GROC Genesee Regional Off-Road Cyclists

Although it is well known in the area as an excellent summer day-camp, YMCA Camp Arrowhead in Pittsford is not (yet) as widely known as having a gem of a mountain biking program.

The mountain bike program is in its third year.  Although the camp is surrounded on three sides by Powder Mills Park, it is currently illegal to ride bikes on trails in this or any other Monroe County Park.  So, for the previous two years, the campers and the bikes had to be transported to Dryer Road Park in Victor, Ontario County, the closest park offering shared use trails.

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Then, this past spring, the Camp Director, Mike Reed, and the Buildings and Grounds Director, Beryl Remacle-Grimm decided to develop shared-use trails within the Camp for biking, hiking and other activities.  They met with members of GROC (Genesee Regional Off-Road Cycling), a local volunteer organization whose mission includes designing, building and maintaining sustainable shared-use trails, who were eager to help and advise.  Volunteers from the mountain biking community joined with Camp staff on several work days in April and May, to build trails.  Now, since the summer camping season has been in full swing, the campers, under staff guidance, are continuing to create more trails.  Each Wednesday, they devote three hours to learning and applying fundamentals of sustainable (erosion-resistant) trial design, building and maintenance.  Through the program they learn how to ride skillfully, safely and responsibly with proper trail etiquette, under the direction of Sean Keyes, mountain bike counselor and Terrence Mcelduff, assistant camp director and specialty director.  The goal is for them to have fun at the same time as they are learning trail stewardship.  They also learn the importance of proper bike maintenance and repair.  Bikes are cleaned and inspected at least every other day.

Details learned on a tour of the Camp with Director Reed include:
•    There are six 1-week mountain biking camp sessions accommodating up to 15 campers in each, all from 5th grade up.
•    There are now over 3 miles of trails in the Camp
•    Having the entire program on site not only enhances the experience, but has reduced the cost by $600 per week by eliminating the need for a bus to transport the campers and staff and a cargo van to transport the bikes to Dryer Road every day.  They also regain the two hours a day of program time previously lost in commuting.  Furthermore, the campers learn the value of reducing their carbon footprint to enjoy this activity without commuting to do it.
•    There has been no incident of a biker colliding with any of the 400 campers who also regularly use the trails for hiking and other activities

Future plans include:
•    Developing more trails
•    Developing a “skills area” which has camper-designed and constructed features (structures) that help them learn balance and advanced riding techniques
•    A cyclocross race is scheduled for October 25.  This is expected to draw expert riders from a wide area
•    A Grand Opening in October is being planned to introduce the public to the trails and the fine program.  They hope to encourage people to volunteer in future development
•    A Mountain Biking Skills Learning Program is being planned to run every Saturday in the fall both with youth and adult groups.

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