From Expo to Trail: A Cub Scout Troop’s Mountain Biking Journey
The Missouri River Outdoor Expo gave many kids and families their first taste of mountain biking. For one Cub Scout troop from North Bend, Nebraska, though, the experience meant even more.
After the 2025 Expo, Cub Scout Troop Leader Amy Voss contacted THOR because her troop enjoyed our mountain biking exhibit and activities. She explained that the scouts were excited but didn’t have local options for youth mountain biking. Amy asked if THOR could help set up a ride so the scouts could earn their bicycle badge and keep building their confidence on the trails.
THOR staff Abraham, Jenn, and Melissa met with Amy to learn more about the troop’s goals. They then organized a group ride at Wilderness Park for 10 Boy Scouts, ages 6 to 14, and several parents. The scouts needed to ride 5 miles to earn their badge, but the event soon became about more than just the distance.
The ride started with introductions and a short overview of THOR and our love for biking and trails. Abe taught the group basic mountain biking skills like braking, looking ahead on the trail, and shifting gears. The scouts practiced safe riding, trail awareness, and keeping good spacing through follow-the-leader activities.
As the group rode through Wilderness Park’s winding trails, they learned about trail etiquette and how to share the space with hikers and other users. A highlight of the day was the scouts playing “telephone” while riding, calling out hills, hikers, and stops to those behind them. This activity made the ride fun and also helped build their communication and safety skills. The troop rode approximately 5 miles, taking regular breaks for water, high fives, and encouragement. By the end of the ride, several scouts asked if they could continue for another 5 miles and wanted to know when the next THOR ride would be.
Wilderness Park was the perfect setting for the ride. Its beautiful scenery and smooth trails gave the scouts a place to challenge themselves, build confidence, and enjoy riding in nature. Everyone left smiling, proud of what they achieved, and eager to return to the trails.
This group ride was more than just a success—it showed the lasting impact of community events like the Missouri River Outdoor Expo. The ride helped connect youth to mountain biking and showed families how they can keep enjoying the sport in their own communities.
We can already see the impact. Since the Expo, Amy Voss, her husband Dave, and their three boys have kept riding bikes together as a family. They’re having new adventures, spending more time outside, and growing closer through biking.
Watching families make biking and outdoor activities part of their daily lives is the kind of lasting impact THOR wants to inspire.
Photos by Eric Freudenburg
