"What SAS has put into the new facility is incredible. Cycling will continue to be a viable sustainable sport here. It's a lifetime activity."

asst. coach speed baranco, mountain biking program co-founder

Since its launch in 1998 through the dedication of long-time coach Speed Baranco, the SAS Mountain Biking team has enjoyed consistent growth and success in competition, and students of all ages and experience have been exposed to the sport.

In 2012, Tennessee was added as a member of NICA—the National Interscholastic Cycling Association—and a  year later, mountain biking became an official varsity sport at SAS. From a start with just three members, the team grows every year!

Adventure Education

Adventure Education is an opportunity for Middle School students to learn to safely explore and enjoy our natural world. The school's 550-acre campus is the setting for activities that include hiking, games, construction projects, map reading, orienteering, farming, and more.

Students use their imaginations and hone their sense of adventure as we work on team building, communication conflict resolution, and problem solving skills. As the students progress through Middle School, they move from exploratory activities to more advanced wilderness skills.

See more information about the Adventure Education curriculum.

Outdoor Adventure

Students may choose to take Outdoor Adventure as an Afternoon Program.

Fall: Intro to Outdoor Adventure

Students gain special wilderness skills and important experience in trip planning, leadership, and equipment maintenance with this introduction to hiking, caving, and wilderness camping.

• Learn basic wilderness first aid and survival skills
• Build a campsite and campfire and learn to cook a camp meal
• Fish and swim in area lakes, waterfalls, and cascade pools
• Hike all campus trails
• Construct a home base and rainy day shelter
• Explore nearby points of interest, including Fiery Gizzard, Foster Falls, and Buggytop, Buckets of Blood, and Solomon's Temple I & II caves
• Complete an introduction to topographical maps and map drawing

Winter: Climbing

Students learn basic climbing techniques and safety practices and build on those skills to push themselves to try ever more challenging routes. Although it is not a required part of the afternoon programs, students are invited to participate in the Climbing Club's evening practices and weekend competitions.  

• Learn to climb with an emphasis on safety, community, and lifelong skills
• Improve technical skills
• Discover a new climbing area near campus and night-bouldering with lanterns
• Explore campus cliffs
• Set and work toward goals for strength and fitness
• Expand comfort zone
• Enjoy winter climbing
• Participate in optional weekend competitions

Spring: Adventure Cycling

Recognizing that not all bikers are interested in the competition involved in our fall interscholastic Mountain Biking program, this afternoon program offers an introduction to adventure cycling, a lifetime sport that promotes fitness and an appreciation of the outdoors. 

• Learn to keep a bike in top working order
• Gain skills for trail riding
• Participate in trail maintenance
• Bike to archaeological sites, geologic points of interest, and other destinations for place-based learning opportunities
• Participate in an optional bike-packing trip