Junior Mountain Biking Camp

Junior Mountain Biking Camp will not be offered in the summer of 2024, but normal camp activities plan to resume in summer 2025.

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Email sportscamps@mtu.edu to be added to our list for future announcements, notifications, and reminders.

 

Week 1: June 18 - 22, 2023

Week 2: June 25 - 29, 2023

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Reviews

Check out some of our happy campers from last year!

 

 

     

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Camp Overview

See the Camp's Daily Schedule.

Ride through beautiful scenery on well-maintained trails of the local area, including the Michigan Tech Trails, Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids, and the Copper Harbor MTB Trails. Gain experience at your own pace as you develop riding skills, get training ideas, learn race strategies, set goals, and tackle some of the coolest single-track in the Midwest. Our elite coaching staff includes pro racers, past pro racers, and local and collegiate racers as well.

What to Expect

Three to six hours of riding per day. We will spend the majority of the time on our bikes and building our skills. Expect to be riding a lot and plan to be in shape prior to coming to camp. Expect challenging, fun trails that will push you to improve your riding, as well as fun, flowy trails that will keep you stoked to do the work! Some trail systems will require a longer drive to get to, but the time spent is worth it. Expect full days of fun on bikes as well as other awesome recreational adventures in the evenings!

Special Requirements

This is a junior camp for cyclists ages 13 to 17. Cyclists must be a minimum age of 13 (and not over 17) during camp. We will instruct campers to train at paces and riding levels that are appropriate for them; however, the camp may be intense for novice riders. Campers with any race or high school MTB competition experience will be a great fit for this camp.

Campers will need their own bike (with disc brakes and appropriate gearing for serious off-road riding) and a helmet.

Other popular/helpful items to bring include riding gloves, multiple riding kits, multiple cycling chamois, water bottles/bladders, spare/extra bike parts including tubes, bacon strips, a patch, tools, etc. It is also suggested campers bring snacks and drinks for the residence hall and with them during the day. 

Location

Michigan Technological University is located in Houghton, in the heart of the Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan. The town and campus are only a few minutes from the scenic shores of Lake Superior. Take a tour of the Tech campus, the Copper Country, and the Community or view the Interactive Campus Map.

Staying On Campus

2023 Live-In Participant Handbook

Residence Hall

Live-in participants stay in Wadsworth Hall on Michigan Tech's campus, just a short walk from the Student Development Complex (SDC) and Tech Trails, where Michigan Tech Sports Camps are held. Rooms in the residence hall are furnished with bunk beds, dressers, and desks. Dorm rooms are not air-conditioned, so students are encouraged to bring a fan. Linens, pillows, and blankets are provided. Students must bring two to three towels. Restrooms and showers are conveniently located on each floor. The residence hall has lounges, cable TV, and a recreation room. Laundry facilities are available. Students must bring their own laundry supplies. Participants receive round-the-clock supervision. Note: Lost key $75.

Room Occupancy Policy

Participants living in the residence hall will room with members of their own age group. Rooms are equipped for two people. We do not take requests for 3-person rooms. 

Roommate requests must be made by both participants and will be asked for on the confirmation packets that participants receive. 

Participants not requesting a specific roommate will be paired up with another person in their age group. All roommate assignments are prepared ahead of time, not at check-in.

Meals

In general, the residence hall cafeteria provides live-in participants breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. Please refer to the Daily Schedule for differences in meal options and locations. Special dietary needs and allergies will be asked for on the confirmation packet that participants receive after being accepted into camp. You can always call our office in advance to discuss your participant's situation, and we can put you in touch with our Dining Services Team for a proactive approach to ensure a great experience at our camp.

Supervision and Campus Security

Counselors, residence hall coordinators, and head counselors supervise participants whenever they are not in their camp activity. We hire undergraduate mentors and include intensive training in safety, age-appropriate activities, and diversity.

Participants have constant supervision. They are not allowed to leave the designated campus area without accompaniment by a staff member.

Our campus is secure. While we rarely have problems, we recognize the value of keeping valuable possessions safe. A free "safe deposit" service where participants can store money and valuables such as extra cash, laptops, or other items. Valuable possessions are individually stored where the participant can access them at any time. The balance of stored cash is tracked, and participants must initial each withdrawal.

• The residence halls are locked from 10 p.m.–6:30 a.m.
• Individual rooms lock and participants are responsible for their own room keys. Michigan Tech Sports Camps is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• No one is allowed on the Sports Camps floors of the residence hall without a Sports Camps ID.
• Michigan Tech is ranked as the safest college campus in the nation.
• The campus is patrolled by full-time police officers.

Parking

Live-in participants who drive themselves to camp are asked to park in Lot 17 Upper for the duration of camp. Upon check-in, parking passes will be available for purchase. The cost of the pass is $20. Keys will be surrendered at the time of check-in and returned at check-out at the end of camp.

Prescription Medication

All students taking prescription medications are required to bring and turn in medication in single-dose packets that are pre-dosed for the correct time they are taken. Please use an online pharmacy that provides pre-dosing, like PillPack by Amazon (a free service, you only pay your copays). These services can take 2 weeks to get your prescriptions set up so please plan. This does not include over-the-counter medications. If you have any medications that are not available for pre-dosing through an online pharmacy, please contact us so we can work out a plan with you.

