September 23rd – 30th
#BeActive all year long – not just for The Week
The European Week of Sport was launched 7 years ago in an effort to respond to the growing crisis of inactivity, particularly within youth. The Week of Sport exists to improve awareness of the importance an active lifestyle has for everyone with a focus on three creative pillars;
- Youth
- Inclusion and equality
- Healthy lifestyle
Participation in cycling across the board increased significantly due to the pandemic. Within our member network alone, our members saw an increase in the number of mountain bikers on local trails. Even though participation in sports increased during the covid 19 pandemic, there are still a lot of people living sedentary lifestyles, particularly the youth. We want to continue to encourage more kids on the trails through the ‘Take a kid mountain biking day’ campaign. IMBA Europe maintains that mountain biking should be a sport accessible to all, and is one of the physical activities that can make a significant difference in the wellbeing of European citizens. Taking a kid mountain biking is an opportunity to open up the world of mountain biking to children who might not otherwise have access to the outdoors.
Mountain biking is an outdoor sport that encapsulates all three pillars identified by the European commission (Youth, Inclusion & Equality, Healthy lifestyle). However, access to mountain biking can be limited due to a variety of factors such as; lack of mountain biking infrastructure i.e. limited access to trails close to home; financial barriers; lack of inclusion and diversity- You can’t be what you can’t see.
Youth, sport and nature connectedness.
Participation in sport and connectedness to nature are important in supporting youth towards better physical and mental health. Engaging in outdoor sports such as mountain biking gives youth the opportunity to engage with, and connect with the natural environment, helping to build lifelong stewards of the trails. The annual ‘Take a kid mountain biking day, held on the first Saturday of October,’ has been a great way to introduce mountain biking to another generation. Many of the kids participating have gone on to become passionate mountain bikers and stewards of the trails. We would like to highlight all the positive aspects of mountain biking through the Week of Sport, to show policy makers and stakeholders why better access is important for our sport.
“Sports supports youth in their journey towards better physical and mental health, self-confidence, and resilience”.
Take a kid mountain biking 2022
This year the ‘Take a kid mountain biking’ campaign will run during the European Week of Sport. This allows for a whole week of opportunities for our members, partners and supporters to better engage with the youth – the future generations of mountain biking. Tell your stories through our social media channels using the hashtag #BeActive and tagging the European Network of Sport
Tips on planning your ‘Take a kid mountain biking day’.
In light of the theme of the three pillars of the European Week of Sport, we have put together a few activity ideas that you and your kids can enjoy. Creating positive ride vibes means forming better relationships with the natural environment, other trail users and ourselves. IMBA has put together a short document on how to best organise your Take a kid mountain biking day, with some simple practical advice. You can find the document here.
Activity ideas:
Want to include something different in your TKMBD? Highlighted below are some of our favourite resources collected from our friends at Trash Free Trails and IMBA US. In 2023, IMBA Europe will be sharing its own resources which are being developed as part of the SEE Project (Sustainability and Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports). Our aim is to provide resources for our members, guides, trainers, trail builders, clubs and mountain biking associations with reference to environmental education in the outdoors.
Here are a few of our favourite activities to include in your ‘Take a kid mountain biking day’.
- Trash Mob academy 40 minute class – the Trash Mob Academy we use litter and cycling as a catalyst for nature connection and improved self esteem.
- Purposeful adventures – Take your kids out on a purposeful adventure and learn how to leave a positive trace.
- Plant identification activity with PLantNet Plant identification → Get your kids to engage with and learn about the natural spaces they recreate in.
- Follow the IMBA Ride vibe guideline – promote inclusivity, safety, respect and enjoyment on the trails!
- Trail maintenance day – As the trail building season begins to wind down, and summer has concluded, why not organise a kids trail maintenance event? Involve mum, dad , the neighbours and your furry friends!
- Get involved with one of the many ‘Kidical Mass activities’ around Europe. Trails not available close to home? Why not get involved with one of the Kidical mass rides September 24th/25th and highlight why better mountain biking infrastructure is important in achieving the three creative pillars of the European Week of Sport.
Media Assets:
The European Week of Sport has included both communication and branding documents should you choose to engage with the campaign. IMBA Europe has created two JPEG files which can be used by your organisation using the branding guidelines from the campaign. Feel free to add your logo to the images and share on your social media pages.
European Week of Sport – Media assets and more information is available via the link HERE
Take a Kid Mountain Biking assets HERE – This includes, number plates to print off and use.