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 and adventures to the next level in one of our summer camp programs. Three distinct camp programs cater to riders of different ages, abilities, and interests.

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 skills training & progressions, food, and a lifetime of memories with new friends

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.

NEW for 2025: XC Camp is a weeklong cross-country MTB summer camp for kids ages 11 to 16. Campers explore New Hampshire’s best riding destinations with Highland’s dedicated coaching staff. Daily excursions include skills development, fun gameplay, and trail rides, helping youth form a lifelong passion for mountain biking and the outdoors. Each day begins and ends at Tilton School alongside our other camp programs.

Available
Session 3 | July 6 – July 12 (ages 11-13)

Session 4 | July 13 – July 19 (ages 14-16)

 ENROLLMENT FOR 2025 will open on December 1st

Request More Information Here
Start An Enrollment Application Here

Enroll before May 1st and you’ll receive an additional 5% off your base camp price if you pay in full.

2025 Session Dates

Session 1 | June 22 – June 28

Session 2 | June 29 – July 5

Session 3 | July 6 – July 12*

Session 4 | July 13 – July 19*

Session 5 | July 20 – July 26

Session 6 | July 27 – August 2

Session 7 | August 3 – August 9

 *All our camp weeks are coed, but if you’re looking to ride alongside a strong group of like-minded girls, consider signing up for Session 3 or 4 where we aim to connect more female riders with more female coaches. Let’s build an empowering and supportive community on the trails together!

Our Camp Staff will review enrollment applications, once applicants have completed the Standards of Conduct form your enrollment will be processed. Our staff will review requests daily, Monday through Friday. You will receive two email notifications from us: one when your application 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.

Enrolling in Multiple Sessions
You may enroll your camper in multiple sessions! For Ayr Academy campers, we strongly encourage you to limit your camper to no more than two consecutive sessions in order to manage fatigue.

Weekend supervision is ONLY available between Sessions 3 & 4 and Sessions 5 & 6. All other weekends, you must pick up your camper on Saturday and return on Sunday.

DISCOUNTS: 

Enroll before January 1st and save $100

• Enroll before May 1st and pay in full to save 5% off the base camp price
• Sibling discount – 5% off additional sibling base camp price 
• Multi-session discount – 10% off base camp price 
• 2025 Season Pass Holder – $75 off Ayr & $45 off Summer Ride
  The camper must have a 2025 season pass at the time of application

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 2025:

• 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 February 28th. Winners will be notified in March.

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.

The Highland Camps CIT Program is a development focused camp experience. CITs will learn and practice skills essential to success in both coaching and childcare roles. The CIT program will run from July 20 to August 2 (overlapping with Summer Camp sessions 5 & 6). CITs will be staying at the Tilton School Dorms alongside the campers. The program is offered in two week-long sessions. Applicants are welcome to apply for one or both of them based upon their goals, availability and desired learning. The sessions are as follows:

Week one is focused on general childcare and summer camp staffing skills. Between evening training and assisting with transitions and other camp operations, participants will gain valuable experience for a future as a camp counselor. Areas of learning include group management and leadership strategies, communication skills and more. CITs will ride as normal campers during this week.

Week two focuses on coaching skills during On-bike time. CITs will learn directly from their coaches through on-mountain demonstrations and off-bike feedback how to teach fundamental riding skills, alongside strategies for maintaining a high level of safety while on the trails. CITs who also attended week one will continue to practice those skills throughout the week, leading transitions and assisting with Summer Ride operations when possible.

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

Family Guide 

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, while the XC camp is exclusively for overnight campers.

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. Lunch is served in all programs, either in our Camps Village or a packaged picnic.

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.

Summer Camps Testimonials

Here at Highland, we think our summer camp program is pretty special–but you don’t have to just take our word for it! We asked some of our campers, coaches, guest pros, and alums what keeps them coming back every summer, and here’s what they have to say:

FAQ