Mountain Bike Ride Days for Wellington Schools
Fully Facilitated days that meet every student, whether a complete beginner on the school field or an experienced rider on real trails. Safe, curriculum-aligned, and a serious amount of fun.
WORD CREATES GOOD RIDERS AND GOOD HUMANS
Outdoor education for Wellington students
WORD uses mountain biking as a vehicle to build confidence, resilience, connection and a lifelong love of being active outdoors. A Ride Day gives your students a fun, safe and memorable introduction to riding and the riding community, and leaves them wanting to keep going after the day finishes.
Why Wellington schools choose WORD Ride Days
A Ride Day directly supports hauora, the model of wellbeing that underpins the NZ Health and Physical Education curriculum. Students develop:
Confidence
Stepping out of the comfort zone and trying something genuinely new.
Risk awareness
Assessing and calculating risk in a supported environment, a life skill, not just a bike skill.
Resilience
Falling short, having another go, and getting there.
Physical skills
Balance, coordination and fundamental bike handling, plus the wider benefits of riding.
Teamwork
Communication and cooperation through group games and challenges.
Connection to the outdoors
A love of the places New Zealand riding happens, and a habit that lasts.
What's included in a school Ride Day?
Fun confidence building games
Fundamental bike handling skills
Cornering, braking, climbing and descending
Team challenges and adventure activities
Trail etiquette and safe riding practices
Progressions for students of all abilities
Practice and qualifying adventure journeys (DofE)
Every Ride Day is fully facilitated by experienced WORD instructors and shaped around your school and students, from a single have-a-go ride session through to a programme supporting Duke of Edinburgh goals or other outdoor education credits.
Where it happens
School grounds, local parks, pump tracks or nearby mountain bike trails, or routes chosen around your location and the age and experience of the group.
Student kit list
What do students need to bring?
Please make sure every student arrives ready to ride with the right gear.
A checked and safe AS/NZS-certified helmet
Closed-toe footwear
A serviced bike with 2 working brakes
A rain jacket if leaving school grounds
Safe, accredited Ride Days for schools
Safety is built into how we run every Ride Day. It’s no secret that mountain biking is an inherently risky sport, but we believe the risk assessment skills students build through it are skills they use for life.
Our full Risk Management Plan and Site and Activity Management Plan can be provided on request for your EOTC file.
Registered Adventure Activity Operator, certified under WorkSafe New Zealand
One of the first organisations in Aotearoa to meet the Sport Integrity Code NZ, independently audited
Ability-based grouping and progressions, not a one-size-fits-all trail ride
A risk and weather contingency plan agreed with your school ahead of the day
GSMBC Qualified Instructors who specialise in working with young people
First aid trained instructors
All instructors police vetted and chosen to align with WORD values
Pre-session safety briefing plus bike and helmet checks
NCEA and EOTC alignment for school Ride Days
A Ride Day can work toward NZQA mountain biking unit standards across Levels 1 to 3, matched to your group's actual terrain and skill level.
20137 Level 1 · 2 credits
Grade 1 terrain: beginner, first-time or school-grounds sessions.
457 Level 2 · 2 credits
Grade 2 terrain: intermediate groups on local parks and easy trails.
20138 Level 2 · 2 credits
Bike set-up and maintenance, independent of terrain grade.
20817 Level 3 · 2 credits
Grade 3 terrain: experienced riders on genuine mountain bike trails.
Standards 20137, 20138 and 20817 carry a planned NZQA review date of 31 December 2026. We confirm current versions before anything goes into a formal proposal.
How a WORD Ride Day works
Here's exactly what to expect from first enquiry through to wrapping up and planning what's next.
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We put together a plan tailored to your students, your dates and your goals.
What you'll receive
A programme proposal covering session content, location options and length
A price estimate. WORD Ride in schools programmes are 100% customisable to your requirements. Pricing starts at $20pp for an introductory session up to $500pp for a 2D/1N fully equipped bike packing mission.
What we need from you
Preferred dates, year levels and approximate student numbers
Your objectives: have-a-go session, NCEA/EOTC credits, or Duke of Edinburgh
Feedback on the proposal so we can tailor it further
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Confirmation & agreementOnce you're happy with the plan, we lock in your booking, and request a 50% deposit to secure the dates.
What you'll receive
Booking confirmation
An invoice with payment terms set out clearly
What we need from you
Confirmation to proceed
Contact details for the on-the-day Teacher in Charge
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Where we make sure everything you need for EOTC sign-off is in place.
What you'll receive
Risk management information reflecting our Adventure Activity accreditation
A parent/caregiver link to book
WORD registration and consent form
A kit and gear list for students
What we need from you
Any additional consent form information specific to the school. All medical information is gathered through our consent process.
Confirmed or updated student numbers
A copy of your school's own risk assessment or EOTC form, if required
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In the week before, we finalise logistics on both sides.
What you'll receive
Confirmed instructor team and session run sheet
A weather contingency plan
What we need from you
Final student numbers
Any last-minute medical or support updates
On-the-day contact details
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The day itself, run by instructors who specialise in working with young people.
What happens on the day
Welcome and safety briefing
Skills games, bike handling and ability-based progressions
Team challenges and trail etiquette
A debrief with students at the end of the session
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Once the dust (and mud) has settled.
What you'll receive
A short feedback and evaluation form
Final invoice
Information on ongoing WORD programmes for students who want to keep riding
What we need from you
Your feedback
Final invoice payment within agreed terms
A note if you'd like to rebook
Mountain biking programmes beyond the Ride Day
For many students the Ride Day is the beginning, not the end. Schools can connect interested students to WORD programmes running all year, so they keep building skills long after the day finishes.
After-school sessions, weekly in term time
Family and community rides
Holiday camps in the school breaks
Youth development and assistant instructor pathways
Enquire about a Ride Day for your Wellington school
Tell us your dates, group sizes and what you want the day to achieve. We'll come back with a proposal built around your students and your calendar.
Brad - WORD (World Off-Road Riding Department)