Respect is one of Teen Trail Corps four badges. To remain an active participant within the trail user community, it is important to have Respect for yourself, fellow teammates, your coaches, equipment, other members of the community and the environment. We work on Respect by educating and advocating stewardship from a youth driven initiative that will teach trail etiquette that can last a lifetime.
To earn the Respect badge student-athletes must complete four activities within the Respect category. Your coach must confirm that you completed each activity.
We understand that the time and effort will vary with each of these activities. In general, plan on each activity varying from 1-4 hours. If you are unsure if your ideas fit within the respective categories, consult your coach for additional input. You must have permission from your parent or guardian to participate in any activity that takes place outside official NICA events.
“I wrote an essay and completed a facebook post.”
Teen Trail Corps Participant
“I expanded my relationship with the BCRD, the Wood River Bike Coalition and also my team. All three helped me complete this, the Teen Trail Corps, and I am really happy that they did because I would not have done it without them.”
Teen Trail Corps Respect Participant
Activities Options
Photo credit: Austin McInerny
1) Treating the environment with respect and kindness
Brief description
- Know what it means to ride a bike with respect using Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly Principles.
How to guidelines
- Research the IMBA Rules of the Trail, Leave No Trace principles, and Tread Lightly tips.
- Share with your coach what these principles are and how they apply to mountain biking.
- Choose one set of principles and present to your team how they apply to mountain biking.
Examples and Resources
2) Treating others with respect and kindness
Brief description
- Display consistent measures of respect and kindness when on shared use trails and with other community members.
How to guidelines
- Make a commitment in writing to your coach how you plan to demonstrate strong character by respecting the coach staff, fellow teammates, and broader community.
- Demonstrate this commitment both in and outside NICA events.
Examples and Resources
3) Building a strong connection with the environmental community
Brief description
- Meet and greet with environmentalist groups in your community, for example, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, local parks’ “friends” group, etc.
How to guidelines
- Tell your coach and parents your plans to connect with the local environmental community. Ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision when completing the next steps.
- Connect with your local trails group as they are typically cued into land management practices that would be of relevance to mountain bikers and have connections to local environmental groups.
- Reach out to your local environmental groups, introduce yourself and begin the relationship.
- Interview environmental groups regarding mountain biking on the local public lands and document the interview. Take photos with your interviewees and summarize interview in a one pager.
- Write an essay (500 + words) regarding how you help to preserve great mountain bike experiences.
- Attach this essay, your interview summary, and photos to the TTC Tracking Form.
Examples and Resources
4) Teach others how to show respect for the environment and community
Brief description
- Make a presentation to your team, your school class, a community group, or another group of individuals what it means for a mountain bike rider to respect the environment and trail community.
How to guidelines
- Educate others on respect for the trail/leave no trace. Accomplish this by creating a google slide/infographic and outline a one sheet plan as to how you will introduce your work to a group of individuals.
- Create a 20-30 minute presentation regarding how you as a respectful mountain biker help to create and enhance great natural experiences.
- Make this presentation to a group of mountain bikers, classmates, or other community group.
- If presenting to another group outside your team or school, ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision.
- Share your presentation on the online TTC Tracking Form.
Examples and Resources
5) Developing positive community relations
Brief description
- Document affirmations of positive behavior and constructive input from within your community, for example, land managers, local trail group representatives, fellow student-athletes and/or coaches.
How to guidelines
- Tell your coach and parents your plans to document affirmations of positive behavior. Ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision when completing the next steps.
- Reach out to individual locals representing a variety of types of trail users, advocacy groups, land managers, and fellow NICA riders.
- Interview these individuals and compile a creative video depicting their affirmations of positive behavior and constructive input.
- Attach or link to this video on the TTC Tracking Form.
6) Expand on relationships
Brief description
- Continue to develop a meaningful relationship with your local trail group.
How to guidelines
- Tell your coach and parents your plans to develop a meaningful relationship with your local trail group. Ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision when completing the next steps.
- Reach out to your local trail group or a variety of local groups if the option exists.
- Ask questions about the group such as:
- What ways you can be involved.
- Is there a membership option?
- What are the costs and what do members usually do with their membership?
- Are there benefits to joining?
- How large is their membership base and how active are members?
- And more!
- Consider joining your local trail group or environmental organization! Write an essay or blog piece outlining your pros and cons of joining the association.
- Attach this essay to the TTC Tracking Form.
Recording Activities for the Respect Category:
- Once you have completed each activity for the Respect Category:
- Report your work in the online TTC Tracking Form
- Your coach will be emailed for approval. Confirm with your coach that it has been approved.
- You're done! Go share your story on social media using #TeenTrailCorps
- Once you have completed at least four activities for the Respect Category, apply for your badge in the online TTC Award Application