Helping youth find identity and purpose through mountain biking

Our Devo Team - NRTH WERX and NRTH DEVO is for intermediate-to-advanced riders 6th - 12th grade who are looking for an equity-focused, fun-loving community.

Registration for 2027 is open!

New members: Please reach out directly to director@ncydevo.org for application instructions.

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About the Devo Team Membership 

NRTH WERX

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NRTH DEVO 

 

A holistic approach. We use Devo to represent the development of the rider and the youth.

Structured as an annual, application-based membership, our Devo Team offers a range of on- and off-bike programming, including femme-only options. 

We offer two different membership pathways for our youth riders, NRTH DEVO and NRTH WERX, both focusing equally on character, leadership, and community stewardship.

Devo Team Pathways

NRTH WERX: Performance

Taking Youth Riders to Elite-Level Competition.

The NRTH WERX Team is designed for youth athletes ready to step up. To support our riders as they tackle a national events—including the USAC XCO National Championships—we are bringing high-level structure and professional race-day support to major events, including leadership from a dedicated Team Director and Coach and on-site event staff.

This program is open to a limited number of riders to ensure direct, high-touch support.

Membership Dues: $300 + Program Fee: $3,700 = $4,000

Application Deadline: 10/16/2026

Have questions or want to learn more? Please reach out directly to nrthwerx@ncydevo.org

NRTH DEVO: Development

Designed for youth looking to build confidence, core skills, and strong connections in a fun, supportive environment. Riders grow on and off the bike through bike practices, strength classes, social events, and community service. Joining gives members full access to register for on-the-bike sessions, strength training, and participate in activities.

Membership Dues: $300

Application Deadline: 12/18/2026, with rolling acceptances as long as space remains available.

NCYD Femme Definition: A welcoming space centered on female identity and community. Our femme-only programs and events are open to individuals who identify as female, non-binary folks, allies, and anyone who wants to be part of a female-focused environment.

Annual Devo Team Membership includes:

  • Youth board participation and leadership opportunities
  • Community service events (required)
  • Social events
  • Monday All-Team Rides
  • The Spoke: NCYD e-newsletter
  • NCYD team t-shirt
  • Access to purchase discounted team race kit
  • Option to register for adventure trips, strength classes, and on-the-bike practices 
  • Discounts from partners and local business

Devo Team Programming

Devo Trail | Freeride

Mountain bike practices targeting intermediate to advanced riders looking to increase their riding skills and challenge themselves to learn new skills and continue the joy of riding. These are youth-led practices allowing riders to help shape and choose how they want to practice (endurance or skills).

Practices are held on Tuesday and Thursdays at various Metro area mountain bike trail locations (Theo Wirth, Battle Creek, Braemer, Lebanon, Elm Creek). Coaches will assess group skill level and adjust trail rides accordingly.

  • Session 1 (April 12 – May 19) – $305
  • Session 2 (May 24 – July 7) – $305
    Registration Deadline: 02/01/2026.

Devo Strength

Strength training sessions are 60 minute classes led by expert adult coaches focused on improving strength for riding while creating supportive environments for safe muscle building and positive body image.

Devo members may register for one or two days of strength training per session. Strength training sessions are held at the NCYD gym. Femme only strength available.

Program cost:

  • $150 for 1 day/week
  • $300 for 2 days/week
Devo Strength 8 week Sessions: 
  • Winter: Jan – Feb
  • Spring: March – April
  • Summer: TBD
  • Fall: Aug – Oct 
  • Fall/Winter: Oct – Dec

Adventure Trips

Where the friendship, fun, and magic happens—on and off the bike. These are youth-led single or multi-day adventure trips to regional or out-of-state locations. Costs vary pending on transportation, chaperones, lodging, and length of stay.

COMMUNITY

Our community is our youth, the parents and volunteers who support us, and the partners who enable us to live out our mission, vision, and values.

IDENTITY

We provide a safe space in which our youth can grow through cycling.

PURPOSE

It’s about more than riding bikes. It’s about helping our youth build a community for life.

Devo Member FAQs

Who can be a Devo member of National Center for Youth Development (NCYD)?