We can provide many over-the-counter medications as needed, please do not send these with your child. In your confirmation paperwork, you will have the opportunity to authorize our staff to provide specific over-the-counter medications or not. In addition, we are happy to create an individual medication plan with you upon request.

Check-In and Check-Out 

Check-In Procedure

Live-in participants check in at Wadsworth Hall on Sunday at 4:00pm. Upon arrival, park in Lot 15W at the front of Wadsworth Hall and follow the direction of the greeters/signs for our curbside (outdoor) check-in. Please leave all personal belongings in your vehicle until after the check-in process has been finished. Folders, medicine collection, contact information verification, and photos will be taken. You will be directed to drive around back to enter the building at a separate entrance with your child and meet another staff member to assist you. Once participants are settled in their rooms, welcome meetings with counselors will take place on-floor.

Late Arrival Procedure

If a participant will arrive late due to an emergency, please call the Summer Youth Programs 24-Hour Emergency Line 906-483-7651.

Late Arrivals must be pre-approved two weeks prior to the camp check-in date. To request a late arrival, please call 906-487-2975 or email sportscamps@mtu.edu.

When our participants are set to arrive late, parents and participants first must report to the front desk at Wadsworth Hall to check in and meet with a head counselor who will have materials ready for them when they arrive. The parent and participant will go through check-in procedures and drop off their luggage in their assigned room. Once this is taken care of, a counselor will escort the participant to wherever they need to be.

Daily Parking for Parents

Parents are allowed to park in SDC Lot 22 (at the main entrance to the SDC) for up to 2 hours at a time. Parking for longer than 2 hours Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:00pm, requires a parking permit which will be available at the time of check-in for those parents and commuter campers that require them (or during business hours in SDC Office 142). You must display the permit on the driver-side dashboard while parked in Lot 22. The permit is valid only for the dates listed on the permit. No permit is required after 4:00pm on Friday through Sunday evening unless the vehicle will be parked overnight. Please contact Transportation Services if you will need to park overnight. Parking tickets will be issued to violating vehicles and will not be the responsibility of Michigan Tech Sports Camps.

Check-Out Procedure

Live-in campers check out at Wadsworth Hall at 9:00am on Thursday. Upon arrival, pull into Parking Lot (17L) at the back of Wadsworth Hall (on Woodlawn Drive) and pull into a parking spot. All participants need to be signed out with our staff prior to leaving the parking lot. Parents will then drive their children up to the OAP/Tech Trails for the conclusion of camp.

Contact Information

Meet the Coordinator

Jared Johnson has been working as a professional Outdoor Educator for 17 years, with 10+ years in the Keweenaw. Tasked with starting an Outdoor Adventure Program (OAP) at Michigan Tech in 2006, Jared has been the director since its start, with a break from 2010-2012. The OAP operates a full-service outdoor recreation equipment rental center, trip leading and planning services, and clinics and workshops all focused on outdoor recreation. In addition, Jared and the OAP have developed the Great Northern Adventure Race, the Breakers to Bridge Paddle Festival and co-host the Bigfoot Snowshoe Event. As an avid mountain biker, he was drawn to the Keweenaw and the amazing trail systems that have been growing for the last 18 years. Jared has coordinated biking trips to Moab and Fruita for university students on spring break, as well as local trips for students. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator.

Email: jaredmj@mtu.edu

2023 Coaches 

More coaches will be announced soon!)

Brian Matter is the head coach for Michigan Tech's Junior Mountain Biking Camp. He races for the Trek Bicycles and the Linear Sport Racing Team. Brian has ridden his way to the top of the cycling world, having represented Team USA at the MTB World Junior Championships in Australia and the Cyclo-cross World Championships in the Netherlands. Brian helped launch the camp in 2010 and is super excited for year #14!

Pete Karinen has been racing since he was five years old. After a successful junior career that included three National Championship medals, he earned his professional license at the age of 18. He has held the title of Single Speed National Champion, second place overall in the WORS Pro Men category, and was selected as part of the National team to compete at the 2017 World Cup finals.

 

Paul Fabian had the opportunity to ride on multiple cycling development teams since then, including Team High Gear, Arizona Devo, and the Bear Development / Pro Team. Through these programs, Paul raced for USA Cycling at multiple events in Canada and in Europe, which has served as an incredible experience. Paul rode to multiple National Championship podiums, and hopes to continue to add to this list of accolades, while continuing to show gratitude to the cycling community who has helped along the way contribute to his success.

 

Grayson Dunham has served as a student coach for the Jr. Mountain Biking Camp for the past two summers and will be back for one more. Grayson has been continuing to add to his skill set on the trails over the years, including breaking some bones to get there. Grayson has led multiple rides and helps to coordinate the transportation and meals for the campers.

 

Myles Carey has served as a student coach for the Jr. Mountain Biking Camp for the past two summers and will be back for one more. Myles tends to ride with the more adventurous campers who like to hit the jumps, drops and more extreme features on the trail systems. Myles has competed in multiple enduro, DH and fewer XC races and helps to coordinate the transportation and meals for the campers.

 

Dylan Romzek is a new student coach and we hope that he will learn the good from Myles and Grayson and keep all of his bones in one piece.