4 day Teen Girls - ‘Bike Pack with Mack’ (or Barney the banana…)

Teenage girls face a complex mix of challenges on their journey to adulthood including unrealistic beauty standards, rigid stereotypes and a world that sometimes underestimates them. They have unique needs when it comes to participation in sport, and for their growth and well-being in general.

This week @littlefrogflower had the privilege of supporting five awesome teenage girls (and one Barney the Banana) to plan and complete a three day bike packing trip over the Remutakas and around the Wild Coast Track back to Wellington as part of the WORD - NZ Youth Mountain Biking! teen programme.

WORD is youth-centred, which means we empowered the group to design the trip they wanted to do and made sure the focus was on what was important to them. Needless to say it was a whole lot of fun, plenty of laughs, talking and connection, while riding 110km mostly off-road, carrying all their own gear in the wind, rain and sunshine. They finished with a massive sense of achievement and strong friendships.

Being part of WORD - NZ Youth Mountain Biking! is truely special. The only youth mountain biking organisation in Wellington to be Adventure Activity Operator certified by WorkSafe and a place where young people can truly be themselves - safe, supported and seen.

Words by Abbie Bull aka @littlefrogflower

#confidence #connection #adventure
#youthdevelopment #mountainbiking
#bikepacking #girlpedalpower