This season Hidden Valley Nature Center hosted its first-ever Mountain Biking Club for kids ages 8 to 12.  For six Sunday afternoons the bikers met to explore the nature center by bike, and learn by experience the fundamentals of mountain biking: negotiating mud, rocks, moss, wet leaves, ledges, downed trees and slippery bridges.

Coaches Mike Howland and Kenneth Kortemeier, led club members Theo Crocetti, Liam Card, Aiden Jacobs, Conrad Kortemeier, Charlie Moss, Eoin O'Mahoney and Tate Whitmore. And parents Josh Jacobs, Bill Card, Chris Whitmore, Howie Moss, Al Crocetti and Kristin Stone rode along with the group sharing skills and enthusiasm. Together the club explored over 20 miles of trails. By the end of the season the group knew their way around the landscape in a way not so easily accomplished on foot.

The club will reconvene again in the spring of 2014 for six weeks of riding before black fly season. New riders are always welcome and encouraged.  Look for more information later this winter on www.hvnc.org.

Hidden Valley Nature Center is committed to providing healthy living and recreation opportunities to Midcoast Maine. More information, schedules and event listings for outdoor recreation at HVNC is available online. Be sure to take a look at the upcoming kids cross-country ski clinic, as well as the cross-country ski seasonal equipment lease program.

For more information on HVNC, visit hvnc.org, call 207-200-8840, or email info@hvnc.org.