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
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.
Crusher 2025
REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 31ST AT 9:06 AM Days Hours Minutes Seconds Register CRUSHER-MS Date: 07.19.25 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: All new routes (cause we’re moving to the Keweenaw). Between now and next summer we’ll tease ya with photos and video from the course. The best place to go for that content is the public “The Crusher” Facebook page, or join the Facebook group. You will not see final routes until a couple of weeks before the event. Here’s a tip: Be ready for everything. If you do that… it won’t matter what the route is. MS stands for Mass Start. Learn the Crusher nomenclature. The Mass Start is July 19th-20th, 2025 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 and laugh 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 2025, 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): 40, 100, 175, P2P, a 50-mile NFR (Not Fun Run). Refer to the manual for details. Date: 7.20.2024 Location: Trail’s End Campground, 14203 M-26, Copper Harbor, MI 49918 Camping: We have rented the entire Trail’s End Facility for the weekend of the event. You can camp with us at no cost. When registration opens, we’ll ask you to answer questions. Basically, you’re telling us if you plan to camp with us or not. From there, you’ll need to await further instruction after registration fills up. Camping is offered on a first come, first serve basis. Timing: Superior Timing. Wanna visit their website? Google it. Photographers: Ryan Stephens Photography, Rob Meendering Photography, and Fresh Coast Exposures. CRUSHER-P2P Date: July 15, 2025 Somewhere, UPPER PENINSULA The only thing standing between you and Copper Harbor is 500 miles. You’ll start days ahead of the rest of the event. The P2P format has always been the ultimate Crusher experience. This is the first time that we’re riding TO the harbor. For all intents and purposes, you should look at this ride as an EX event because the only time you’ll see anyone else is most likely at the finish. Hell, you might even finish before we get there. 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. The Field Manual is your single source of truth for all things Crusher. But we haven’t done this before, so it’s not in the Field Manual. Distance (in miles): 500 miles. Date: 7.15.2025 (Tentative) Could change. We’ll have a better idea once we finalize the route. Start Location: TBD 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: 7.01.2025 – 9.30.2025 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 was 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
Crusher 2024 – Post Event
Yo. Here’s a quick email putting links to all of the photographers in one place, mass start results, and the GEAR STORE. We threw in a bonus interview with Scott Richard on Dirty Chain Podcast. One more thing. While the Mass Start may be behind us, Crusher EX is ON until 9.30.24. Lots of time to apply what ya learned and keep crushing it. GET DA GEAR. STORE CLOSES SUNDAY NIGHT! GEAR STORE PODCAST PHOTOGRAPHY RYAN STEPHENS PHOTOGRAPHY ROB MEENDERING FRESH COAST EXPOSURES TIMING CRUSHER-MS CRUSHER-EX
Crusher Race Week 2024
ENHANCING GRAVEL SINCE 2014 DOWNLOAD GPX RWGPS is your single source for Crusher GPX files. If you struggle with the files or figuring out da checkpoints, go to the Crusher: Enhanced Gravel Discussions Group on Facebook and ask for help. The community will assist you. Crusher Field Notes (CR24FN) contains everything ya need to know (who, what, when, where, etc). Read it. Lastly, Stay connected this week. There’s always some last minute details that ya might need to know. Actually, I’ll give ya one more tip, if ya don’t have a snorkel, you might wanna get one. A selfie picture might require it… DOWNLOAD FIELD NOTES THE SELF-SUPPORTED STATEMENT 906AT productions are unlike most events you will sign up for. We do not hold your hand. We give you just enough information to point you in the right direction and leave it up to you to get all the details. We share a lot of content through the official Facebook pages, Facebook event groups, and the newsfeeds on our website. Stay connected. If the way we do stuff isn’t your thing, it’s ok. There are a lot of other events out there. “You are on your own. No one is out there to save you. GPS is required. You must observe and obey the “rules of the road.” We do not sign the course. You should not approach wildlife. In an emergency, dial 911.” 906AT events will expose you to treacherous terrain, inclement weather, fatigue, and hallucinations; the activity is inherently dangerous. At some point, you will likely ride or push your bike through the night, swearing you’ll never do <insert event name here> again. Don’t feel bad; this is normal.Hype disclaimer: Right now, some people start rolling their eyes because they think some marketing department is trying to scare them. That’s not the case. What we’re telling you isn’t hype. If you don’t respect the inherent danger of an activity, it could kill you. However, with proper preparation and practice, you will learn how to survive and thrive; that’s our goal. Each event carries a recommended gear list. Find the lists. Make sure you have everything on them. Train with the gear. Learn how to use it. The last place you want to find out you don’t know how to start a fire is on the Peshekee Grade at six o’clock in the morning when it’s 33 degrees. It’s a mistake you might only get to make once. Some ask, “Why do you make it so hard?” Well, the world is full of people pushing easy things on you and hyping stuff up to be challenging that isn’t. Those folks are just trying to sell you a product. Our mission is to help you find your best version. That’s going to take work – Dedicated, consistent, hard work. We’re not selling you a product; we’re offering you an opportunity. CRUSHER GEAR STORE OPENS FRIDAY FOLLOW THE MS350 ON TRACKLEADERS. STARTS FRIDAY AT 0000. WHEREVER I MAY ROAM. GET THE CRUSHER PLAYLIST. CAMPING + BEER SHARE!
