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.
Ten more years for Tara
We started 2024 excited to celebrate our ten-year anniversary, but life had other plans. On January 19, 2024, an automobile accident claimed the life of our Adventure Coordinator, Tara Gluski. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her family, friends, and everyone who knew her. When we lose someone we love, it’s normal to ask what we could have done. I did it for a couple days and decided I (we) must do something different. We must move forward and dedicate our energy not to what we could have done but to what we can do – honor Tara, and ensure her memory, and impact lives on. To that end, I want you to know our team is ready to dig in and continue her work. Here’s a list of people stepping up, what they will be doing, and a way to contact them if you have questions or need help. Youth Adventure Teams/Communication/Questions (Volunteers, Families)Julie Cunningham julie@906adventureteam.com Sponsorships, Grants, DonationsLeslie Phillipsleslie@906adventureteam.com Accounts Payable – Bookkeeping Questionsadmin@906adventureteam.com Gear Store Questions store@906adventureteam.com Questions regarding Events (Polar Roll, The Crusher, Marji Gesick), New Adventure Teams, Organizational Inquiries Todd Poquette todd@906adventureteam.com Submitting EX event results: Send event results to this email Nicky Bates events@906adventureteam.com I sat down with Elizabeth Peterson on the TV6 Morning Show. We talked about Tara’s impact on our community, how we plan to move forward, and what’s planned for this year. You can check it out here. One last thing. At some point in the near future, we will look to bring another employee into the team to support our growth, not to replace Tara, but rather to carry on the mission with us. Adventure Coordinator, the title Tara held for five years, will be retired. There will never be another Tara, and therefore, there will never be another Adventure Coordinator. Todd PoquetteDirector of Adventure Ten more years for Tara… I want everyone to understand we’re gonna honor Tara forever, not just ten years. I want us to look forward instead of looking back. Let’s look at what we can do instead of what we could have done. Let’s lead by example. That’s what she always did. That’s what she would do if it had been one of us.
Giving Tuesday 2023
Empower Youth THROUGH YOUR YEAR END IMPACT READ MORE *Give securely through the GiveButter.com platform The next decade starts now We’re heading into our 10th year and we are ready to kick off the next decade of building youth resilience and empowerment. But we can’t grow without your partnership and financial support. Your support will not only continue to meet the growing needs of the communities we’re already in, it will also support growth into new communities. The goal? To raise $100,000 for youth resilience programming. Half is already secured; we need you to help raise the remaining $50,000. This is your call to action — let’s meet the challenge! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqgFXL3A_iI Take action and Give Now *Give securely through the GiveButter.com platform Our goal before year end is to raise $100,000, enabling us to bring transformative biking programs to more communities. Your support fuels this journey of growth and resilience. WHY YOUR SUPPORT IS VITAL It will take a community effort to expand our reach. Here’s the tangible impact of your donations: $20,000 is a direct investment into another Adventure Team and community. It is an investment that will shape lives for years to come. The initial cost to launch a new team is $400/youth. Over time, your support will impact today’s youth and future generations. We plan to share this success with 50 communities by 2028, creating a community of Adventure Teams working together to achieve a common goal and create infinite opportunities for our youth. The next ten years start now. Building Resilient Communities: Every new Adventure Team makes a $20,000 investment into the community’s youth and future. Developing Future Leaders: Here’s what we can agree on: Youth are the future of communities, and to lead, they will need to be resilient, prepared to face adversity, and understand how to build community. That’s what we’re here to do – help them get ready. Expanding Horizons: Your support will move us closer to the goal of establishing 50 Adventure Teams by the end of 2028. Fueling the Journey: We’ve got the team, all we need is your support. Give Now OUR MISSION IN MOTION Develop Grit and Resilience: Our goal is to develop people, therefore, we focus equally on life skills and bike skills. Build Confidence: Embrace the “growth mindset” and “Power of YET.” Teach youth how to overcome obstacles, on the trail, and in life. Embrace Teamwork: Collaboration is key. It’s you vs you, and me vs. me. We can succeed together. Promote Health and Exercise: Actions speak louder than words, and kids are always watching. It’s all about personal accountability and service to others. Give Now
CMHA of Michigan Endorses 906AT
The Community Mental Health Association of Michigan endorses 906AT’s lessons to build children’s character, provide coping skills, and promote their ability to adapt to challenges they will face moving into adulthood. As Directors of county-based community mental health programs in Michigan, we support the mission of this organization and its efforts in mentoring and building greater resiliency in children. The benefits of physical activity on improved mental well-being are well documented. By providing opportunities for children to find a passion for bicycling and being outdoors, the 906 Adventure Team is helping them to build confidence in themselves and bond with others while “doing hard things”. These lessons build character and give children skills to cope and adapt to the many challenges they will face moving into adulthood.
