We're seeing more of a crackdown on minors using ATVs recently, and that's besides the rest of the callouts to clamp down on where and when people can use recreational off-road vehicles. Or the attempted sell-off of nearly all public land. Polaris's off-road education program for youth ATV safety should help one or all of the aforementioned issues, at least in Minnesota.
Polaris, which has its headquarters in Medina, Minnesota, donated $1 million to the Minnesota 4-H Youth Development program. This program is run in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Extension with the hope of expanding on the crucial safety elements needed to safely operate ATVs and UTVS. But this isn't the first year the company has donated to this cause—far from it.
The US powersport manufacturer has partnered with Minnesota 4-H to deliver ATV and UTV safety education since 2019, and in doing so, has helped nearly 4,000 youth riders learn the fundamentals needed to ride and drive safely. With this latest round of investment, Polaris is taking the training up a notch.
The latest round of funding will serve to provide an enhanced curriculum, educational materials, and national safety initiatives focused on youth off-road safety training.
The $1 million donation will also help youth riders in other aspects, including enabling Minnesota 4-H to expand ATV and UTV programming year-round and reach more participants, training and certifying new adult volunteers to support expanded youth safety messaging across the state, launching pilot safety programs in Utah and Wisconsin with guidance from Minnesota 4-H leadership, and create a nationwide online course to teach ATV and UTV safety to youth riders.
“This generous support from Polaris will significantly expand our safety education efforts and allow us to bring our increasingly popular 4-H Outdoor Education programming to new audiences,” said Jennifer Skuza, associate dean, University of Minnesota Extension, and Minnesota 4-H director. “We anticipate a three to fourfold increase in youth participation across Minnesota and are excited to help pilot this program in Utah and Wisconsin as well.”
Hopefully, programs like this will help keep minors riding safely and lay the foundations for them to become respectful stewards of the land going forward.