All youth 6th – 12th grade can join NCYD and become a Devo member. Youth should be active mountain bikers who are at an intermediate or higher level. 

“Intermediate” is defined as a rider who can breeze through green and comfortable shred blue trails with an eagerness to progress to black trails and possesses moderate technical skills. Specifically we are looking for youth who are eager to learn, ride, build community, and have a great time in a fun, supportive environment.

If your youth doesn’t mountain bike, this program isn’t quite right for them. If your youth is new to mountain biking, we encourage you to check out Shifting Gears or Loppet Trail Kids programs/camps to gain mountain biking experience. Once your rider is at an intermediate or higher level, we’d love to see them become a member!

At this time Devo Membership is only for active 6th – 12th graders. We encourage you to come back when you’re rider is in 6th grade.

So much! First, you join a community of riders who enjoy having fun in the outdoors on their mountain bikes. You can also be involved in on-bike programming, strength programming, community service (yes, volunteering is part of membership), and social events. What’s more, you gain access to expert coaching to increase your growth and development as a mountain biker. 

The variety of opportunities allows all youth riders a chance to be surrounded by peers who want to do rad things on bikes, build friendships, be involved in the community, and gain leadership opportunities. 

Yes, leadership! NCYD members have access to leadership opportunities through participation in the Youth Board of Directors and engagement in community service and other activities. Because NCYD is a youth-led organization, youth gain the greatest leadership through being a Youth Board officer or member. 

  • All Team Rides (Mondays and/or Wednesdays from early April to mid-July)
  • Youth Board officer/member experience (can join after 1 year membership and at least 14 years and older)
  • Community service events (4+ per year)
  • Social events (ie., Kick-off party, End-of-Season celebration)
  • The Spoke: NCYD e-newsletter
  • NCYD team t-shirt
  • Access to purchase NCYD Team Race kit (additional fee)
  • Option to register for Devo Trail, Devo Freeride, Devo Apprentice and Devo Strength (additional fee/session)
  • Option to apply and register for NRTH WERX, a new performance program for elite racers.
  • Option to register for Adventure Trips (additional fee per trip)
  • Discounts from partners and local businesses

We accept applicants who are a good fit for our mission, vision, and programming. While we are a mountain bike team, we are so much more. 

We work with youth to build a community to find identity and purpose through the bicycle. NCYD follows a long-term development model that serves the whole person vs. only the physical aspects of a sport. We believe this approach is vital to overall health and wellbeing. 

We are looking for youth riders who want to be part of a like-minded community and who are motivated to give back. If this sounds like you, please join us!

We are currently able to serve around 100 members in the program. That said, if the demand outstrips our current capacity, we will do everything in our power to recruit more coaches and staff, ensuring we are in a stable fiscal position to increase our membership. 

Bottom line: we will not take more members than we can serve. We will fill spots on a first come, first served basis as applicants are a fit for the program. 

Being a Devo member means you are committed to NCYD’s mission, vision, and core goals. 

This includes regularly participating in any program/s for which you sign up; attending programs you sign up for; participating in community service, with a minimum of 8 hours per year (e.g., Free Bikes 4 Kidz, trail work, pop-up clinics, bike maintenance, etc.); and being an involved, active member of our community. 

Once you’ve been a part of our organization for one year or longer and are at least 14 years of age, we invite you to participate and engage in the Youth Board. We are more than a bike team—we are a community!

Registration is for an annual membership (Jan–Dec) and opens in late fall prior to the new year. While we do hope to accommodate all riders who are a good fit for our team, we may have to limit numbers if we have more demand than we can serve. In this case, we will fill spots on a first come, first served basis as applicants are a fit for the program.

There is a one-time annual membership fee to be a Devo member. There are additional costs for other programs that Devo members can sign up for. Please see our website for current annual membership and program costs. 

Devo members can sign up for the following programs:

Please note that some of these programs require an additional fee. 

  • Youth Board of Directors
  • All Team Rides 
  • NRTH WERX Race Team (application based)
  • Devo Trail  
  • Devo Strength 
  • Devo Freeride
  • Devo Apprentice
  • Adventure Trips

The Youth Board of Directors is a group of youth Devo members who have been a member for a minimum of 1 year and are at least 14 years of age or older. The Youth Board is a part of the governing body of NCYD and is guided by the NCYD Adult Board. 

