Program encourages girls to get out on the trail

Whitefish Legacy Partners, along with several community partners, has created a series of events designed to get teenage girls out hiking, biking and volunteering.

The Girls on the Trail program is intended to get teenage girls ages 12-15 out on the Whitefish Trail.

Margosia Jadkowski, with Whitefish Legacy Partners, said all experience levels are welcome to participate in the program from beginners to those with more experience looking to advance their skills.

“These activities are designed to get them out there enjoying the open space and know that it’s there for everybody in a supportive, positive environment where they can learn and grow,” Jadkowski said.

The program includes four outings in September including hiking, biking and a trail work day.

“This is a new program that we’ve been dreaming up as a way to connect so many different organizations that are doing different things in the same context,” she said. “It’s about connecting them to mountain biking, hiking and personal growth and the trail gets to be the venue for it.”

The program is open all teenage girls in the Flathead Valley and gear or equipment is available for those that may need it. The goal is to make it an annual program and make adjustments based upon feedback.

The first event is a hike on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 4-7 p.m. at Reservoir Trailhead. Participants will join Dr. Sara Boilen and community mentors for an evening hike on the Whitefish Trail to get to know each other and build community as they push themselves physically in a nurturing and supportive environment. Boilen is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in understanding the connection between strength and confidence in girls and the outdoors.

A mountain bike clinic on Sunday, Sept. 23 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Beaver Lake Trailhead will teach the girls the fundamentals of safe mountain biking. The morning will be spent on a series of skill-building exercises and the afternoon will include a group ride on the Whitefish Trail to practice those skills. Whether a beginner or an experienced rider developing skills, female instructors and community volunteers will help lay the foundation for a life-long love of mountain biking. Bikes and safety gear will be available and lunch will be provided free of charge. Beyond the Boundaries instructors are USA Cycling Coach and Whistler IDP Level II Mountain Bike Instructor certified, specializing in kids’ bike instruction, will provide instruction.

A trail work day on Monday, Sept. 24 will create a unique opportunity for teenage girls to build confidence using tools, believe in their ability to complete any task set before them, work as a team, and feel satisfaction from work well done and giving back to the trail. The event is from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Lion Mountain Trailhead. Safety gear will be provided.

The program concludes with a bike patrol ride and barbecue on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lion Mountain Trailhead. Female Whitefish Trail Patrol members and volunteers will lead the girls on an afternoon patrol ride on the Whitefish Trail to build on their mountain biking skills and connect with community mentors. Following the ride, families are invited to join the girls and program partners for a free barbecue at the Whitefish Trail Learning Pavilion to conclude the program.

Girls on the Trail is supported by the Whitefish Community Foundation in memory of Katy Branston.

The program is free, though preregistration is required and participants are asked to attend all four events.

For more information, www.whitefishlegacy.org/girls-on-the-trail/ or call 406-862-3880 or email info@whitefishlegacy.org.

The Whitefish Trail is the anchor project of Whitefish Legacy Partners and the result of collaborative partnerships providing public access and recreation while protecting clean water, thriving forests, and prime wildlife habitat on open lands surrounding Whitefish. To date, Whitefish Legacy Partners and the city of Whitefish have established over 36 miles of a recreational trail system accessed by 10 trailheads.