2022-youth-program-registration
EMPOWERMENT FOR KIDS AGES 5-17 It is our mission to empower youth to become the best version of themselves through outdoor adventure. We are not just teaching bike skills; we are teaching skills for life. This is accomplished by helping our riders prioritize effort, embrace failure, develop positive habits, and encourage them to focus on the journey. The totality of a young life is not defined by the victory or defeat in a single moment. PERSONAL COMPETITION AND COLLABORATION. Adventure Teams create a space where youth compete against themselves. We’re not keeping track of wins and losses or assigning value with the traditional good, better, and best approach. By emphasizing development of the human, we create a more cooperative space and positive experience for all. There’s a level of ownership that develops when everyone focuses on the same task – the pursuit of continued self-improvement. Every youth and volunteer leader aspires to the same personal goal… being a little better than they were the day before. “Adventure Team is about discovering new friendships, building resiliency, establishing healthy habits, and pursuing an activity equal parts sport, equal parts lifestyle, that can grow and change as they do.” CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT ● Self-reliance● Resilience● Respect● Effort● Consistency● Grit● Adventure● Doing hard things● Adaptability● Self-supported ethos● Growth mindset ADVENTURE TEAMS ● Behavior matters.● Individual competition.● No bench. Everyone rides.● Boys and girls ride together.● Build community.● Riders grouped by age.● No experience necessary.● Inclusive of all abilities and skill levels.● Failures are an opportunity for growth.● Developing a sport and lifestyle.● Group or individual activity.● Encourages lifelong wellness.● Positive environment and culture. TRADITIONAL SPORTS ● Winning matters.● Head-2-Head competition.● Boys and girls separated.● Playing time determined by athletic ability.● Difficult to join at older ages.● Tryouts, kids get cut.● Many activities end after high school or college.● Achievement driven.● Winning focused.● Can lead to toxic team and sport cultures. “Your experience matters, my experience matters, what we experience together impacts everyone.”
2023 Spring Training
10 Week Spring Training Program at Superior Fitness REGISTER NOW What is required? 906AT Tee (provided). Must be worn to all sessions Shorts Clean athletic shoes/sneakers for inside the gym Hydration Work ethic Respect Effort Consistency Grit 3 Certified Trainers Ron BerryLauren SprangerQuinn Rieger Cost Per Participant $125.00 Days/Times/Dates 6:00-7:30pmMondays and WednesdaysMarch 13 – May 24, 2023* Off Spring Break: March 27 and 29 Assessments Initial assessment March 13Final assessment May 24 Goals and benefits: Gym familiarity/rules/safetyIncrease coordinationIncrease strengthIncrease enduranceIncrease balanceIncreased self esteem/confidenceTeam camaraderieInjury risk reductionFun all around
Adventure Team featured in Silent Sports Magazine
Stories of teenagers doing the Marji and little tikes with gorillas Check out the upcoming issue of Silent Sports magazine featuring a multi-page article on the Adventure Team and the work we do to spread our mission of healthy communities. Download the April edition of Silent Sports Magazine Subscribe Subscriptions for the monthly magazine can be 1 year ($24.95 or about $2:08 per issue), 2 years ($41.95 or $1.75 per issue), or 3 years ($54.95 or $1.53 per issue). The magazine is 52 pages (up from 28) with usually about 17 stories per. And, we’re biased, they’re all outstanding because they always make readers think as they read – “I didn’t know that!” SUBSCRIBE!
