March 14, 2025 • 20 mins
Looking for outdoor adventures in Bentonville? In this episode of A New American Town, we chat with Kyla Templeton from Bike School Bentonville Whitney Selk and Lane Berrey from the Peel Compton Foundation about the exciting spring and summer camps happening in town! From mountain bike skills classes to guided rides, archery, and wetland tours, there’s something for everyone—kids and adults alike!
Start planning your next outdoor experience!
Bike School Bentonville: https://bikeschoolbentonville.com/
Peel Compton Events: https://www.peelcompton.org/
A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Beth Bobbitt (00:10):
Welcome to A New American Town presented by Visit
Bentonville.
I'm your host, beth Bobbitt,and today we're going to dive
deep into the spring and summercamps for the whole family from
Bike School Bentonville and PeelCompton Foundation, from
outdoor rec, mountain biking andmore for all ages.
You'll hear directly frompeople who help create these
amazing adventures right here inBentonville.
(00:33):
Welcome to the podcast KylaLane Whitney.
Thank you all for being here.
Yeah thanks for having us.
So, Kyla, let's start with you.
Tell us a little bit about BikeSchool Bentonville.
The name is pretty descriptive,but I'd love to hear about just
general offerings, how it cameto be all of?
Kyla (00:48):
that, yeah, we do mountain bike skills instruction
and kind of for all ages.
We specialize, I would say, inkids but we're expanding kind of
as we speak into adultprogramming as well, as we speak
into adult programming as well,and really the rationale behind
it is that mountain biking is askills based endeavor and when
(01:13):
I was, I was the NICA leaguedirector before this and I had
the benefit of having all thesewonderful skills instructors
come to me and help me, becauseI wasn't a mountain biker before
we started NICA here and and socome to me and help me, because
I wasn't a mountain bikerbefore we started NICA here, and
so I had all these coaches thatcame and helped me learn how to
mountain bike.
But not a lot of peopleunderstand that a little bit of
(01:36):
skills instruction can reallymake a huge difference in your
experience on the trails.
And so we have this company andit's to help people have more
fun on the trails through themountain bike skills instruction
.
Beth Bobbitt (01:49):
Yeah, and what is the approach or the coaching
philosophy for you all?
Kyla (01:52):
You know, the very best coaches are like students of the
people that they're coaching,so kind of our whole philosophy
is built around that and aroundhow, paying attention to who
they are, where they are now,where they want to be, and then
(02:15):
being able to tailor theinstruction to the person that's
in the class or the camp orgetting a lesson.
I love that.
Beth Bobbitt (02:24):
Thank you for sharing.
Yeah, lane Whitney, samequestion.
Tell us a little bit about PeelCompton Foundation, especially
because you all have grown andhave enveloped so many more
offerings and spaces in the lastfew years.
So, like set us straight, howmany different spaces and
offerings are there right now?
Lane (02:43):
Yeah, so Peel Compton Foundation is unique.
We have several differentproperties.
It's technically four, but wehave a fifth.
So we have the Peel Museum andBotanical Garden, we have
Compton Gardens and Arboretum,kohler Mountain Bike Preserve
and then Osage Park and thenwithin Osage Park we have the
Quiver Archery Range.
Beth Bobbitt (03:12):
Yeah, and congratulations on winning the .
Whitney (03:13):
Yes, thank you so much.
That was amazing, yeah, yeah,and the cool thing about our you
know, four slash fiveproperties is that our mission
is to bring the communitytogether through nature,
education, recreation andpreservation, and each of our
properties encompass thosevalues.
And so you know, whether you'relooking for a tour at a museum
and you want to learn more abouthistory, or you're wanting to
get on the trails, or, you know,you just want to hang out and
(03:36):
soak up the environment, youknow we've got all of that.
Yeah, it's so special.
Beth Bobbitt (03:40):
We're so lucky to be here and thank you all for
what you do.
So we're so lucky to be hereand thank you all for what you
do.
So, Kyla, let's jump back toyou.
If someone was planning a tripto Bentonville, what do they
need to know about you?
Know how to prepare, when tobook private lessons, group
rides, what's available fortravelers.
