Coaches from Marquette, Delta and Gogebic counties attend the recent Adventure Leadership Summit for the 906 Adventure Team, whose Adventure Bike Club is designed to introduce kids ages 5-17 to outdoor adventure. The Training focused on risk mitigation, proper incident reporting methods, emergency action plans, management of confidential information, and the Safe Sport Act. 906 Adventure Team leader Tony Lambert said the best way to ensure continuing success of the team’s mission is to host a leadership summit where leaders can interact and learn together. Todd Poquette, director of adventure, said the plan is to focus on the next 90 days, operating safely and letting kids have fun. Also, a group of high schoolers need the team’s help to prepare them for a Wisconsin competition in the fall. For details, visit 906adventureteam.com or email todd@906adventureteam.com. (Photo courtesy of the 906 Adventure Team)

MARQUETTE — Kids across the Upper Peninsula will get a chance to experience a summer of adventure thanks to 906 Adventure Team and a growing network of volunteer coaches committed to the organization’s mission.

Adventure Bike Club, a program designed to introduce kids 5-17 to outdoor adventure, has grown so rapidly the past two ears that 906 Adventure Team brought 100 AT leaders to Marquette recently for the inaugural Adventure Leadership Summit.

Coaches from Delta, Gogebic and Marquette counties gathered for a full day of training focused on risk mitigation, proper incident reporting methods, emergency action plans, management of confidential information and the Safe Sport Act, which is intended to keep kids protected and safe.

Leaders from across the Upper Peninsula were introduced to the 906 Adventure Team “Triangle of Trust,” a concept coined by Dr. Thomas Michael Kates that highlights the importance of trust between the organizations, or leaders; youths, or athletes; and parents/guardians. Training also covered basic wilderness first aid protocol, involving assessment of injured riders, potential complications arising from allergies and proper use of EPI-pens. U.P. Rehab sent a speaker to present concussion protocol and the ImPACT testing available to families, which creates a pre-injury baseline designed to make concussion diagnose more reliable.

906 Adventure Team leader Tony Lambert said the best way to ensure continual success of the 906AT mission is to host a leadership summit where leaders can interact and learn together.

“Every Adventure Team leader walked away knowing know their role reaches beyond ‘getting kids on bikes,'” Lambert said in a news release.

“We’re here to help inspire kids to become the best possible versions of themselves, on and off the trail. 906AT does this in a very structured environment, teaching trail etiquette, bike skills and techniques to overcome challenges on the trail. It’s even more rewarding to see them apply the same characteristics, determination and durability off the trail.”

When asked about the future and what lies ahead for the 906 Adventure Team, Director of Adventure Todd Poquette said, “First, we need to focus on the next 90 days, operate safely and leave kids with a summer of fun memories. Second, we have a group of high school athletes depending on us to prepare them for competition in Wisconsin this fall.

“We have a handful of seniors graduating. I’d like to see them challenge for the top step in our division. We also have two large events run by our organization during that time, so the next six months is all hands-on-deck.” This fall and into the winter, the team will refine its systems, review what was learned this year and leverage those lessons to get better for 2020, he said.

“I don’t like to make guarantees, but I can make one confidently — we’re not planning to slow down anytime soon,” Poquette said.

906 Adventure Team is a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to empowering kids to discover the best version of themselves through outdoor adventure. To learn more, visit 906adventureteam.com.