NORWICH – Hoping to get the interest of a larger, more diverse crowd, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County 4-H is introducing a new program that combines trail biking with the essentials of science and mathematics.

The newly designed 4-H trail and mountain biking program will officially kick-off in the fall. Program coordinators say the objective of the program is to develop a “soft adventure” style of education for 4-H that connects kids’ learning to the outdoor environment.

“For a long time, 4-H has been primarily an agricultural organization,” said Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County Executive Director Ken Smith. “We want to keep it an agricultural organization, but we also want to make it more interesting for older kids or kids who just don’t have a farm background.”

The new biking program is designed to revolve around the basics of the New York State science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM curriculum. Taking hands-on learning and applying it to the curriculum piques the interest of kids while also teaching them about the value of being good environmental stewards, said Smith.