Providing opportunities to serve on the Youth Board is part of developing our youth leaders through the experiences of being a part of a board, running a meeting, taking notes, planning adventure trips, and more. 

All Team Rides are about community, friendship, and fun while being good bike stewards and leaders. Riders should be able to ride at an intermediate level, which means they are comfortable on blue and green trails and possess moderate technical skills. 

All Team Rides are offered on Mondays and/or Wednesdays from early April to mid-July. This equals about 14 weeks of riding one or two days/per week. Rides are led by coaches and are between 1 and 1.5 hours long. Early spring rides start on paved trails and move to mountain bike trails when the weather permits. 

The Monday All Team Rides are located in the Minneapolis area on trails such as Theo Wirth, Lebanon, Xcel (until other trails are open), and sometimes Elm Creek or Lone Lake. Locations are determined by the Lead Coach and rotate throughout the season.

The Wednesday All Team Rides are on the east side of the Metro (Battle Creek, Carver Lake, Sunfish, Kinnickinic, etc.).

The Devo Trail program is held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6pm–7:30pm. These are mountain bike practices targeting intermediate to advanced riders looking to increase their riding skills and challenge themselves to learn new skills. Practices are led by BICP coaches at various metro area mountain bike trail locations. 

In early spring, practices may be on paved trails due to weather conditions. There are two sessions available: one in early April–May and the other from end of May–mid-July. Riders are grouped by both age and ability. Coaches will assess group skill level and adjust trail rides accordingly.

The NRTH WERX Performance Team is new in 2026, is application based, and limited to a certain number of riders.

Youth in this program are expected to travel to five out of state races, the USAC XCO National Championships, and each rider needs to be willing to hire a licensed training plan coach and adhere to the structured workouts.

Please email peformance@ncydevo.org with questions.

Strength classes are focused on improving strength for riding while creating supportive environments for safe muscle building and positive body image. Led by expert adult coaches, these run 60–75 minutes. There are four strength sessions throughout the year; members can sign up for one or two days of strength per session. All strength sessions are held at the NCYD gym.

This program is open to 9–12 graders who have (1) been on the team at least 1 year and (2) have coach approval. Approval for freeride is based on an assessment of rider’s skill (advanced), endurance (high), and maturity (able to ride as a community member who takes responsibility for other community members). 

Freeride groups will have a 1:8 coach to rider ratio. Riders must be highly responsible and prepared to ride rigorous terrain at a relatively intense pace. A rider who is new to the team may start in the practice program and move up to Freeride with coach approval.

This program is for returning Devo members who have been a part of the program for at least two years and are 15–18 years old. 

Devo Apprentice youth may work in our ParkYDs summer program (must be 14-18 year olds) or coach middle school pods for our Devo Trail Program (must be 17-18 year olds).

Adventure Trips are one of the greatest experiences youth can get at NCYD. These are formatted as optional day trips or multi-day trips that gather NCYD youth to adventure together over spring break, MEA, and during the summer. In the past we have traveled to such places as Sedona, Bentonville, and along the MN Iron Range.

We operate on an age-based programming model where we group riders by age first and skill second. First, we ride with our community and focus on having fun, socializing, and working together to create a team of strong riders. We sometimes have riders who may level up based on their skill; this is discussed with the youth and coaches and is not always a guarantee.

We operate on an age-based programming model where we group riders by age first and skill second. First, we ride with our community and focus on having fun, socializing, and working together to create a team of strong riders. We sometimes have riders who may level up based on their skill; this is discussed with the youth and coaches and is not always a guarantee.

New in 2026 we are offering an application based peformance team, NRTH WERX. If youth are not in this race specific program, we may offer minimal race support our community of riders who want to compete in series such as WORS, MNMTBS, WOW races. 

Our volunteers can help create these opportunities and spaces for community gathering at races with our team tent, snacks, and, as able, a basic repair kit for use. 

Awesome! We’d love to get to know you, your background in coaching, and availability. Please email info@nationalyouthdevelopment.org and tell us that you’re interested in coaching. We will reach out about our coaching needs and training requirements.