Over Spring Break ahead of the recent USA BMX Carolina National race in Rock Hill, SC, Mongoose athletes Cam Wood, Payton Ridenour, and Mason Hayes visited two local schools – India Hook Elementary and Fort Mill Middle School – on behalf of the USA BMX Foundation to get kids stoked on BMX and the importance of education.
Co-sponsored by Mongoose and the USA BMX Foundation, the three athletes represent our brands proudly as role models and Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM) ambassadors for young students around the country. Check out the video documenting their visits along with a Q&A with our 14-year-old racer Mason Hayes below!
What role does STE(A)M education play in your life?
MASON HAYES: BMX racers need to understand the gear ratios to use, what our pedal efficiency is, and how much power we are putting out, so having a strong STEM background really helps us perform at our best.
How do you feel about the collaboration of the Mongoose x USA BMX Foundation team?
MASON: I think the collaboration is very well run, and a super cool thing to be a part of. We try to bring our passion for BMX to these schools to help inspire young kids to try something new.
What is your favorite thing about the school visits?
MASON: At the end of each visit we had a STEM experiment where we interact with the school faculty on our bikes. I love to see the reactions on the kids' faces when we are having fun with their teachers and principals!
Since 2019, Mongoose has been the primary partner of the USA BMX Foundation and their pioneering STEAM education programs. As the nonprofit arm of USA BMX, the Foundation's programs focus on hands-on, project-based learning concepts, in which young students are learning new ways of seeing science, technology, engineering, and math all through the lens of a BMX bike. Visit the USA BMX Foundation website to learn how to bring their programming to your school district.