Kyla (03:59):
Well, from a bike school's perspective, we have
spring break camps and we havesummer camps.
Basically, like anytime the kidsare not in school, we try to
have a camp around it, andwhat's awesome about one of our
camps is you drop the kids off.
If you're a parent, you dropthe kids off and then you can go
enjoy your own ride on thetrails or have a little bit of
(04:21):
time apart trails or have alittle bit of time apart.
You know, I know I have twokids, so being on vacation is
not always super relaxing whenyou have young ones, and so so
being having a little bit oftime to yourself is a really
awesome thing, and you know andtrust that the kids are going to
be in good hands.
Or you could also get a lessonwhile the kids are getting a
(04:43):
lesson.
You know, I don't think there'sany better place to learn how
to mountain bike thanBentonville, and so we have
coaches.
You know we have more coachesthan are just coaching the camps
, and so we can also get you aprivate lesson at the same time.
Or, you know, maybe you're nota parent, we can do that too.
Beth Bobbitt (05:06):
And f I do want a lesson with my child
Kyla (05:10):
Yeah, we can do that.
It's great to have a lessonwith your kid, because then
you're going to be learning kindof the same things.
Now the kids might pick up onit a little faster than the
adults.
I mean, sometimes it kind of itjust depends.
You know, anytime you havemultiple people in a lesson
there's, you know, there'sdifferences in learning speeds,
(05:32):
but we have coaches that areexperts at kind of managing that
.
Beth Bobbitt (05:35):
Yeah, that sounds fun.
So spring break, summer campsand then ongoing classes and
clinics, right?
Kyla (05:42):
Yeah, we do classes for the locals here too, that kind
of spread out over time.
There's a lot of benefit tospreading your learning out over
weeks and weeks rather thanjust concentrating it.
We also do private lessons, butwe also can do guided rides for
families or for groups ofpeople or for an individual that
(06:05):
comes in and you know ourtrails are awesome and sometimes
you know a trail might bebetter riding it this way than
that, or you've seen somethingon YouTube, right, and you want
to see this feature, being ableto make the most of your time.
A guided ride is great for that.
They can tailor the experienceto your level and what you want
(06:29):
to see and do.
Beth Bobbitt (06:30):
There's also just some, I guess, benefit of
getting that orientation to ourtrail system.
It can be intimidating forpeople that aren't here, or even
residents, you know.
For me, so I love that guidedtour option.
Me, so I love that guided touroption.
Lane Whitney.
What might a visitor expect orhow should they plan for a
(06:50):
spring visit in terms of all thevarious programs and camps
happening?
Lane (06:53):
Yeah, ours is kind of set up the same way, so you can
enjoy our properties for free,kind of do your own walking
around.
Coler has has its own, you know, walking trail.
You can get a coffee at airship, so you could do kind of a do
your own thing.
We also have classes, you knowongoing classes, one-off classes
all the time, and then we havelonger series as well, big
(07:14):
events, and then we also haveguided rides.
Whitney (07:17):
Yeah, and I think it's really cool to see that as a
community, we're offering guidedrides, especially because
there's going to be trailsystems that some people want to
do.
You know, from Bentonville toFayetteville or from Bentonville
to Bella Vista, and you knowKohler is really unique and it
can be really intimidating.
Coler in in particular, it's300 acres, there's 20 plus miles
of trails, yeah, and so youknow our two certified, you know
(07:39):
, instructors.
They want to also provide thatexperience, and so it's just
really cool to see that thereare, you know, different areas
in our community that are comingtogether to provide people with
a similar experience, and soyou know we, you can, you know
you can email us for guidedrides.
You can fill out the form onour website.
(07:59):
While kids are in bicycle,Bentonville during camps, join
guided rides with our, you know,certified instructors and they
can gear it towards anything andthey focus, you know, mainly on
Coler, but they can take youColer to any trails as well.
But I love seeing that.
You know everyone in thecommunity wants to provide that
experience.
Kyla (08:17):
And it's not a far ride to Slaughterpin to.
Back 40, or Little Sugar.
It's all really integrated andcut hollow.
Lane (08:32):
A fun thing for our visitors too is our campground.
