pushing through my discomfort. The world needs this. Our kids need this. And I will work my tail off to keep the 906AT mission moving forward. By Elizabeth Peterson Made U.P. Podcast – these episodes will be longer formatted, deep conversations about the inner workings of doing hard things. They’re honest, raw, gritty, tough conversations and topics about life, living, failing and picking up the pieces. They’ll be about 906AT events and they won’t be. We’re making it up as we go. You’re going to have to tune in to see where it takes us. *intended for audiences 18 and older. #blametodd pod – these episodes will be shorter – focused on topics around 906 Adventure Team, people, experiences and programs. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube ChannelClick here to follow us on Spotify “Am I good enough to volunteer?” That’s the question we hear – the question that may be holding you back from volunteering and potentially giving a child an opportunity to participate. Here’s our answer: It all starts with showing up. If you know how to ride a mountain bike and have experience on a variety of trails; paved trails, two-tracks, singletrack, etc, you’ll be just fine, and by the end of the summer your riding skills will be better, too. Our common ground isn’t skill based. It isn’t performance driven. Our common ground is core values and providing opportunity for people to discover a better version of themselves. Getting better takes hard work, patience, and let’s be real, a community that supports you. Last year 1,200 kids got on bikes through Adventure Team programs in 13 communities. This year we’re growing that number to 1,300+ kids in 15 communities. That means we’ll need 550+ volunteers. We can’t do this without you. We can’t get kids on bikes without you. We need you. VOLUNTEER NOW Leadership Summit 2025 The 2025 Leadership Summit will look a little different than past summits. This year 906AT implemented a new learning management system for volunteer coaches. This new system is branded and streamlined, which allowed 906AT to require the online training for all volunteer coaches. This change to the volunteer training is providing an opportunity for an expansion of the volunteer training (rather than an in-person version of the online training). The two-day summit will focus on an indoor training day to include sharing the 906 story, practicing connections with kids, first aid in the field and Q&A for a panel of current lead coaches. The second day will focus on outdoor training and will include bike skills and bike mechanics. REGISTER NOW Have you ever climbed a tree? When I was a child, my siblings and I were allowed to climb as high as we wanted as long as we could get ourselves back down. I do not remember my parents ever “saving” us, nor did we sustain any injuries from falling out of the tree. I just witnessed this same policy with a group of pre-school children who were on an adventure with a forest school class. I think it is a bit unusual to see an outdoor school class with this policy these days. At the adventure that I witnessed the kids were safe – not safe from all risk but safe in that the adult on site knew where the child was and that the child could explain how to get themselves back down. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment that child felt when they successfully managed the climb and descent on their own.
Book and Podcast recommendations for Volunteers – May
2024 VOLUNTEERS – APRIL UPDATE Summit Attendees, Volunteers, and Presenters, It was mentioned several times at the summit, but it’s worth saying again… We are here to be a resource for developing resilient youth, and we need YOU to help us do it. Therefore, helping you is as important as helping the kids because you deliver the messages to them. To that end, I wanted to share some resources. You’ll find links to two books. I highly recommend them. Junger and Haidt are two of my favorite writers. TRIBE is an incredible book that reinforces our desire and need for community. Anxious Generation is a call to action. I hope you enjoy them both. Additionally, I shared a couple of podcasts. Huberman Lab and Jocko Podcast are two of my favorites. Both of the episodes I shared with you speak to our mission. The third podcast is actually a podcast in which I was the guest, and Julie Cunningham was one of the hosts. TRIBE We have a strong instinct to belong to small groups defined by clear purpose and understanding–“tribes.” This tribal connection has been largely lost in modern society, but regaining it may be the key to our psychological survival.Decades before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin lamented that English settlers were constantly fleeing over to the Indians-but Indians almost never did the same. Tribal society has been exerting an almost gravitational pull on Westerners for hundreds of years, and the reason lies deep in our evolutionary past as a communal species. The most recent example of that attraction is combat veterans who come home to find themselves missing the incredibly intimate bonds of platoon life. The loss of closeness that comes at the end of deployment may explain the high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by military veterans today. Combining history, psychology, and anthropology, TRIBE explores what we can learn from tribal societies about loyalty, belonging, and the eternal human quest for meaning. It explains the irony that-for many veterans as well as civilians-war feels better than peace, adversity can turn out to be a blessing, and disasters are sometimes remembered more fondly than weddings or tropical vacations. TRIBE explains why we are stronger when we come together, and how that can be achieved even in today’s divided world. Anxious Generation THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Coddling of the American Mind, an essential investigation into the collapse of youth mental health-and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood. After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the *play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the “collective action problems” that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood. Haidt has spent his career speaking truth backed by data in the most difficult landscapes-communities polarized by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the public health emergency faced by Gen Z. We cannot afford to ignore his findings about protecting our children-and ourselvesfrom the psychological damage of a phone-based life. https://youtu.be/etEJrznE-c0?feature=shared HUBERMAN LAB Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the department of neurobiology, and by courtesy, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. He has made numerous significant contributions to the fields of brain development, brain function and neural plasticity, which is the ability of our nervous system to rewire and learn new behaviors, skills and cognitive functioning. https://youtu.be/fQPj5Xww5UY?feature=shared JOCKO PODCAST JOCKO WILLINK is a decorated retired Navy SEAL officer, author of the book Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become a SEAL officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city.Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War. Jocko returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield. TEACH WONDER We know that powerful things are happening in education and that those powerful things often go unnoticed or are siloed (within a community). We’ve built a space to share those powerful things, where we aren’t constrained by distance and scheduling. We’ll combine our 35 years of K – 12 teaching experience with the unique perspectives of our guests
Adventure Leadership Summit 2024
ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Off The Bike Training Barrel + Beam 260 Northwoods Road Marquette, MI 49855 On The Bike Training Lakeshore Basecamp 955 North Lakeshore Blvd Marquette, MI 49855 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT CHECK-IN: OPENS SATURDAY 7:30 AM Get checked-in and enjoy breakfast from 231 West. Network with Adventure Leaders from around the Midwest. We start Saturday together, but after lunch we’ll go separate ways. Some will stay at Barrell + Beam while others will go to Basecamp. We’ll share the schedule with you a week before the event. Contact: todd@906adventureteam.com if you have questions before leadership weekend. YOU’LL GET LEADERSHIP TRAINING ON AND OFF THE BIKE* Your training will be done inside and out. What does that mean? Pack your bike and 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”. Helmets are required, in case you are wondering. One more thing, if the weather permits, we’ll ride trails, but if it’s wet we won’t. We have a lot of options to choose from. * Basecamp volunteers can opt-out of on-the-bike training, but anyone planning to coach on the bike has to go through it. *We’re working on an outdoor option for running coaches too. We will let everyone know one week before the summit what day they’ll be outside on the bike. Breakfast is provided Saturday & Sunday.Lunch is provided Saturday. Training should be done by 1pm Sunday. Download the Agenda Volunteer Panel Q&A & Social at Barrell + Beam Saturday night Don’t miss this chance to ask questions and hang out with experienced leaders from across the Adventure Team communities from 6:30 – 8:00pm Saturday night. BEFORE YOU HEAD HOME YOU WILL COMPLETE ALL OF YOUR QUIZZES We have scheduled time at the end of each day for you to complete your quizzes. It’s important to get this done before you head home for the weekend. Make sure you can do it on a laptop or your mobile device while you’re with us. AREA LEADS: DON’T FORGET TO GO HOME WITH YOUR GEAR This is a reminder for our Area Leads that most (if not all) of you will 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: Todd Poquette
Volunteers 2024 April Update
2024 VOLUNTEERS – APRIL UPDATE Important Dates 4.21.2024 LMS Online Training must be completed 4.27.2024 Adventure Leadership Summit (Training for all volunteers must be completed) 5.03.2024 Early Adventure Team Registration (Volunteers Only) 5.04.2024 Adventure Team Registration (Public) APRIL 2024: ADVENTURE TEAM VOLUNTEER DISPATCH Believe it or not it’s April and Adventure Team Youth Registration is less than one month away! With that being said, it’s time to check in and share some important volunteer information. By now you should have been sent an invitation to Sterling, passed your background check and been invited to the online training. If you have not completed both of those steps, or if you have only completed one of them, reach out to julie@906adventureteam.com right away so we can get ya on-track. Up to this point in your volunteer adventure all you need to have done is your background check and training (unless you’re attending in-person training later this month). IF YOU’RE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING THE BACKGROUND CHECK DONE… Contact julie@906adventureteam.com IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO COMPLETE YOUR TRAINING ONLINE… You need to complete it by April 21st, 2024. IF YOU’RE PLANNING TO COMPLETE YOUR TRAINING IN-PERSON… You will complete it all while you’re here, including the quizzes. IF YOU’RE SIGNED UP TO ATTEND THE ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP SUMMIT… You’ll get an email with all of the details from us in the middle of next week. Until then, go ahead and download the schedule. 5.03.2024 IS EARLY REGISTRATION DAY FOR VOLUNTEERS You’ll get a chance to register your children a day ahead of the public opening, but only if you’ve passed the background check and completed your training. So, get er’ done! Early registration will be open from 8:00 am until 9:06 pm 5.03.2024. 5.04.2024 IS YOUTH REGISTRATION DAY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC Registration will open at NOON EASTERN TIME. Yes, EASTERN TIME. Registration is not live yet. When it is we’ll send ya the link. Until then, you could visit www.bikereg.com and create an account, and learn how to use the program before registration.
