Maine Outdoor Kids has no physical location. Being place-based allows us to introduce or reacquaint participants with public spaces to enjoy time outside. All of our mtb programs take place at public parks and trail systems within 20 minutes Portland. Locations are chosen based on weather and trail conditions and for their unique opportunities learn.

For summer camps, parents will be sent a detailed location itinerary one week beforehand.

Clinic locations are listed and known beforehand. All specific dropoff/pickup information will be given in an email.

Ride series locations rotate seasonally - a different location each week. We will send a detailed location itinerary one week beforehand.

We intentionally keep our biking groups small to provide the best opportunity to build confidence and get plenty of individualized instruction. Children’s clinics and ride series will be limited to 5 participants with one instructor, or 8 participants with two instructors. Camps are capped at 10 participants with 2 instructors.

Your child can be new to mountain biking on singletrack trails for an all-levels mountain bike program. However, for safety reasons it's really important they are proficient on their bike. This includes:

• Can independently follow and understand directions, instructions, skill demonstrations taught by others to improve body awareness and minimize risks of the sport.

• Is a confident rider on pavement, dirt roads and small inclines.

• Has the stamina to be active outside all day and in a variety of environmental conditions including cold or hot temperatures and precipitation.

• Be familiar with their bike and able to independently mount and dismount, ride and balance on the bike on uneven terrain.

• Has experience riding for at least 40 consecutive minutes,

• Has experience participating in an outdoor sport or activity for 2-4 hours in a single day.

If your child is new to mountain biking, we highly suggest signing up for a Fundamental Skills Clinic for a confidence boost before attending a bike camp.

If your child has never mountain biked before we highly suggest signing up for one our our Fundamentals Clinics before attending any camps or series. If you already have some experience you may fall into one of two categories;

Beginner/Novice:

• Comfortable on their bike but don't have much experience trail riding

• Are familiar with using hand brakes and shifting

• Looking to build fundamental skills and gain confidence
  

Intermediate/ Advanced:

• Ride singletrack trails regularly (at least a few times per month)

• Comfortable on blue (intermediate) trails

• Comfortable on some technical features including rocks, roots and narrow bridges

• Are familiar with shifting body positioning, 1-2 fingered braking, and shifting
  

If you need more assistance evaluating your child's level please email effie@maineoutdoorkids.com.

Registration for summer camps will open Friday, January 10th at 8:00am for new families.

Registration for all spring and summer bike programs including clinics and ride series open March 1st at 8:00am. Registration for all fall bike programs including clinics and ride series will open July 1st.

Be sure to read through all registration details and provide accurate up to date information about you or your child's riding ability. This helps us determine if the selected program is the right fit for you.

All of our bike programs require a well-tuned bike (hand brakes, 4+ speeds) and helmet. All participants must have the ability to carry water on their body or bike using a bottle cage or hydration vest.

Please refer to program descriptions for more specific bike requirements.

This depends on the nature of the storm—whether it's light rain or thunderstorms. Our first line of defense is ensuring that participants are equipped with appropriate gear, and we provide guidance on suitable clothing for wet weather. If trails are unridable due to mud or there is thunderstorms or significant rain are expected, we may cancel.

All ride series have one rain make-up date built-in. We do not give partial refunds if the rain date is also rained out.

Clinics and private lessons can typically be rescheduled to earlier/later in the day or another date. If not, refunds will be issued.

We strive to provide at least 24 hours notice for any changes or cancelations (a last resort).

There is no way to join the waitlist directly from our website. Please email info@maineoutdoorkids.com with your child's name and the dates that you are looking to join. If a spot opens up, we will reach out to the first person on the waitlist and they will be given 24 hours to sign up.

1. Payment is due at the time of registration.

2. If you need to cancel a bike program for any reason, we ask for 30 or more days notice to receive a full refund. There is a 3% cancellation fee for refunds processed by credit card. No refunds will be given for cancellations within 30 days of a program's start date.

3. We occasionally have to reschedule/ cancel due to inclement weather. Please review the policies at the bottom of your confirmation email.

Please note this on your registration form. If your child has an allergy and carries an epipen, we ask that you provide us with one during the duration of the program. Every staff member has been properly trained in the administration of an epipen. Please bring any specific medications your child needs to take on the first day of the program with any special instructions. We ask that staff hold on to all medications to ensure your child receives their medications on time and protect their privacy.