So at Kohler we have acampground that's renowned, you
know, heated and cooled bathroom, like we have those amenities
for you, five stars.
Kyla (08:38):
Yeah, five stars.
The nicest showers you'll everexperience in a campground, so
that's right on our property.
Lane (08:43):
So if you feel like camping out, we have van spaces
and tent spaces.
So, if you want to do that as afamily, you can do that all
together as well.
Beth Bobbitt (08:50):
We're doing it, but we're booking our campsite
because it also just makes youfeel a little bit more, I don't
know nurtured and safe, ifyou're within this park where
you know there's amenities andbathrooms and other people and
it's also just gorgeous.
Definitely yeah, a little oasis, just outside of town.
(09:11):
Yeah, totally Want to see moreof what's currently happening in
Bentonville.
Follow us on social media atVisit Bentonville to stay in the
know about restaurants, events,things to do in town and more.
We are here for you, whetheryou're planning a trip or
looking to move here.
So let's talk about specialevents.
You all have your world-famousnative plant sale Osage After
(09:37):
Dark some races.
Lane (09:39):
Yeah, I mean it's fun because there's something for
everyone.
So, like we were saying withthe history or if you wanted to
be more outdoors, it's kind ofup to you.
So, yeah, we have our springnative tree and plant sale
happening at Compton gardens,all grown by our horticulture
team there.
And then we have Osage parkafter dark, our fundraiser for
Osage park, and that one's funbecause it's a little bit more
(10:00):
educational.
You get a tour around theWetlands and we'll have a panel
of experts, um, coming out aswell.
Whitney (10:06):
Um and then, and a beaver expert.
The beaver expert is flying in.
Kyla (10:10):
Yeah, we're really excited are there beavers at
Osage oh?
Beth Bobbitt (10:13):
yeah we have a beaver family so will they do
tours, beaver tours, what'shappening there?
We'll do general wetland tours,so you'll see the beavers,
you'll'll see the dams.
Whitney (10:22):
Yeah.
Lane (10:22):
Yeah, it's awesome, so there'll be a lot to see, and
then we have our noon to moonrace coming up as well.
Whitney (10:27):
Yeah, noon to moon is really cool.
It's our annual mountain bikefundraising event, and so it'll
take place on May 3rd and that'swhen the six hour race will
happen and you can team.
It's really cool.
It's an all-day fun event.
There's food, beverages, dj,all the things.
Something cool we've added lastyear that we're going to
incorporate this year is thekids race on Friday, the night
(10:49):
before, and so your kids can doa fun race, they can feel like
they're a part of the fun, apart of the action, and then the
parents can also participate inthe kids race on their kids'
bikes.
Beth Bobbitt (11:03):
Yeah, so yeah, and as someone that is not great
on a mountain bike, I will saythat I've had so much fun as a
spectator too.
Whitney (11:12):
Yeah it's so encouraging especially, you know
, if you have taken theseclasses and you know a lot of
bicycle benevolent, I think youguys participate, you know, in
the moon and it's just cool tosee how the skills progress into
such a fun race as well.
And it's competitive but it'sfun.
Beth Bobbitt (11:30):
You know, we love it, we love it.
Amazing Kyla, what do you havecoming up?
Kyla (11:38):
You've talked a little bit about the ongoing things,
but anything special you want toplug, you know we're really
excited about women's clinicsthat we're launching this
Saturday.
We're going to repeat threedifferent clinics every month.
The second Saturday of themonth, we're doing a
foundational skills class, andthen the third Saturday of the
month we're doing a berms classintro to berms.
And then the fourth Saturday ofthe month is the intro to jumps
(12:00):
class.
Beth Bobbitt (12:01):
Okay, so what are the ?
Kyla (12:04):
You know I would say the first two are suitable for
beginner intermediate.
Probably once you get toadvanced you're pretty
comfortable with berms, I wouldsay.
But foundational skills arealways good to refresh.
And then you know we have a lotof berms everywhere on our
trails and so it's one of thosethings that becomes kind of a
(12:27):
sticky place for some people,especially as you're learning
how to mountain bike.
It's like oh, that berm's scary.
