Mountain Bike Summer Camp

ABOUT HIGHLAND CAMPS

Highland’s mission centers on Training and Trails: we build great trails and we teach people how to ride them. What better way to master Highland’s terrain than to spend those long summer days out on the hill, riding alongside our expertly trained summer camp coaches? Take your riding to the next level during one of our multi-day summer camp programs: Summer Ride and Ayr Academy.

Details:

• Located at Highland Mountain Bike Park in Northfield, NH — about a 90-minute drive north of Boston
• Day camp and overnight options available
• All programs include lift access, coaching, food, and a lifetime of memories

Highland Mountain Bike Park Facilities:

• More than 30 premier lift-accessed trails, ranging from beginner to pro lines
• Multiple skill-building areas
• Multiple jump parks
• HTC (9,100 square foot indoor training facility)

Summer Ride is a three-day camp for youth ages 8 to 13 who are interested in downhill mountain biking. Our Summer Ride sessions are designed to introduce riders to Highland Camps and help them feel prepared for the more rigorous Ayr Academy. Campers of all abilities will learn new skills, develop more confidence, make new friendships, and take their riding to the next level. Riders have the opportunity to focus on specific freeride and downhill skills with an emphasis on safety and rider etiquette.

Ayr Academy is a weeklong mountain bike summer camp for youth ages 11 to 16, led by professional riders and Highland’s dedicated coaching staff. Ayr Academy caters to both experienced teenage riders and young rippers who already have a solid skill base. No matter your ability level, if you like to ride we can teach you to do it better.

 ENROLLMENT FOR 2024 will open December 1st

Create a family account and be added to our mailing list here.

Pay in full at the time of your enrollment and you’ll receive an additional 5% off your base camp price.

2023 Session Dates

Session 1 | July 2 – July 8

Session 2 | July 9 – July 15

Session 3 | July 16 – July 22

Session 4 | July 23 – July 29

Session 5 | July 30 – August 5

Session 6 | August 6 – August 12

Ready to enroll in camp? Head to CampSite and follow these steps:
1. Create your child’s profile or log into an existing account.
2. Update your payment information.
3. Choose the session(s) you would like your child to attend, along with any bike, gear, or overnight rentals/add ons.
4. Complete the Standards of Conduct, Cancellation Policy, and Health History Part 1 forms.
5. Submit your request for enrollment.

Your enrollment request will be received by our Camps staff, who will review your request and process your enrollment once it has been approved. Our staff will review requests daily, Monday through Friday. You will receive two email notifications from us: one when your request has been received, and another when it has been accepted. (If you don’t see them in your inbox, be sure to check your spam folder!)

Once we approve your enrollment, your card will be charged according to your selected Payment Plan.

Once your camper has been enrolled, you will have eight weeks to submit all outstanding forms. Failure to complete your camp forms during the allotted time may result in your enrollment being revoked.

HIGHLAND CAMPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: 

The Highland Camps scholarship program was created to help assist a handful of motivated, passionate young riders for whom summer camp may represent a financial hardship. Highland Camps is pleased to be able to offer the following scholarships for 2023:

• Ayr Academy Full Ride: Covers one session of Ayr Academy, including optional overnight and rental add-ons. Awarded to one applicant.
• Summer Ride Full Ride: Covers one session of Summer Ride, including optional overnight and rental add-ons. Awarded to one applicant.
• $500 Camps Scholarship: Can be applied to any available Summer Ride or Ayr Academy session. Awarded to two applicants.
• $250 Camps Scholarship: Can be applied to any available Summer Ride or Ayr Academy session. Awarded to two applicants.

The Highland Camps Scholarship Application can be submitted via the “Forms” tab of your parent dashboard. Applications are due on January 31st. Winners will be notified in February.

You do not need to make a deposit in order to apply for a scholarship, and being actively enrolled with not affect your consideration. Scholarships may be applied toward any available session. (Eligible sessions may become limited as enrollments increase.) Scholarships are non-transferable and have no cash value.

Parent Info

Here at Highland, we understand how important choosing a summer camp experience is for you and your family. That’s why we’re here to help make the adventure-seeking a little easier.

Highland Mountain Summer Camps offer multi-day and overnight programs for youth with a focus on mountain biking. There’s no need to be intimidated, we cater to many rider abilities. Whether just starting to explore the park or near pro, we have the programs to help your child build their skills to the next level with a focus on Safety, Fun, and Learning.