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
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.
CRUSHER IS BACK
CRUSHER IS BACK. Register TEN THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW #1 CRUSHER IS CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF FUn … and to help you celebrate we’re creating new MS and EX courses, and adding a MS350 option (this year only). See #4. #2 SELF SUPPORTED ETHOS The spirit of the event is straight forward. We’re not here to help you. You and 399 other people are out there on their own. You need to be prepared. Carry the recommended gear. Plan for the worse, and work together. GPX is required. Course signage is not provided. No one is coming to save you. #3 AID STATIONS / NEUTRAL SUPPORT Don’t look for aid stations – you won’t find any. You may find unofficial aid out there. Don’t thank us, we had nothing to do with it. Neutral support is allowed but must be offered to anyone requesting it. It’s you against us. Work together. #4 MS350 100 spots. Point-2-Point. 350-miles. Starts on Friday. Cutoff IS 5:30 am Sunday morning. Where you start and when is TBD. That’s all we are gonna tell ya. #5 HOW TO SECURE A CAMPING SPOT AT OTTER LAKE CAMPGROUND Spots are gonna go fast. They’ll probably be gone within the first hour of registration opening. Don’t call Otter Lake Campground. You can select your site when you register on bikereg. When the sites are gone you can put your name on the waitlist (also found on bikereg). Otter Lake Campground will start reaching out to folks who secured a site by mid-January. Camping is a community event. You’ll be sharing sites and space with others. If you’re looking for a secluded romantic getaway, get a hotel. #6 WE’RE BRINGING THE FOOD TENT AND BEER SHARE BACK What did we do when we lost the food truck? What Crusher always does… ADAPT. We had so much positive feedback on the tent that we decided to bring it back in 2024. The only thing more popular than the food tent was the “enhanced beer share”. We asked every Crusher to bring their favorite six-pack or a six-pack from their hometown to Otter Lake as a contribution to the community coolers. It. Was. Awesome. So we’re gonna do it again. #7 PLAN FOR THE WORST Do yourself a favor and take this advice: Train like you’re gonna have to ride an extra fifty miles, and pack your gear based on the absolute worst case scenario. If you do, you’ll be prepared no matter what happens. #8 Field Manuals We take everything you need to know about Crusher and put it in a Field Manual. We won’t release the 2024 CR24-MOD1 Field Manual until mid-late June, but you can visit the website (www.crushergravel.com) and get a copy of the manual we used this year. It is a great starting point for someone that is new to Crusher. Also, you should join the Facebook group, Crusher: Enhanced Gravel Discussions. The Crusher community is an invaluable resource. #9 CHECKPOINTS For god’s sake don’t miss a damn checkpoint! Crusher is more than a race. It’s an adventure, and checkpoints help level the playing field. Ya gotta collect all of the checkpoints. If you don’t you’ll be disqualified. Everything you need to know is in the Field Manual. Read it. #10 THE PARKING IS TERRIBLE Just Kidding.