So those who are really goodfor beginner intermediate, jumps
would be probably more of likea solid intermediate, like when
you you know a lot of people,they either want to get air or
they don't want to get air.
(12:48):
Um, I actually don't like to geta lot of air.
Um, I know how to do it butit's not how I like to ride.
But some people like, from thefirst time they get on a bike
they want to get air, and sobeing able to know how to do
that properly, so I would saykind of beginner plus to
intermediate is where the introto jumps class will.
Beth Bobbitt (13:13):
Well, it sounds fun in theory.
Kyla (13:16):
Yeah, yeah, it's really fun.
Beth Bobbitt (13:18):
Okay, well, let's switch gears.
Some wrap up questions.
We ask all of our guests reallyjust to get to know the area a
little bit more and youpersonally, what you've
gravitated to.
So, Whitney, let's start withyou.
Any core Bentonville memories?
Tell us how long you've beenhere.
Whitney (13:40):
I moved here in 2021; Texas transplant they're all
coming.
But, and I've loved it eversince, you know, it's just so.
It's such a natural space thatyou, honestly, can't really find
in anywhere else and, um, it'sso unique.
You've got the Buffalo.
You've got, you know, thelittle oasis is outside of
Bentonville and Bella Vista, allthe things, um.
So I think a core memory for meis just when I did start this
(14:05):
job.
I got exposure to so manybeautiful places and hidden gems
and everything, and so I'm justreally lucky to keep exploring
those hidden gems just all overthe place.
So, like Coler, was one of myfirst hidden gems that I thought
I found.
Turns out, I was going to startworking for the foundation that
(14:26):
operates Coler, so yeah amazingLane.
Beth Bobbitt (14:30):
Lane what about you?
Lane (14:31):
I'll plug another one of our properties.
One of my core memories is Imoved here not that long ago.
So I've lived in NorthwestArkansas for a while but moved
to Bentonville just last summer.
But I've really enjoyed theQuiver.
You know you can go bowling,you can go to Topgolf, that kind
of thing.
But you know archery is sounique I don't think I would
have had the opportunity to trysomething like that anywhere
(14:51):
else.
So probably shooting my firstarrow out of a bow would be a
core memory in Bentonville forsure.
Beth Bobbitt (14:58):
Yeah, my daughter's hooked.
We're looking at the camps.
Lane (15:01):
It's something you didn't know you'd like until you really
give it a try.
Kyla (15:07):
And then it's like whoa, this feels good to hit the
target.
Yeah, absolutely.
What do you think, kylie?
Well, I moved here 20 years agoin May.
I've been here a long time and,yeah, it's changed a lot since
then.
I would say, if we're talkingabout core Bentonville memories
when my kids were younger mykids are 11 and 13 now but when
(15:29):
they were probably four and six,five and seven, we would ride
up the street to Park SpringsPark and go play in the creek
down there and it was just likethis it's beautiful down there.
It's really different sincetheir tornado, Um, and it's
actually not open right now.
Whitney (15:48):
So I don't.
Kyla (15:48):
I don't know when it's opening, but, um, it's a
beautiful place and um, andthere's a creek.
So the kids were totallyengaged, like you know, tromping
through the water and exploringand being out in nature and um,
and we could ride our bikesthere from our house, and so it
was.
It was just like a place whereI don't have like one particular
(16:09):
time, but like we would gothere really every week or every
other week just to kind of getout of the heat, cause you go
down in that Valley.
I think we call it a holler.
It's just a beautiful place.
So I'm looking forward to thethings blooming again to see
what I think I mean.
It'll be different, but it'llstill be beautiful.
(16:30):
Yeah, absolutely.
Beth Bobbitt (16:32):
I love Park Street because the equipment's
minimal.
I mean it's all about thenatural surroundings and you
know getting to explore.
So one more question localcrush, a secret spot, or you
know a restaurant or a placethat's just really special to
you, that maybe our listenersdon't know about Go back around.
Whitney (16:54):
Yeah, I'm gonna say the meadow at Compton Gardens,
compton Gardens is just off ofthe square, super easy to walk
to, but the meadow at ComptonGardens.
Compton Gardens is just off ofthe square, super easy to walk
to, but the meadow is just offthe Greenway and it has the Oz
Art heart hand sculpture.
I love that place and Iactually got engaged there, so
it is really special to me andmy husband and so I love it.
(17:17):
It's beautiful and when theconeflowers the native
coneflowers bloom, it's just.
It's such a beautiful spot tojust like have a little coffee
or a little snack or something,nobody's ever said that, that
yeah that's beautiful I lovethat one.
It's very peaceful.
Lane (17:31):
Lane mine is the Peel Museum store just because you
know we have Walmart, we haveother kind of gift stores, but
people don't really think of thePeel Museum store.
Special gifts, um, I've gottenlike cutting boards and candles
and all kinds of like fun.
Everything's local, so it's alllocal goods and gifts and some
of my favorite gifts I've given,given people, even for
(17:51):
christmas, have been from there,so it's definitely a place to
check out yeah, kylie, what'syour spot?
Kyla (17:57):
I didn't even know there's exactly exactly.
Whitney (17:59):
Come by come by best hot honey out there yeah,
there's some fun stuff, okay,fun plug, yeah, do it.
Kyla (18:06):
Um, I you know I I'm gonna pick something outside
because I just love to beoutdoors.
Um, I think the the there.
You might think they're inBella Vista, but in in
Bentonville, in north NorthBentonville, um it, it's called
Lake Bella Vista.
It's not really a lake, it'smore of a creek, but there's
some trails up there, there's awalking path, the Veterans Park
(18:31):
is up there and then BlowingSprings.
You can get a picnic before youhead up there and have a picnic
by the springs in BlowingSprings.
I just I think that area ofBentonville slash Bella Vista,
like far South Bella Vista, farNorth Bentonville is just it's,
it's beautiful.
My kids would spend hours atBlowing Springs.
(18:53):
They're like, they like to beoutside too.
Beth Bobbitt (18:57):
So yeah, amazing.
Well, I'm really want to getoutside now.
Wetted the palette, so, uh, anylast minute plugs.
Lane (19:09):
How do we find out more about Peel Compton Foundation?
Yeah, I would say, go topeelcomptonorg and then just
check out our social media forall of our properties.
We're we're always online,always posting what we're up to.
Yeah.
Whitney (19:17):
We've got a calendar that is also on our website Um
find any of our events, our freeprograms, our programs that are
, you know, anywhere from $20 to$100, depending on you know
skills or you know classes oranything like that.
So, yeah, check out thecalendar for all the fun spring
and summer updates.
Definitely Amazing, will do.
Kyla (19:36):
Bike School Bentonville.
Our story is the same.
Bikeschoolbentonvillecom hasall of our classes and events
and our social media atBikeschool Bentonville on
Instagram, Facebook.
I don't think we do X.
Beth Bobbitt (19:50):
Yeah, okay, okay.
Good, let's stick to the basics, yeah.
Kyla (19:54):
Instagram's probably the most updated.
Beth Bobbitt (19:56):
Well, thank you all for coming on.
We appreciate your time.
Whitney (19:58):
Thank, you so much.
Thank you so much for having us.
This was a fun time.
Beth Bobbitt (20:02):
As always, Visit Bentonville is here to help you
navigate things to do, where toeat and stay and what's going on
in our new American Town.
Give us a follow on socialmedia, Sign up for the
newsletter and check out ourwebsite at visitbentonvillecom.
Thanks for listening.
Welcome to A New American Town presented by Visit
Bentonville.
I'm your host, beth Bobbitt,and today we're going to dive
deep into the spring and summercamps for the whole family from
Bike School Bentonville and PeelCompton Foundation, from
outdoor rec, mountain biking andmore for all ages.
You'll hear directly frompeople who help create these
amazing adventures right here inBentonville.
(00:33):
Welcome to the podcast KylaLane Whitney.
Thank you all for being here.
Yeah thanks for having us.
So, Kyla, let's start with you.
Tell us a little bit about BikeSchool Bentonville.
The name is pretty descriptive,but I'd love to hear about just
general offerings, how it cameto be all of?
Kyla (00:48):
that, yeah, we do mountain bike skills instruction
and kind of for all ages.
We specialize, I would say, inkids but we're expanding kind of
as we speak into adultprogramming as well, as we speak
into adult programming as well,and really the rationale behind
it is that mountain biking is askills based endeavor and when
(01:13):
I was, I was the NICA leaguedirector before this and I had
the benefit of having all thesewonderful skills instructors
come to me and help me, becauseI wasn't a mountain biker before
we started NICA here and and socome to me and help me, because
I wasn't a mountain bikerbefore we started NICA here, and
so I had all these coaches thatcame and helped me learn how to
mountain bike.
But not a lot of peopleunderstand that a little bit of
(01:36):
skills instruction can reallymake a huge difference in your
experience on the trails.
And so we have this company andit's to help people have more
fun on the trails through themountain bike skills instruction
.
Beth Bobbitt (01:49):
Yeah, and what is the approach or the coaching
philosophy for you all?
Kyla (01:52):
You know, the very best coaches are like students of the
people that they're coaching,so kind of our whole philosophy
is built around that and aroundhow, paying attention to who
they are, where they are now,where they want to be, and then
(02:15):
being able to tailor theinstruction to the person that's
in the class or the camp orgetting a lesson.
I love that.
Beth Bobbitt (02:24):
Thank you for sharing.
Yeah, lane Whitney, samequestion.
Tell us a little bit about PeelCompton Foundation, especially
because you all have grown andhave enveloped so many more
offerings and spaces in the lastfew years.
So, like set us straight, howmany different spaces and
offerings are there right now?
Lane (02:43):
Yeah, so Peel Compton Foundation is unique.
We have several differentproperties.
It's technically four, but wehave a fifth.
So we have the Peel Museum andBotanical Garden, we have
Compton Gardens and Arboretum,kohler Mountain Bike Preserve
and then Osage Park and thenwithin Osage Park we have the
Quiver Archery Range.
Beth Bobbitt (03:12):
Yeah, and congratulations on winning the .
Whitney (03:13):
Yes, thank you so much.
That was amazing, yeah, yeah,and the cool thing about our you
know, four slash fiveproperties is that our mission
is to bring the communitytogether through nature,
education, recreation andpreservation, and each of our
properties encompass thosevalues.
And so you know, whether you'relooking for a tour at a museum
and you want to learn more abouthistory, or you're wanting to
get on the trails, or, you know,you just want to hang out and
(03:36):
soak up the environment, youknow we've got all of that.
Yeah, it's so special.
Beth Bobbitt (03:40):
We're so lucky to be here and thank you all for
what you do.
So we're so lucky to be hereand thank you all for what you
do.
So, Kyla, let's jump back toyou.
If someone was planning a tripto Bentonville, what do they
need to know about you?
Know how to prepare, when tobook private lessons, group
rides, what's available fortravelers.
Kyla (03:59):
Well, from a bike school's perspective, we have
spring break camps and we havesummer camps.
Basically, like anytime the kidsare not in school, we try to
have a camp around it, andwhat's awesome about one of our
camps is you drop the kids off.
If you're a parent, you dropthe kids off and then you can go
enjoy your own ride on thetrails or have a little bit of
(04:21):
time apart trails or have alittle bit of time apart.
You know, I know I have twokids, so being on vacation is
not always super relaxing whenyou have young ones, and so so
being having a little bit oftime to yourself is a really
awesome thing, and you know andtrust that the kids are going to
be in good hands.
Or you could also get a lessonwhile the kids are getting a
(04:43):
lesson.
You know, I don't think there'sany better place to learn how
to mountain bike thanBentonville, and so we have
coaches.
You know we have more coachesthan are just coaching the camps
, and so we can also get you aprivate lesson at the same time.
Or, you know, maybe you're nota parent, we can do that too.
Beth Bobbitt (05:06):
And f I do want a lesson with my child
Kyla (05:10):
Yeah, we can do that.
It's great to have a lessonwith your kid, because then
you're going to be learning kindof the same things.
Now the kids might pick up onit a little faster than the
adults.
I mean, sometimes it kind of itjust depends.
You know, anytime you havemultiple people in a lesson
there's, you know, there'sdifferences in learning speeds,
(05:32):
but we have coaches that areexperts at kind of managing that
.
Beth Bobbitt (05:35):
Yeah, that sounds fun.
So spring break, summer campsand then ongoing classes and
clinics, right?
Kyla (05:42):
Yeah, we do classes for the locals here too, that kind
of spread out over time.
There's a lot of benefit tospreading your learning out over
weeks and weeks rather thanjust concentrating it.
We also do private lessons, butwe also can do guided rides for
families or for groups ofpeople or for an individual that
(06:05):
comes in and you know ourtrails are awesome and sometimes
you know a trail might bebetter riding it this way than
that, or you've seen somethingon YouTube, right, and you want
to see this feature, being ableto make the most of your time.
A guided ride is great for that.
They can tailor the experienceto your level and what you want
(06:29):
to see and do.
Beth Bobbitt (06:30):
There's also just some, I guess, benefit of
getting that orientation to ourtrail system.
It can be intimidating forpeople that aren't here, or even
residents, you know.
For me, so I love that guidedtour option.
Me, so I love that guided touroption.
Lane Whitney.
What might a visitor expect orhow should they plan for a
(06:50):
spring visit in terms of all thevarious programs and camps
happening?
Lane (06:53):
Yeah, ours is kind of set up the same way, so you can
enjoy our properties for free,kind of do your own walking
around.
Coler has has its own, you know, walking trail.
You can get a coffee at airship, so you could do kind of a do
your own thing.
We also have classes, you knowongoing classes, one-off classes
all the time, and then we havelonger series as well, big
(07:14):
events, and then we also haveguided rides.
Whitney (07:17):
Yeah, and I think it's really cool to see that as a
community, we're offering guidedrides, especially because
there's going to be trailsystems that some people want to
do.
You know, from Bentonville toFayetteville or from Bentonville
to Bella Vista, and you knowKohler is really unique and it
can be really intimidating.
Coler in in particular, it's300 acres, there's 20 plus miles
of trails, yeah, and so youknow our two certified, you know
(07:39):
, instructors.
They want to also provide thatexperience, and so it's just
really cool to see that thereare, you know, different areas
in our community that are comingtogether to provide people with
a similar experience, and soyou know we, you can, you know
you can email us for guidedrides.
You can fill out the form onour website.
(07:59):
While kids are in bicycle,Bentonville during camps, join
guided rides with our, you know,certified instructors and they
can gear it towards anything andthey focus, you know, mainly on
Coler, but they can take youColer to any trails as well.
But I love seeing that.
You know everyone in thecommunity wants to provide that
experience.
Kyla (08:17):
And it's not a far ride to Slaughterpin to.
Back 40, or Little Sugar.
It's all really integrated andcut hollow.
Lane (08:32):
A fun thing for our visitors too is our campground.
So at Kohler we have acampground that's renowned, you
know, heated and cooled bathroom, like we have those amenities
for you, five stars.
Kyla (08:38):
Yeah, five stars.
The nicest showers you'll everexperience in a campground, so
that's right on our property.
Lane (08:43):
So if you feel like camping out, we have van spaces
and tent spaces.
So, if you want to do that as afamily, you can do that all
together as well.
Beth Bobbitt (08:50):
We're doing it, but we're booking our campsite
because it also just makes youfeel a little bit more, I don't
know nurtured and safe, ifyou're within this park where
you know there's amenities andbathrooms and other people and
it's also just gorgeous.
Definitely yeah, a little oasis, just outside of town.
(09:11):
Yeah, totally Want to see moreof what's currently happening in
Bentonville.
Follow us on social media atVisit Bentonville to stay in the
know about restaurants, events,things to do in town and more.
We are here for you, whetheryou're planning a trip or
looking to move here.
So let's talk about specialevents.
You all have your world-famousnative plant sale Osage After
(09:37):
Dark some races.
Lane (09:39):
Yeah, I mean it's fun because there's something for
everyone.
So, like we were saying withthe history or if you wanted to
be more outdoors, it's kind ofup to you.
So, yeah, we have our springnative tree and plant sale
happening at Compton gardens,all grown by our horticulture
team there.
And then we have Osage parkafter dark, our fundraiser for
Osage park, and that one's funbecause it's a little bit more
(10:00):
educational.
