PLAY & CONNECT
IN 2025

BLUE RIDGE, GA – March 8, 2024 – The Georgia Cycling Association announced today the creation of the ‘Trail Rangers’, a youth mountain bike program for students in grades 3 through 5. This program will be open to all public, private, and home school students and will be activated by community volunteers across the state.

“We changed the face of youth mountain biking in Georgia over ten years ago when we announced the creation of our mountain bike league. Today, we do it again as we introduce the Trail Rangers program. Through this program, we aim to introduce kids to the thrills of mountain biking in an environment tailored specifically to elementary-aged children. The result will be a community of young riders who will carry their love for cycling forward in life,” stated Kenny Griffin, Executive Director of the Georgia Cycling Association.

The new elementary school program is designed to provide a mindful and fun environment for children to learn, play, and connect with others through the joys of mountain biking. With a focus on skill development through gameplay, making new friends, and fostering a love of the outdoors, the Trail Rangers emphasizes “play and connect” as its core theme.

The Trail Rangers launch is being made possible through grants from the Chestnut Family Foundation and Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund (AFYF), an associate-led fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

Griffin added, “Without the support of these two amazing community-minded organizations, we would not be able to launch this program next year. Georgia is fortunate to have these two foundations that lead with compassion and are dedicated to improving the lives of families across our state.”  

Ben Chestnut, Trustee of the Chestnut Family Foundation said, “We believe that all children should have access to resources that enable them to be healthy, build self-confidence, and enjoy life. The Trail Rangers program will become exactly that resource in communities throughout Georgia. We are thrilled to support this statewide program which aims to help children develop healthy habits at a young age that can last a lifetime.”

"I had the pleasure of attending a Georgia Cycling Association event and was struck by the remarkable dedication displayed by both youth and parents, despite the promise of little to no lucrative rewards. This dedication speaks volumes about the importance of such events to those involved. The high-energy level activities required at these events align perfectly with AFYF's guiding theme, ensuring that children remain active for the betterment of their future. Organizations like Georgia Cycling not only promote physical health but also instill invaluable character qualities from an early age," said Atlanta Falcons Youth Fund Committee Member, Obi Cheyney.

Additional details including the locations of Trail Rangers programs and registration information are expected to be released in the second half of 2024. The inaugural Trail Rangers season is scheduled to begin March 3, 2025.