And the fun doesn’t end on the mountain. When not riding, campers have the freedom to relax in the camp lounges or participate in other activities such as disc golf, gaga ball, basketball, pool, ping pong, and more.

We select coaches and staff who uphold our values and want to spend as much time at camp as the campers. All our camp staff brings youth camp experience to the table along with CPR/first aid and Highland Camps training. On top of that, our coaches are respected professionals in the mountain bike industry; they have a vast knowledge of the sport and what it takes to succeed.

Take a tour of the site and feel free to contact us with any questions at camps@highlandmountain.com

Thanks for stopping by,

Highland Camps Staff

SAFETY ◆ FUN ◆ LEARNING

Parent Handbook 

At Highland Camps safety is our highest priority, both physical and emotional. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that everyone on and off the mountain not only feels secure but that they are protected by our strict protocol.

Medical/First Aid
In the base area, we have a full-service nurses office dedicated to camp and able to address injuries, illnesses, and regular medication administration. Highland Mountain has a Patrol team on duty at all times campers are riding the park. Patrollers are well-trained in emergency response and rescue throughout the park. Everyone at Highland — staff, public, and campers — are constantly under the watchful eye of Highland Patrol.

Supervision
Highland Camps staff-to-camper ratio ensures a high degree of safety. Campers are always accompanied by coaches or counselors on the hill, in the dorms, on the camp shuttles, and during evening activities. We maintain a 1:8 staff to camper ratio when riding and at the dorms.

Camp Safety & Rules
From the moment campers arrive, our staff of experienced coaches and camp counselors ensures they are having a safe and fun experience. We do this by maintaining a strict safety protocol along with:

• Low camper-to-coach ratio
• 24/7 adult supervision
• Highly trained Patrol staff
• Full-service First Aid Base
• NO drugs or alcohol
• NO weapons, violence or abusive language
• NO theft or vandalism
• NO bullying
• NO aggressive and dangerous behavior
• Campers are not allowed to leave camp boundaries

Campers are expected to follow both Tilton School and Highland Mountain Bike Park rules and treat everyone at camp with courtesy and respect. Rules are strictly enforced, and violations will result in parent notifications and potential camper expulsion. If your camper is expelled from camp they will be removed from all activities and a immediate action for pick up must be communicated.

Coaching
The Highland coaching staff are all amazingly talented riders and passionate about sharing their knowledge of the sport with new riders. Our coaches are more than just great riders: they come from a variety of backgrounds that range from classically trained musicians to childhood development majors. Their skills and passions off the bike add another layer to the overall camp experience at Highland.

Camp begins every Monday with a skills assessment and goal evaluation. Campers are then broken up into groups based upon their skill set and riding goals. Our coach-to-camper ratio helps maximize safety and ensure a great camp experience.

OVERNIGHT CAMPER HOUSING

Summer Ride and Ayr Academy both offer Day Camp and Overnight options. 

Overnight Campers arrive at camp one day earlier than Day Campers, on Sunday afternoon. Overnight Campers are housed at Tilton School, a local private boarding school located about seven minutes from Highland. We eat breakfast and dinner in the school’s dining hall, and travel by bus to and from the mountain each day. Overnight campers return to Highland after dinner on select nights during the week for after-hours riding on the dirt jumps, slopestyle course, and HTC.

Most typically, Ayr Academy campers are housed in the Pfeiffer Dorm. Pfeiffer is a three-story building made up of double and triple rooms, with every two rooms joined by a shared bathroom. Summer Ride campers are housed in the Moore Dorm, which is a two-story building made up of double and triple rooms with communal bathrooms on both floors. Both dorm buildings also have their own common room, and have counselor staff living on every floor.

In the dorms, groups of six to ten campers are assigned to a specific counselor (or counselors) to be their go-to staff member for the week. These groups are organized by age and grade level, and room and roommate assignments are made accordingly. While riding groups may shift throughout the week, your counselor group remains constant.

Take a virtual tour of Tilton School’s campus here.

Parents interested in a tour of the facilities should contact camps@highlandmountain.com

MEALS

Lunch is provided to all campers by Highland Mountain each day. Both programs are served and eat lunch in our Camps Village.

Breakfast and dinner are provided to overnight campers at the Tilton School dining hall. Highland Camps staff work closely with Tilton School’s food service department to accommodate camper allergies and dietary restrictions.

Most if not all dietary restrictions and food allergies can be accommodated provided that adequate notice and information is provided when you enroll your child in camp.

FAQ