Serve is one of Teen Trail Corps four badges. To serve others demonstrates your commitment to making mountain biking more accessible on a local, regional and national scale while also growing as an individual. Together in partnership with our NICA community, we work to serve a strong body and mind by engaging in the stewardship and construction of environmentally sustainable and responsible trails.

To earn the Serve badge student-athletes must complete four activities within the Serve 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.

Activities Options

1)  Build relationships with the local trails group

Brief description

  • Reach out to your local trail advocacy group; introduce yourself and what being a TTC member means to NICA.

How to guidelines

  • Tell your coach and parents your plans to connect with the local trails group. Ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision when completing the next steps.
  • If you are not already a member you should consider joining your local trail advocacy group.
  • Seek avenues to help them in the community to gain a better reputation or more access for mountain biking.
  • Volunteer for local efforts and document those efforts.
  • Write a summary of your efforts/relationships built and have the president of the association or acting board member sign off on your documentation.
  • Attach your summary to the TTC Tracking Form.

Examples and Resources

2)  Build relationships with land managers

Brief description

  • Find out who manages the land where you ride (e.g. US Forest Service, BLM, National Park, State Park). Reach out to them; introduce yourself and explain to them what NICA and TTC means for their lands.

How to guidelines

  • Tell your coach and parents your plans to connect with the local land managers. Ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision when completing the next steps.
  • Offer to volunteer in any way to get better acquainted with them and the way they manage the local lands.
  • Provide copies of email correspondences or documented interviews you’ve conducted with them about specific mountain biking related topics in your TTC Tracking Form.

Examples and Resources

3)  Participate in your NICA league volunteer efforts

Brief description

  • Each NICA league has a volunteer network and continuously needs volunteers throughout the year for various events.

How to guidelines

  • Sign up and participate one or more of your league race events including venue setup and cleanup.
  • Look for other opportunities to volunteer for your league.
  • Have the volunteer coordinator sign off on your time spent.

Examples and Resources

4)  Participate in local trail group volunteer efforts

Brief description

  • Local trail groups organize volunteer trail maintenance days throughout the year.  This is a great way to give back to the trails you train on.

How to guidelines

  • Tell your coach and parents your plans to connect with the local trail group. Ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision when completing the next steps.
  • Connect with your local IMBA chapter, local mountain bike club and or land manager, and ask about their volunteer efforts for the upcoming months.
  • Have the volunteer coordinator sign off on your time spent.

Examples and Resources

“I helped a local group, MORCA, reroute a trail located in Fort Ord, Salinas. We spent the day clearing brush, packing dirt, and closing the old trail off. “

Teen Trail Corps Serve Participant

“Participated in 4 hours of trail maintenance with my team and (Coach) and learned proper irrigation and brush removal for better visibility on the trail.

Teen Trail Corps Serve Participant

5)  Participate in a volunteer trail maintenance training or workshop

Brief description

  • Attending a trail maintenance training or workshop is a fantastic way to understand the dynamics of trail design and maintenance within a short format.

How to guidelines

  • Tell your coach and parents your plans to join a trail maintenance workshop. Ask your coach, parent or guardian for supervision when completing the next steps.
  • Connect with your local trail advocacy group or your NICA league to find out when an upcoming trail maintenance workshop will be held
  • Document the visit with a video, blog post or social media presence.
  • Attach this documentation or provide a link to the TTC Tracking Form.

Examples and Resources

Recording Activities for the Serve Category:

  • Once you have completed each activity for the Serve 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 Serve Category, apply for your badge in the online TTC Award Application