DNA of Adventure Series: Self-Supported Ethos
DNA of Adventure Series:Self-Supported Ethos (This is the second blog post of the series.) By Todd Poquette, Director of Adventure You are on your own. You accept responsibility for your preparation, choices, and the outcome. – The Crusher, Enhanced Gravel Wilderness Adventure Our introduction to the DNA of Adventure Series began with a review of two distinct mindsets: I have a fixed amount of intelligence and natural ability that cannot be changed (fixed mindset) and I can get better at anything provided the right strategy and enough effort (growth mindset). While managing and coaching people over the past 25 years, I have found people with fixed mindsets are quick to blame the rules and others for their shortcomings while people with a growth mindset thrive by finding ways to improvise, adapt, and overcome. Blog #2 in the DNA of Adventure Series builds on the discussion of mindset and introduces the self-supported ethos. Setting the tone The self-supported ethos can be summed up quite simply: You are on your own. You are responsible for yourself. You are accountable for your actions and behavior. Simple. Direct. Honest. The bar is set high – for everyone. No excuses, no finger-pointing. For the uninitiated, this might all seem a bit heavy handed. Modern society panders to the unprepared, perpetually offended, and entitled. One thing will never change: If you want it, you gotta earn it. There are no shortcuts, and by constantly trying to create them we undermine the foundation of strong communities. Stability rises from a clear and equal distribution of responsibility among the people, mutual respect, and character. No one gets a pass. Life is not fair People love playing games. What makes a good game? Is it the action? The rules? Winning? While we certainly don’t line up to lose, what happens when we do? Do we blame someone, or do we look in the mirror? What happens when a rule is changed or misused? So many people are quick to yell “That’s not fair!” from the stands. It’s also common to hear a dad tell his kid, “You got robbed.” With these messages, we’re grooming kids to expect predictability and fairness. They automatically blame someone else when things don’t go as planned. Instead of mentoring resilience and durability, we seem to be giving preference to comfort and safety. The result? Kids who are scared and insecure – lashing out at the world around them. Adventure is inherently unpredictable, uncomfortable, and unsafe. You control your preparation and adaptability. A lack of rules and predictability is a lesson in and of itself: to prepare for the unexpected. Adventure empowers individuals, not rules. Adventure ignores fairness, viewing complications as experience enhancements and an opportunity for personal development. While many sports (including competitive cycling) give priority to natural skill and athletic ability, adventure-centric programs level the playing field for kids who may not have been born the fastest or most coordinated but are equally capable and worthy of our time. Collaborators instead of competitors Interesting things happen when we remove head-to-head competition and focus on personal conduct, character, and responsibility. Behaviors change. We become collaborators. We focus on the journey, what we hope to accomplish, and what must be done to see it through – forging relationships more likely to endure adversity. Kids are getting a lot of pressure from adults to succeed now and become a leader now, as though they need to prove their worth now. Whatever happened to being a kid? Becoming a good follower today is an important prerequisite to future leadership. Yet it seems few people want to take orders or respect the learning than comes from a chain of command. An unsafe world The self-supported ethos is predicated on a belief that the world is not safe. We are not at the mercy of the world. We are at the mercy of our own willingness to face the world. We possess the ability to adapt and better ourselves. Success is a choice. Preparation, work ethic, and commitment will pay dividends long after natural ability. That’s why the self-supported ethos is such a defining part of the adventure team. Instead of paving the path to make everything easy for kids, we give them the tools to forge their own path. Why? Because we believe sending kids off unprepared would be the real tragedy.
Getting Geared Up for Adventure Bike Club
Mike Kates You are signed up for Adventure Bike Club (ABC), now what?You’ve got the gumption, now you need the gear.We want every ride to go as smoothly as possible so these are the things we think you should have.Listed below is the required and highly recommended gear for each ABC ride. THE GEAR The Bike (Required)You will need a trail specific bike. A road or BMX bike may be great for riding around town but in ABC you will be taking you on terrain that is wet, sandy, and rocky. It is important that your bike can take the uneven trails. It is also important that your bike shifts well and has good working brakes. If you are unsure if your bike is suitable, show it to your coach or take it to a local bike shop. We can help you figure out what needs to be fixed or adjusted in order to be safe. If your bike is not appropriate we do have a limited number of bikes available for you to ride until you get a new bike or have repairs completed. Helmet (Required)You must have a helmet to ride. No helmet, no ride. End of story.Your brain is the most important equipment you have. We must keep it safe.Be sure that the helmet fits you. A helmet that is too large will move around on your head, can cover your eyes, or even come off if you fall. The helmet will not protect you very well if it doesn’t sit on your head so make sure it isn’t too small. Before you put your helmet on loosen up all of the straps and clasps. Set the helmet on your head and make sure it sits fully on your head. If it doesn’t sit I your head when all the straps are loosened it is too small. Once the helmet is in your head, slowly tighten all the straps until they feel comfortable but secure. Move your head around and make sure that the helmet does not easily move around or slide on your head. It