Program Spotlight: Ride Safe Ride Smart
OHV Trail Safety and Advocacy
At Nevada Outdoor School (NOS), we believe that outdoor recreation and land stewardship go hand in hand. One of the ways we bring this belief to life is through our Ride Safe Ride Smart, which focuses on promoting safe, responsible, and respectful off-highway vehicle (OHV) use across Northern Nevada.
OHV recreation plays an important role in many of the rural communities we serve. For families, youth, and adults alike, riding is often a gateway to spending time outdoors and connecting with public lands. Our program is designed to ensure that these experiences are not only fun, but also safe and sustainable for future generations.
Through trainings like Tread Lightly!, NOS works directly with youth, AmeriCorps members, and community partners to teach essential safety practices, including helmet use, protective gear, understanding trail signage, and basic trail etiquette. Participants learn how to ride within their skill level, prepare for changing conditions, and recognize how their actions impact both the land and other trail users.
Advocacy is a key component of this program. NOS emphasizes respect for shared-use trails, wildlife habitats, and surrounding communities. We incorporate principles from Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly! to help participants understand how staying on designated routes, avoiding sensitive areas, and yielding appropriately can protect trails and reduce conflicts between recreationists.
By combining hands-on safety education with land ethics, our Ride Safe Ride Smart program empowers participants to become ambassadors for responsible recreation. Whether someone is new to riding or has grown up on OHVs, the goal is the same: to foster a culture of safety, stewardship, and pride in caring for Nevada’s outdoor spaces.
Through this work, Nevada Outdoor School continues to support healthy outdoor recreation while protecting the landscapes that make Northern Nevada such a special place to explore.
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