The Bicycle Boom: Bike Riding at Maine Camps

With the pandemic came a great “bike boom” in the US and abroad as more and more adults and children began riding bicycles for transport and/or leisure. While not everyone was able to get a bike as quickly as they wanted (oftentimes demand outweighed supply!), many people were able to dust off that long-dormant bike in the garage or buy a bike from a store, website, or local online community group, and hit the roads or the trails. Many countries and cities adapted their infrastructure to create additional temporary and permanent bike lanes. Some countries offered a subsidy or stipend toward bike repairs for citizens who were buying these non-engine vehicles. And, in the UK, one bike company, Brompton, started a Wheels for Heroes program that raised more than $450,000 to provide bikes to healthcare workers so they could commute to and from hospitals without having to take public transportation. It’s been great to see a whole new generation of kids understand the freedom and fun that comes with riding a bike. Bike riding is one of the best ways to explore, it’s good exercise, and it cuts down on pollution. With the popularity of biking in mind, we think of Maine Camp Experience and how our camps are well equipped to provide biking enthusiasts and beginners, too, with the equipment, trails, and instruction for some great rides this summer. We reached out to a few of our camps’ directors to hear a little more about their bike riding programs that are well attended and enjoyed by boys and girls. Here’s what they shared: “It’s a great way to explore camp.  We offer Mountain Biking around camp and on wooded trails.  We also have a popular BMX program on our own pump track.” “Our campers enjoy exploring the camp property and trails while learning the basics of Mountain Biking.  Our ‘Learn to Ride’ option offers campers new to biking the opportunity to learn in the open fields and lawns at the center of camp before they venture onto basic trails.  No matter which option they choose, our campers develop biking skills while enjoying the beauty of their natural surroundings!” “Our campers enjoy biking around on camp and biking trails, and we’re building a pump track as well to add another layer of fun!” (In case you’re not familiar with a pump track: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump_track) So, we eagerly anticipate our campers hopping onto bikes at camp and riding off past beautiful Maine lakes and through trails lined with great pines. Just one more reason why Maine Camps are full of summer adventures and fun! Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

You can share your own Maine camps memories & expressions of gratitude on our Memories of Camp section of our website.

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.

Next, be sure to  to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.