SCOTT NYDAM FOUNDED Gallup’s Silver Stallion to help get kids interested in mountain biking. The club has grown from one middle school physical education mountain-bike program in 2018 to 13 in-school programs and six after-school development cycling programs. Trying an unfamiliar activity or visiting a new place has multiple benefits, he says. “It is this beautiful tool for self-improvement, learned optimism, and building a sense of personal agency.”
Do it together. You don’t need to be an expert to share an activity with your kids. In fact, your willingness to try—and possibly fail—is important. “The strongest resource is relationships and trust,” Nydam notes.
Start with safety and vocabulary. Encourage kids by focusing on the basics. “Simple coaching can create an incredibly different and better experience,” Nydam says.
Unplug to recharge. Kids can energize their self-confidence by taking a break from their computers and phones. “You go explore a place,” he says, “but at the same time, you kind of go explore your own mind.”
Expand horizons. Each activity—whether cycling, geocaching, rafting, or fishing—opens a world of possible experiences and connections. “It can help all of us relate to what we have in common,” Nydam says.
Read more: Throughout the state, one-of-a-kind summertime experiences in nature await.