FAT TIRE

 

The mountain bike trails in and around the James River Park System are technical, swoopy and above all FUN!

Our Fat Tire Camp will empower Campers to master these trails by gathering all the necessary skills and experiences. As with all Passages Programs the real attraction to our Camps is our can-do atmosphere and our incredible Staff.

This action-packed week will take Campers all over the Park System as well as trips to the Richmond BMX Track, Pocahontas State Park, Leakes Mill and Freedom Park in Williamsburg. Campers must bring their own mountain bike and helmet to Camp.  We will be happy to lock it up in our enclosed trailer all week.  We play hard every day and refresh with a swim in the James River to rinse off all that dirt!  One of our goals is to prepare our riders to attend the Advance Fat Tire Camp - where we create our future Passages Mountain Bike Staff!

previous mountain biking experience is required, but if you’re having bike trouble, reach out and we can set you up on one of our camp bikes.

Details:

  • Ages: 10-16 (all genders)

  • Cost: $800 (*4 day week $640)

2025 FAT TIRE camp Sessions:

  • June 9th - 13th

  • June 23rd - 27th — BMX Fat Tire & Girls Fat Tire

  • July 7th - 11th

  • July 21st - 25th

Coming to Fat Tire Camp with some strength, some endurance and a healthy relationship with your bike will set you up for success.  Riding bikes with us is not a race.  First and foremost, we focus on body and bike control because an ounce of style is worth a pound of performance.  Our Staff can be found at the front of the pack, the very back of the pack and sprinkled in between our Fat Tire Campers as we ride.  This helps us set the appropriate pace, keep the group together and share feedback with our Campers in real time as they pedal, balance, shift gears, climb and descend.  We love it when someone comes to Passages and does not know anyone else, they make the most new friends!  One of our goals is to help you rage on a bike and move-on to Advance Fat Tire Camp and prepare yourself to apply for a job at Passages.

other fat tire sessions

Girls Fat Tire - a girls only mountain bike camp that will empower our female Campers to master the skills of mountain biking and prepare them for Advance Fat Tire Camp - where we create our future Passages Mountain Bike Staff!

BMX Fat Tire Camp will spend the 1st half of every day focusing specifically on dissecting and building speed / flow on the Gillies Creek BMX Track.  We will employ additional Richmond BMX Coaches for this portion of the day.  Although every Fat Tire Camper is required to provide their own mtn bike for each week of Camp, Richmond BMX will loan BMX-specific bikes to our Campers during the BMX portions of each day.  The BMX Campers will ride their own bikes to Gillies Creek each day (about a 10 min ride) then ride their own bikes at many of the same places the regular Fat Tire Camper Sessions (Pocahantas, James River Park System, Belle Isle, Forest Hill Park).

2025 Dates

  • June 23rd - 27th

What do our campers have to say about fat tire?

more details about FAT TIRE

We are psyched for another great season and looking forward to working hard and playing hard with this summer's campers. Come to camp with your game face on and be prepared for some hard-core coaching and fun.

  • Please arrive between 8:00am & 8:30am for camp daily. Camper check-out begins at 4:45pm, but you may pick up as late as 5:30pm.

  • The drop-off and pick up for your camp is at Historic Tredegar & The American Civil War Museum - formerly Tredegar Iron Works - next to the Belle Isle parking lot. (500 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA 23219)

    Friday check out is at 3:30pm in the Belle Isle parking lot.

  • • Bring a bathing suit for a late afternoon swim every day.

    • Shoes: Wear closed-toed shoes to ride in and non-cotton socks if you have them. Bring a pair of waterproof sandals that you don’t mind getting wet & dirty.

    • Bring a hydration pack or water bottle.

    • Please note the weather in case you need a hoodie/rain jacket. We are a Rain or Shine camp, so dress accordingly!

    • We supply drinks and snacks daily. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, please pack a non-perishable lunch and we will keep it in the shade and dry for you. We will have our traditional cook-out on Wednesday and Pizza party on Friday.

    • Come with a layer of sunscreen. We will reapply as needed throughout the day.

    • Please label all of your belongings.

    • Please do not bring electronics or valuables. They are guaranteed to get wet, lost, or misplaced.

  • If your child cannot attend camp on a given morning, please leave a message in the voicemail box at 804-972-0693. We ask that you try to avoid situations where your child arrives late to camp or must leave early, so that all our staff can remain with the entire group. In case of emergency or any other concerns or if you need to contact the camp director, please contact Julie Appleby at 804-897-8283 ext.310.

  • On Friday afternoon from 3:00-3:30pm at the Belle Isle Skills Park. You will receive detailed information on the Thursday of your camp session.

  • Unpaid balances are due two weeks before the start of your camp session. For your convenience, we will debit your credit card with the balance due. Thank you for your prompt attention to this.

  • Your comments and suggestions serve as our compass towards improving our program each year. Please complete our online evaluation form that will be mailed to you at the end of your session.