is also important that your helmet is in good condition. The materials that keep your head safe only work if they are in good condition. If your helmet is several years old, has spent significant time in the sun, water, or is significantly dirty, it may not properly protect you. If your helmet has been involved in a large impact or many small impacts it may not protect your head. Once your helmet has been involved in a large impact it should be replaced. Most people go though a helmet every few seasons, depending on how much they ride and what kind of falls or impacts they experience. If you have questions on the fit of your helmet bring it to a local bike shop or ask on of your coaches. EyewearWe recommend that everyone have eye protection. When riding you may encounter sticks, rocks, dust and other objects that can get into your eyes during a fall or be being kicked up by another rider. Having eyewear can help to protect your eyes from these things. You can get special biking glasses but normal safety glasses can work as well. Bike specific safety glasses are typically more expensive. We recommend clear lenses for ABC because we are riding in the evening and in wooded areas. Glasses with strong tints can make it more difficult to see the trail when the sun goes down or when you are in tick woods.If you choose to wear prescription lenses be aware that you are risking breaking these glasses. GlovesGloves help to keep your hands safe during falls and collisions but also help you maintain control of your bike. Your grips can get covered with rain, mud, dirt, sweat and biking gloves can help with these factors. We recommend bicycle specific gloves as other gloves may not give you the protection or control that you need. Water (Required)You must have water with you for every ride. We recommend that everyone carry at least one water bottle. The easiest way to take water on the trail is attached to the bike frame. Many bikes with larger frames have spots for the bottle to be mounted inside the frame, others allow the bottle to be mounted to the front fork. Bottle cages that screw or bolt onto the handlebars can be dangerous during a fall. We don’t allow bolt on handlebar cages. Hydration packs can be very good for carrying water. If your bike doesn’t have the ability to carry a water bottle you will need a hydration pack. The advantage of a hydration pack is that you can carry nutrition, clothes, and whatever extra gear you may want to carry. Nutrition (Required)You must carry a snack on the trail. We recommend you carry a snack around 200 calories. We recommend a high protein snack such as granola bars, trail mix, bananas, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, beef jerky. Obviously, take care to not pack anything that you are allergic to. Footwear (Required)Your shoes need to be closed-toe shoes. No sandals. Slip-on or soft-soled shoes are not recommended. Slip-on shoes can come off your feet too easily and soft soles don’t give you good control and can slip off the pedals. A good mountain bike shoe securely attaches to your foot and has a hard sole. Be sure that your shoe laces are not too long or they will get caught in your chain. Clothes (Required, of course)We recommend loose fitting athletic clothing. Pay attention to the weather, if the weather is colder you may need to wear longer sleeves and pants. Be sure that your pants aren’t too baggy or long, potentially causing your clothes to get caught in the chain. Bringing layers can be very beneficial. You may start out feeling cold but as you get moving you may feel warm, or you may start warm but when the sun sets you may
Don’t go into the woods, unprepared!
Don’t go into the woods….. unprepared! Social Distancing doesn’t mean you can’t get outside and enjoy some fresh air and exercise! However, many of our more popular parks and trailheads are seeing an increase in traffic which makes social distancing guidelines difficult to maintain. To combat that some folks will head into the backcountry or to an area that’s new to them. If you’re think about getting off the beaten path, be sure you are prepared! My husband and I teach Wilderness Survival classes at a few different events throughout the year. We talk at length about how to make some safe choices before you head into the woods, especially the backcountry. Preparedness is the key. That means planning and preparation before you head out. Most likely, nothing will go wrong, but if you operate in that mindset, and don’t prepare, you could find yourself in a world of hurt without an escape plan. So, be prepared. Familiarize yourself with the area you’re heading to by using online resources, a map, and/or GPS unit. Consider taking some courses on using a map and compass and learning about topography. Check the weather before you head out and dress accordingly. When you get ready to head into the woods, it’s best to let somebody know your plans. If you run into trouble in the woods (an injury, without cell service, for example) how will anybody know to send a rescue team if nobody knows that you left? And, once folks realize you’re missing, how will anybody know where to look for you, if you didn’t tell anyone where you were going? So, leave your itinerary with a family member or friend. That includes where you’re headed, how long you plan to be out and what time you expect to come home. If you don’t return by a certain time, your family member or friend can alert the necessary people. Your daypack should always contain items necessary for your specific trip such as water, snack, extra clothes for changes in weather, bug dope, sun block, etc and your Wilderness Survival Kit. The Wilderness Survival Kit contains items that will help you increase your chances of overnight(s) survival should an emergency occur. I carry a small daypack with my extra clothing/outwear, water and snacks, and my Wilderness Survival Kit. Below is a list of our recommended items based on our own research and experience in the backcountry. Everything in my Wilderness Survival Kit, with the exception of the last two bullet points, fits into a waterproof container barely larger than a typical Nalgene bottle. My Wilderness Survival Kit contains: A few last things: