NWA & AR/MS Delta region scholarships are made possible through our partner, Trailblazers.
DREAM - PLAN - EXECUTE
What is THE Active TRansportation Academy?
A 4-day, on-site, immersive experience designed to accelerate your learning of how to Strengthen Places Through Active Transportation. Whether you are a city staffer, planner, advocate, or elected official you will gain new learnings that will help you utilize bikes to strengthen your city, your neighborhood, your development, or your university.
What is The Scholarship?
Trailblazers a non-profit organization located in Bentonville, AR have partnered with Laneshift to offer a new scholarship opportunity to participate in an upcoming session of the Laneshift Active Transportation Academy. This scholarship is designed to increase access and will equip the recipient with the knowledge of how to increase and encourage Active Transportation within their community. If awarded the scholarship will cover the cost for one participant to attend the Academy. The scholarship includes overnight accommodations in Bentonville, AR, use of an e-bike during the Academy, food, and all materials. Awardees are responsible for travel to and from Bentonville, AR.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
#1. Be a professional actively working for or are a sitting elected official of a city or other related organization with a population of 30,000 or less within NW Arkansas or the AR Delta region.
Applicants must be actively engaged in one of the following area(s): Active transportation, trail development, bicycle advocacy, planning, land planning, transportation, engineering, traffic planning, mass transit, community development, economic development, parks & recreation, outdoor programming or related field, and chamber of commerce.
Black, Indigenous and People of Color and or female professionals are strongly encouraged to apply.
**Scroll to THE bottom of THE page for scholarship application**
GoaL FOR the academy: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SKILL BUILDING
Provide skills in establishing and expanding a culture of active transportation within a local community or company.
Activities will include:
Riding the Northwest Arkansas trails and paths
Engagement with local leaders
Gaining perspective from local stakeholders
What dates will the academy occur?
2025:
SESSION #1: APRIL 15-18, 2025
SESSION #2: MAY 13-16, 2025
SESSION #3: SEPTEMBER 23-26, 2025
SESSION #4: OCTOBER 21-24, 2025
Where will the Academy be held?
Bentonville, AR will be our base of operations, although we will be exploring multiple cities across the Northwest Arkansas region. This vibrant town has quickly grown to become a destination both for the sense of place that it promotes but also for biking. Bentonville acts as a hub for nightlife, arts and culture, as well as natural surface and paved trails.
What will I LEarn in the academy?
Technical details and best practices for building safe, comfortable, and connected bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Learn the role that an active transportation network can play in supporting sustainable land use, housing, and complementing multi-modal transportation networks.
Best practices for developing a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly culture that increases usage and ridership.
Key lessons for conducting effective public engagement that includes diverse voices.
How a connected community can increase economic development and tourism.
