NYPUM: “Where the youth of America can realize theirfull potential through mentorship, team building and self-development. Allwhile learning the skills to enjoy safe and exciting off-road riding.”
If you have attended one of the last few NOHVCC AnnualConferences, chances are you had the opportunity to hear directly from some ofthe organizers of the National Youth Project Using Minibikes (NYPUM). This outstanding organization is celebratingits 50th anniversary and has distributed a video celebrating itssuccess.
From the NYPUM website: “National Youth Project UsingMinibikes (NYPUM) and the California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor VehicleRecreation Division have partnered to provide mentoring and education for urbanyouth through off-highway motorcycle recreation. Using the trail bike in theoutdoors, NYPUM captures a young person’s imagination, enthusiasm and harnessesit to promote positive change and growth. Combined with possibly the largestoff-highway riding area in the U.S., California youth get the chance to exploremuch more of the state they live in. For 50 years, NYPUM has worked nationallywith community youth service organizations, including government, nonprofit,and faith-based groups, to help mentor youth using its time-tested mentoringprogram. For more information about the partnership, click here.”
Co-Created by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., NYPUM usesminibikes donated by Honda to serve an average of 1,200 youth per year. For more information about who NYPUM serves,view the presentations NYPUM officials made at NOHVCC’s 2019 Annual Conference hereand here.
Longtime friend of NOHVCC, former Honda employee, California’sOff-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission Member and ardentsupporter of NYPUM, Paul Slavik, said “I first became aware of NYPUM in theearly 80s when I was a Honda representative in Indiana. For most of its existenceit has been the best kept secret at Honda but that is changing. We now have apartnership with California State Parks to bring NYPUM youth to our StateVehicular Recreation Areas and introduce them to the joys of off-highwayvehicle recreation as well as vocational and environmental education in theprocess. I am proud to be a part of the 50-year anniversary of the program andhope to see it expand to its full potential in California as well as onnational scale.”
At a time when it is tougher than ever to get young peopleoutdoors and involved in OHV recreation, NYPUM continues to grow and reach evermore kids, not only to get them interested in minibikes, but to use themachines as a way to engage them while teaching important life lessons. NYPUM stands as an example of how OHVenthusiasts throughout the Country can positively reach our youth. Here’s to 50 more years!
If you have any questions, please reach out to NOHVCC staffat [email protected].
