Polaris has expanded its commitment to youth off-road safety by partnering with Minnesota 4-H to launch ATV Adventure Academy: Trailblazers, a new interactive digital learning experience designed to introduce young riders to the fundamentals of ATV safety.
Available through CLOVER, the online learning platform developed by 4-H, the new program combines educational content with game-like interaction to help youth build safe riding habits before they ever hit the trail.
Making ATV Safety More Engaging
Learning to ride safely is one of the most important steps for any new ATV rider, but traditional classroom instruction isn’t always the most engaging approach for younger audiences.
The new Trailblazers experience takes a different approach by presenting safety lessons through an interactive, trail-themed adventure. Participants progress through a series of scenarios that require them to make decisions similar to those they might encounter while riding.
Throughout the experience, users learn foundational safety concepts including:
- Choosing proper riding gear
- Recognizing trail signs and markings
- Making responsible riding decisions
- Understanding basic trail etiquette
- Building confidence before participating in hands-on training
Designed for youth ages 10-13, the program is open to anyone interested in learning ATV safety fundamentals.
Built With Input From Youth Riders
One of the unique aspects of the program is that young riders helped shape its development from the beginning.
Minnesota 4-H ATV Safety Ambassador Rebecca Anderson participated in reviewing the experience to ensure it remained engaging and age appropriate.
“I’ve personally learned that ATV safety is something that needs to be taught, not assumed,” Anderson said. “It’s important to me that other youth learn ATV safety as well, so I wanted to help make it fun because when kids enjoy it, they actually remember it. That’s how you build good habits early.”
That feedback helped guide everything from the pacing of the lessons to the style of the interactive questions and animations.
A First Step Toward Hands-On Training
While Trailblazers introduces core safety principles, Polaris and Minnesota 4-H emphasize that it is intended to serve as a starting point—not a replacement—for formal rider education.
After completing the digital experience, participants are encouraged to continue their education through:
- Minnesota 4-H hands-on ATV Safety programs
- State-certified ATV safety courses
- ATV Safety Institute (ASI) training
By exposing young riders to safe riding concepts early, the organizations hope students arrive at in-person instruction with a stronger understanding of the fundamentals.
Helping Build Lifelong Safe Riding Habits
According to Polaris, the goal is to introduce safety concepts before young riders develop poor habits.
“Trailblazers is designed to meet youth riders at the beginning of their safety journey and help build their confidence through engaging, scenario-based learning,” said Korinne Caldwell, Polaris Employee Health and Safety Manager, ASI/ATV Instructor, and ROHVA Certified Instructor.
She added that introducing foundational safety principles through realistic scenarios helps young riders develop the habits needed to ride responsibly while enjoying the outdoors with greater confidence.
Continuing a Successful Partnership
The launch of Trailblazers represents the latest milestone in the long-running collaboration between Polaris and Minnesota 4-H.
Since 2019, the partnership has focused on expanding youth ATV and UTV safety education through:
- Hands-on safety training
- Farm safety events
- County and state fair educational displays
- Expanded curriculum development
- Volunteer instructor training
Together, those efforts have reached more than 800,000 youth.
The organizations are now using what they’ve learned in Minnesota to support similar pilot programs with 4-H organizations in Wisconsin and Utah, expanding access to responsible riding education for more families across the country.
Why Early Safety Education Matters
As ATVs continue to be used for recreation, agriculture, hunting, and outdoor work, introducing safe riding habits at an early age becomes increasingly important.
Interactive programs like Trailblazers can help remove some of the intimidation from learning safety by presenting information in a format that’s familiar to today’s youth. When combined with proper supervision, hands-on instruction, and certified rider training, these educational tools can help prepare the next generation of riders to enjoy off-road recreation responsibly.
For parents introducing children to ATVs, digital learning experiences like Trailblazers offer an accessible first step before progressing to formal, hands-on safety instruction.
About Minnesota 4-H
Minnesota 4-H, operated by the University of Minnesota Extension, is the state’s largest youth development program, serving approximately 58,000 youth during the 2024–2025 program year. The program focuses on helping young people develop leadership, problem-solving, and life skills through hands-on educational experiences.
About Polaris
Polaris has been a leader in powersports innovation since 1954, manufacturing off-road vehicles, snowmobiles, motorcycles, boats, military vehicles, and commercial utility vehicles. Its lineup includes the Polaris RANGER, RZR, Polaris XPEDITION, Sportsman, General, Slingshot, and Bennington brands, serving customers in nearly 100 countries worldwide.