Crusher 2024
2014 – 2024 TEN YEARS. STILL CRUSHING IT. REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 31ST AT 9:06 AM Days Hours Minutes Seconds PASSPORT Register “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” – Dr. Emmett Brown Celebrating ten years is a chance to wax poetic about how great it’s all been, but we’re not gonna do that today. We’re gonna look forward – to the next ten years. We’re gonna keep challenging you and others to get outside their comfort zone and crush it. That’s what we’re here to do, and we’re AFI. Are you? Crusher isn’t like other gravel events. That’s not us bragging, it’s a fact, and yes, it should scare you – It’s meant to. Crusher is an event you might not finish. That’s Bottom line. There’s a chance you’re going to quit, and that’s really uncomfortable for a lot of people, but overcoming is what we’re built to do, and we need to practice. You might call Crusher the “Dr. Phil” of gravel – doling out “tough love” with a smile. For a lot of folks out there the hurdle isn’t the route, navigation, or equipment, it’s the self doubt. It’s being surrounded by the wrong people. You get comfortable, makes excuses, and play it safe, or convince yourself “all that hard core stuff is for crazy people”. Well, that’s BS. Crushers are a bunch of orindary people doing extra-orindary stuff, together. Never Settle. See ya in 24’. Todd Poquette CRUSHER-MS Date: 12.22.23 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 working on them, but they won’t be available for a while. That’s part of the Crusher charm, we keep ya guessing. The MS350 will travel point-to-point, and start on Friday morning. Spots will be limited. It will end at Otter Lake Campground with the rest of the events. Everything else starts and ends at the campground. Oh, we will probably use trackers for the MS350, but not the rest of the MS events. MS stands for Mass Start. Got it? Good. If you like the excitement of being around other people, are new to gravel, like to hang out and camp, or just aren’t sure yet about EX, this is the format for you. Is it hard? Yes. Is there a chance you might fail? Absolutely. That’s why you should do it. Is it hard like the EX? No. It’s a stepping stone. 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 your not prepared stay home. Checkpoints. Are required. Reference the field manual for details. Distances (in miles): 40, 100, 175, 350, a 50-mile NFR, and Team Event. Refer to the manual for details. Date: 7.20.2024 Location: Otter Lake Campground, Munising, Michigan. Camping: Is very limited and on a first come-first served basis. Camping will likely sell out the first day registration opens, so don’t delay. Timing: Superior Timing. Wanna visit their website? Google it. Photographers: Ryan Stephens Photography, Rob Meendering Photography, and Fresh Coast Exposures. Crush or be crushed! It was great until it wasn’t. CRUSHER-EX Date: 12.22.23 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 your 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. Distances (in miles): 40, extra 40, 100, 225, and a 50-mile NFR. Refer to the manual for details. Date: 7.01.2024 – 9.30.2024 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: You JOIN THE GROUP Join the CRUSHER: ENHANCED GRAVEL DISCUSSIONS Facebook group. Learn about Crusher from the people who do it. We’ll provide the basics: who, what, when, where. You have to figure the rest out on your own or with the help of the Crusher community. There’s a lot to learn: how to navigate, checkpoints, the gear. It’s the perfect challenge for a new year. Now get after it. JOIN THE hall of pain THE TRILOGY The Triple Crown consists of three of the toughest events on bike or foot. From the grueling singletrack of Marji Gesick, the relentless wilderness of The Crusher, or the unpredictable weather of The Polar Roll, 906 Adventure Team events are no walk in the park. Athletes that complete one from each of these three events below are granted lifetime entry into our Hall of Pain and are eligible to attend our annual “secret event.” You do not have to complete all three challenges in the same year, you just have to complete one of each sometime in your lifetime. “BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.” When you step outside your comfort zone to crush it, you’re helping us show kids (future Crushers) they can do the same. 906AT events challenge adults to “find their limits” and “finish what they start,” your participation in those events has made it possible for us to establish eleven youth resilience development Adventure Teams around the Midwest. Life is an adventure; it’s up to us to ensure youth are prepared, one adventure at a time. LEARN MORE