Adventure Team Youth Resilience Program – March 2024 Update
Important Dates March 1, 2024 – Online Training Opens April 27 and 28, 2024 – Leading Adventure Summit May 4, 2024 @ 12:00 pm Eastern Time – Youth Registration ADVENTURE BIKE CLUB 2024 TIMELINE 3.13.2024 Adventure Team – Marquette: Join us at Ore Dock Brewing Join Adventure Team – Marquette next week (3.13.2024) at Ore Dock Brewing Co. from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Meet and mingle with current volunteers and staff Short presentation/overview of who we are Q&A Everyone is welcome Potential volunteers ParentsGuardians of youth Sponsors Adventure Teams: How we’re doing. Where things stand. As the number of Adventure Teams continues to grow we’re working to increase our operational capacity and efficiency. This spring, we rolled out a new database to help aggregate data in one place and get stuff done through automation. Implementation is going well, but like anything new, we’re bound to run into some bugs. We’re working to address them daily. If you registered to volunteer and haven’t received your invitation to Sterling for a background check, or if you’ve got all of that done, and you’re waiting for an invite to the LMS, let us know: julie@906adventureteam.com. Update: As of 9:06 pm last night, all 400 volunteers who submitted volunteer forms have been sent an invitation to Sterling to do their background checks. Anyone who has gone through and passed the background check was sent an invite to the LMS. We’re launching two new teams this year: Adventure Team Dickinson County and Adventure Team Grand Rapids. Both teams are working toward their fundraising and volunteer goals. Looking ahead to 2025, we are talking to three more potential teams (Kalamazoo, Mi, Ludington, Mi, and West Bend, Wisconsin). Momentum is growing. The community is strong. Volunteer recruitment has been strong, but we are always looking for people who are dedicated to the mission. The number of youth we reach depends on the number of volunteers who commit to helping us create more resilient, independent, courageous kids. If you haven’t signed up yet – get er’ done! If you know someone who would be a great fit – tell em’ we need their help. We need doers. Adventure Team Staff: We’re here to support you Youth Adventure Teams/Communication/Questions (Volunteers, Families)Julie Cunningham julie@906adventureteam.com Sponsorships, Grants, DonationsLeslie Phillipsleslie@906adventureteam.com Accounts Payable – Financeadmin@906adventureteam.com Gear Store Questions store@906adventureeteam.com Director of AdventureTodd Poquette todd@906adventureteam.com April 27-28, 2024 ::: Leadership Summit We offer volunteers two ways to train: Online or in-person. Both are great, but you can’t beat the experience of spending a weekend with a hundred like-minded folks. I can tell that as of this morning there are only a few spots left. Register There are less than 20 spots left Online Training must be completed by April 21, 2024 This is an important date to have on your radar. If you plan to complete your training online it needs to be done by April 21, 2024. Here’s what we’ve learned over the past ten years: a lot of people wait till the last minute, so we’re moving the completion date up a couple of weeks to ensure we have enough time to have all of our ducks in a row on the backend before youth registration opens May 4th, 2024. Volunteers get a chance to register their children on May 3, 2024 – as long as they’ve passed the background check and completed training. We’ll provide a code for you to use and you will have until 9:06 pm on May 3rd to register. Please note: You will not be able to register early if you haven’t completed your training. Get your training done.