Connecting with Nature Series: Biking

Join us for our Connecting with Nature series, where we'll showcase various activities enjoyed by supporters of our Ottawa County Parks. From popular activities like mountain biking, hiking, skiing, swimming, and fishing to less traditional ones like forest bathing, artistic endeavors, and volunteering, there's something for everyone. Regardless of the activity, the common thread is the opportunity to immerse oneself in nature, which has been scientifically linked to numerous benefits such as improved attention and reduced stress and anxiety levels.

During this series, we will be highlighting nature-based activities and encouraging you to explore new recreational opportunities. It is a great way to spend more time in nature and reap its rewards.

This month, we'll explore how biking in Ottawa County Parks and Recreation connects people with nature.

Velo Kids

The story of Velo Kids began in 2017 with a group of friends meeting at Riley Trails for a bike ride. The group grew large enough they felt it was time to become a business. Their activities, as well as their sponsors felt they would be a better fit as a nonprofit. About two years ago they formally became a nonprofit with a mission to get "more kids on bikes, promoting and cultivating healthy, active, and outdoor lifestyles."

Velo Kids provides children with the opportunity to ride bikes and step outside of their comfort zones. Through these experiences, kids learn valuable skills such as confidence, body awareness, and the lifelong ability to ride a bike. Additionally, it encourages kids to spend time outdoors.

As part of their programs, Velo Kids teaches children to respect nature and others on the trails. They also educate kids about how bikes can impact trails and how to properly build and maintain them.

Velo Kids is grateful for their partnership with Ottawa County Parks and Recreation, which offers a safe space for children to ride. One of Jenny White's, the Executive Director of Velo Kids, favorite biking parks is Riley Trails. She says, "It has great trails for beginners, and Velo Kids also has a bike library there." The bike library allows children to enjoy riding without the financial burden of purchasing a bike and helmet.

This summer, Velo Kids served over 2,000 children. For Jenny White, one of the most rewarding aspects is "seeing the joy the kids feel when they're on the trails." For children, biking is all about having fun, being outdoors, and experiencing the freedom that comes with it.

Looking to find some joy in your own life? Try a trail ride. Take a moment to slow down and enjoy the ride.

Mountain bike trails are offered at Grand River Park, Pigeon Creek Park, Riley Trails, Upper Macatawa Natural Area, and Riverside Park. There are also paved bike trail on the Idema Explorers Trail, sections of the Macatawa River Greenway Trail, and the Spoonville Trail. 

Velo Kids will be hosting Wheelie Scary Ride on October 27, 2 - 4 PM at Riley Trails. Learn more and register. 

Featured Plant: Horse Mint

by Bobbi Jones Sabine

Though it really does nothing to freshen a horse’s breath, horse mint (Monarda punctata) can be found all along the Lake Michigan shoreline counties, from Michigan City to Mackinaw City, and sporadically through the rest of the state. Its range includes the eastern half of the U.S., eastern Canada, and a few locations in California.

Native to western Michigan, horse mint likes sand dunes, sandy fields, oak and pine savannas, and prairies, and is tolerant of a wide range of moisture regimes. It can also be found along roadsides, railroads, and disturbed places, and seems to do well with some disturbance.

Flowering mid- to late summer into early fall, this perennial has the square stem typical of the Mint family, with multiple flowers along the stem. The flowers are quite complex if you look closely, with tiny dotted yellow orchid-like blooms sitting atop a ring of velvety pink or cream-colored bracts. Each plant can get to be about a foot tall.

Also called spotted beebalm, it contains a compound with antiseptic and expectorant properties. The plant is a source of a medicinal essential oil “thymol” which is antiseptic and an effective hookworm remedy, though in excessive quantities it may be fatal to the host as well. It is used to treat indigestion, nausea, and vomiting and upper respiratory conditions such as cold and flu.

Horse mint was traditionally taken by several native North American Indian tribes to treat nausea and vomiting, and to encourage perspiration during colds. It was also applied externally as a poultice to treat swellings and rheumatic pains, and brewed as a tea for digestive ailments.

Photo Credit: G. Vaclavek, U. of M. Herbarium