After experiencing the physical - and mental - benefits of outdoor sports, Jonas and Shelby Schenzel created a program to provide the same opportunity for northern Nevada kids. Specifically, the non-profit Slopes 4 Sanity supports youth who wouldn't otherwise have the means to enjoy these activities.
We caught up with them at a northwest Reno bike park where a handful of young riders were suited up, and enjoying the dirt trails on their mountain bikes. There’s a lot of happy hollering as they make drops and jumps.
The middle schoolers make it look easy – and thrilling!
Learning new skills and connecting young people to positive outdoor experiences is the mission of Slopes 4 Sanity explains Schenzel. "Getting them off the screens, out of the house and outside."
"You know, outdoors encourages you to step outside your comfort zone," adds Jonas, “and challenges yourself in ways that you may not get to in everyday life.”
Founders Shelby and Jonas Schenzel tell us Slopes 4 Sanity keeps hundreds of kids active every season of the year. "We do skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking and fly fishing,” enumerates Jonas.
Plenty to choose from, and friends to make along the way. All for no charge to participants, thanks to fundraising, donors, board members and coaches. "Most of us are out here volunteering our time to get these kids involved in these outdoor activities.”
Even the Schenzel's six-year-old son and my three-year-old daughter join in on the fun: "It brings them so much joy to be around the kids that we have in the program,” smiles Shelby.
Slopes 4 Sanity wants even more kids to join.
"You know, we wanna grow,” Jonas explains, “and we wanna get a facility and our own transportation.” It takes money, Shelby adds. "Definitely funding is a big thing right now just getting more donations or more collaborations.”
In the two-plus years since they've incorporated, Slopes 4 Sanity has grown and the Schenzels are grateful. “It's really cool to see how awesome our community really is, and just starting Slopes 4 Sanity and getting more involved with the community has been great and has just put a smile on my face."
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If you would like more information on how to sign up for the programs, or you would like to help by donating or volunteering, click on the link -
