Press Release: Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz to Host Free, Popular Trail Academy Lecture Series Online for the First Time

The trail stewardship’s Trail Academy lectures, usually only held in person, leverage the organization’s roster of sustainable trailbuilding experts to teach participants the in’s and out’s of trail design, construction, and maintenance.

SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. – Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC), a non-profit trail stewardship organization, has announced that it will bring the lecture portion of its free Trail Academy class series online. The MBOSC Trail Academy, a series of 16 lectures, hikes, and trail maintenance workshops, teaches participants about what goes into trail design, construction, and upkeep. All lectures, which are usually only taught in person, are hosted by the organization’s sustainable trailbuilding experts. By bringing this programming online, MBOSC steps into the world of virtual events and provides rich educational opportunities to outdoor enthusiasts around the world. Interested parties can sign up for an online Trail Academy lecture here. Participants who would like to support MBOSC can make a suggested $5 donation per lecture here.

So far, MBOSC has scheduled two online lectures. Class 101 – Introduction to Trails, will take place on Wednesday, April 8 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. PT, and Class 200 – Volunteer Crew Management, will take place on Wednesday, April 15 at the same time. More lectures will be rolled out in the weeks ahead, and sessions will be recorded for those who are unable to attend the live broadcast. For schedule updates and information on recorded sessions, please visit mbosc.org/trailacademy.

“Since the onset of Covid-19, our team has been eager to introduce online programs that bring the spirit of MBOSC into the homes of our community,” says Matt De Young, executive director of MBOSC. “This online Trail Academy series takes that mission one step further, and offers global trail users the resources and skills that they need to become trail stewards. We’re proud to bring programming like this to audiences around the world at a time when many trail networks are seeing higher than average use. We hope this class series inspires online Trail Academy participants to analyze and maintain the trails they rely on for healing, exercise, and meditation during this challenging moment.”

Since its inception in 2018, the MBOSC Trail Academy has hosted over 50 classes and ushered hundreds of students through its program. Participants located in the Bay Area can also become MBOSC Trail Crew Leaders and lead MBOSC Dig Day volunteer trailwork groups by taking classes 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 200, 210, and participating in five MBOSC volunteer events. MBOSC Trail Crew Leaders qualify for subsidized Wilderness First Aid Training in the Santa Cruz area.

Emma Ussat, trails program manager at MBOSC, has been hard at work behind the scenes to bring these in-person lectures to the digital world. “Providing online courses was always the goal for our Trail Academy series, and I’m proud of our team for offering these classes at a time when they’re needed most. We expect to have hundreds of participants from around the world at each interactive lecture, and can’t wait to hear about the discussions and story swapping that happens in our online breakout groups as a part of our first 101 class.”

Trail Academy graphic here: http://mbosc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Trail-Academy-Social.png

Photo 1 available here: http://mbosc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_1841-scaled.jpg

Photo 2 available here: http://mbosc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Trail-Head-Cyclery-DSC_3649.jpg

For more information: www.mbosc.org/trailacademy, or email Katy Poniatowski at [email protected]

Key Facts:

• MBOSC is bringing its popular Trail Academy lecture series online for the first time.
  • Lectures are free to attend, however, if participants have the means to support MBOSC, there is a suggested donation of $5 per lecture.
• By making the transition to online programming, the trail stewardship is providing global outdoor enthusiasts with actionable education that they can implement within their home trail networks.
• This is a great way for trail users in the Bay Area to get a jump start on becoming an MBOSC Trail Crew Leader!
  • By taking classes 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 200, 210, and participating in five MBOSC volunteer events, attendees can become MBOSC Trail Crew Leaders for Dig Day groups, and qualify for subsidized Wilderness First Aid Training.

About Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz: Since 1997, Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBOSC) has worked to support, preserve, and expand trail access and responsible mountain biking in Santa Cruz County. The rapidly-growing non-profit organization is driven by passionate volunteers and high-caliber professional staff who promote legal and sustainable mountain bike access through trail building, races, events, and collaboration throughout the county. Strategic partnerships with land managers, other trail users, and the local bike industry help MBOSC build new trails and support sustainable mountain biking. www.mbosc.org

CONTACT: Katy Poniatowski

MBOSC Marketing & Communications Manager

(408) 705-5808 / [email protected]