Kingdom East School District Awarded $3,500 Outride Grant to Expand Youth Mountain Biking Programs

August 27, 2026

Lyndonville, VT — August 27, 2026 — Kingdom East School District (KESD) has been awarded a $3,500 Community Impact Grant from Outride to support and expand its mountain biking initiatives for local youth during the 2026-2027 school year.

The grant funding will directly support cycling instruction for more than 200 students in 5th through 8th grade across KESD’s Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 programs. Through partnerships with Northwoods and Kingdom Cycling & Experiences, contracted certified bike instructors will work alongside KESD staff to guide students on the world-class Kingdom Trails network during both school-day riding and afterschool programs.

"This grant allows us to break down barriers to physical activity and get more students out onto our local trail network," said KESD leadership. "By embedding cycling into both the school day and afterschool clubs, we are building confidence, healthy habits, and a deeper connection to our community outdoor spaces."

The KESD cycling program offers two core formats:

1. School-Day Biking: A six-week weekly riding module integrated into the school schedule (12:00PM–2:00PM) serving up to 180 students.
2. Afterschool Mountain Bike Clubs: Twice-weekly sessions (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00PM–5:00PM) held throughout September, October, May, and June, serving up to 30 students per day.

Outride’s Community Impact Grant program partners with local schools and organizations nationwide to increase access to youth cycling, promoting social, emotional, and physical well-being through the power of the bike.

The formal agreement was finalized on August 27, 2026, with initial funding arriving immediately to launch fall programming. 

Outride Community Impact Grant Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for funding through Outride’s competitive Community Impact Grant program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Organizational Status: Applicants must be U.S. or Canada-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored community initiatives, government agencies, or public K–12 school districts.
• Target Focus & Population: Programs must intentionally focus on youth (under 18) or older adults (55+) and promote social, emotional, or cognitive well-being through cycling.
• Program Alignment: Supported initiatives must focus on ongoing, sustainable programming (e.g., bike clubs, skills development, rider safety, or maintenance workshops) rather than single-day events. Additionally, grantees must align with Outride's funding priorities:
• Creating Lifelong Riders: Cycling programming focused on brain health, including community-based riding, skill development, safety instruction, bike repair and maintenance programs, and social connection for youth (under 18) and older adults (55+).
• Strengthening Riding for Focus Programs: Strategic partnerships and support for Outride Riding for Focus initiatives aimed at increasing sustainability, creating beyond-school pathways, and providing enrichment. 

As a previous Riding for Focus grantee, KESD has successfully secured three Riding for Focus grants that supplied the fleet of bikes making these district programs possible.

About Kingdom East School District

Kingdom East School District serves students across Northeastern Vermont, providing equitable educational and extracurricular opportunities designed to foster lifelong learning and community engagement.

About Outride

Outride is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving youth health and well-being through cycling. Through research, grantmaking, and community programs, Outride provides access to riding for youth nationwide.