You bring the bike – we’ll bring the adventure.
Open to National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) student-athletes from any state, these mountain bike-fueled adventure camps will combine bike skills and wilderness exploration.
In partnership with the WV Interscholastic Cycling League, these camps are for those who are interested in learning about exploring the world around them by mountain bike. Daily ride groups will vary in terrain, difficulty, and length, and will follow NICA guidelines with certified coach to rider ratios.
The NICA Adventure program focuses on developing skills and pursuing challenges in a non-competitive setting that prepares youth for their own lifelong adventures. Our NICA Adventure Camps will include spectacular mountain biking in iconic areas of our mountain state and other backcountry skills such as map-reading, fire building, and cooking. Each group will also participate in a half-day stewardship project on a local trail system receiving Teen Trail Corps hours for their participation.
You do not need to have prior camping experience or be an expert in the outdoors to participate in this camp – we will teach you all the camping skills needed to have success on this adventure! Experience Learning will provide all necessary camping gear, onsite transportation, use permits, and program food.
You must be registered through the NICA League to participate in our NICA camps. More information on NICA and the WV Interscholastic Cycling League can be found here. This is a specialty camp with a limited number of spaces. We encourage you to reserve your spot as soon as you are able to commit.
Meet our NICA Camp Director
Guiding the way through some of West Virginia’s most scenic bike trails will be Jessica Harmening, bike camp director and SRAM Coach of the Year for the 2021 NICA Awards. Jessica is an educator, head coach of the Morgantown Trail Hawks, and lead coach supporter for WV Interscholastic Cycling League. With a passion for experiential education and knowledge of outdoor exploration through biking and backpacking, Jessica will share her expertise and guidance as you embark on this biking journey.
2023 MTB Camp Options
Dates: June 11th – 16th, 2023
Drop Off: Sunday, June 11th, 1 pm, Location: Sweetwater Farm Trail Center
Pick Up: Friday, June 16th, 3 pm, Location: Spruce Knob Mountain Center
We will start the week at our Sweetwater Farm Trail Center to ride 9 miles of onsite trails and complete a trail-based service project. Mid-week we will move to the Canaan Mountain Backcountry area and ride additional technical single track while hunting for amazing views of the Blackwater Canyon and Canaan Valley. We will end the week at our Spruce Knob Mountain Center to ride the iconic Huckleberry Trail, an IMBA EPIC* trail.
Dates: July 16th – July 21st, 2023
Drop Off: Sunday, July 16th, 1 pm, Location: Spruce Knob Mountain Center
Pick Up: Friday, July 21st, 3 pm, Location: Sweetwater Farm Trail Center
Our most advanced offering, riders will take adventure to the next level by utilizing some of the greatest trail systems the area has to offer, riding a total of 45-60 miles over the course of the camp. We will start the week at our Spruce Knob Mountain Center to ride the iconic Huckleberry Trail, an IMBA EPIC* trail. From there, we will ride on advanced backcountry trails in the Tea Creek Trail System and Snowshoe Backcountry. We will end the week at our Sweetwater Farm Trail Center riding 9 miles of onsite trails and completing a trail-based service project. This camp is for experienced and advanced riders.
Dates:
June 21st – 23rd, 2023 (5th – 7th Grade)
July 12th – 14th, 2023 (2nd – 4th Grade)
We will take our beginner riders on an introductory journey, spending three days camping in tents from a wooded basecamp at our Sweetwater Farm Trail Center. We’ll go on daily group rides that are beginner in nature and geared towards developing a lifelong love of the outdoors, and bicycling. Our days will be filled with games, skill development, and fun, while evenings will be based at our campsite, learning campcrafts, enjoying campfires, and stargazing under the darkest skies in the east. More information here.