You get a tour around theWetlands and we'll have a panel
of experts, um, coming out aswell.
Whitney (10:06):
Um and then, and a beaver expert.
The beaver expert is flying in.
Kyla (10:10):
Yeah, we're really excited are there beavers at
Osage oh?
Beth Bobbitt (10:13):
yeah we have a beaver family so will they do
tours, beaver tours, what'shappening there?
We'll do general wetland tours,so you'll see the beavers,
you'll'll see the dams.
Whitney (10:22):
Yeah.
Lane (10:22):
Yeah, it's awesome, so there'll be a lot to see, and
then we have our noon to moonrace coming up as well.
Whitney (10:27):
Yeah, noon to moon is really cool.
It's our annual mountain bikefundraising event, and so it'll
take place on May 3rd and that'swhen the six hour race will
happen and you can team.
It's really cool.
It's an all-day fun event.
There's food, beverages, dj,all the things.
Something cool we've added lastyear that we're going to
incorporate this year is thekids race on Friday, the night
(10:49):
before, and so your kids can doa fun race, they can feel like
they're a part of the fun, apart of the action, and then the
parents can also participate inthe kids race on their kids'
bikes.
Beth Bobbitt (11:03):
Yeah, so yeah, and as someone that is not great
on a mountain bike, I will saythat I've had so much fun as a
spectator too.
Whitney (11:12):
Yeah it's so encouraging especially, you know
, if you have taken theseclasses and you know a lot of
bicycle benevolent, I think youguys participate, you know, in
the moon and it's just cool tosee how the skills progress into
such a fun race as well.
And it's competitive but it'sfun.
Beth Bobbitt (11:30):
You know, we love it, we love it.
Amazing Kyla, what do you havecoming up?
Kyla (11:38):
You've talked a little bit about the ongoing things,
but anything special you want toplug, you know we're really
excited about women's clinicsthat we're launching this
Saturday.
We're going to repeat threedifferent clinics every month.
The second Saturday of themonth, we're doing a
foundational skills class, andthen the third Saturday of the
month we're doing a berms classintro to berms.
And then the fourth Saturday ofthe month is the intro to jumps
(12:00):
class.
Beth Bobbitt (12:01):
Okay, so what are the ?
Kyla (12:04):
You know I would say the first two are suitable for
beginner intermediate.
Probably once you get toadvanced you're pretty
comfortable with berms, I wouldsay.
But foundational skills arealways good to refresh.
And then you know we have a lotof berms everywhere on our
trails and so it's one of thosethings that becomes kind of a
(12:27):
sticky place for some people,especially as you're learning
how to mountain bike.
It's like oh, that berm's scary.
So those who are really goodfor beginner intermediate, jumps
would be probably more of likea solid intermediate, like when
you you know a lot of people,they either want to get air or
they don't want to get air.
(12:48):
Um, I actually don't like to geta lot of air.
Um, I know how to do it butit's not how I like to ride.
But some people like, from thefirst time they get on a bike
they want to get air, and sobeing able to know how to do
that properly, so I would saykind of beginner plus to
intermediate is where the introto jumps class will.
Beth Bobbitt (13:13):
Well, it sounds fun in theory.
Kyla (13:16):
Yeah, yeah, it's really fun.
Beth Bobbitt (13:18):
Okay, well, let's switch gears.
Some wrap up questions.
We ask all of our guests reallyjust to get to know the area a
little bit more and youpersonally, what you've
gravitated to.
So, Whitney, let's start withyou.
Any core Bentonville memories?
Tell us how long you've beenhere.
Whitney (13:40):
I moved here in 2021; Texas transplant they're all
coming.
But, and I've loved it eversince, you know, it's just so.
It's such a natural space thatyou, honestly, can't really find
in anywhere else and, um, it'sso unique.
You've got the Buffalo.
You've got, you know, thelittle oasis is outside of
Bentonville and Bella Vista, allthe things, um.
So I think a core memory for meis just when I did start this
(14:05):
job.
I got exposure to so manybeautiful places and hidden gems
and everything, and so I'm justreally lucky to keep exploring
those hidden gems just all overthe place.
So, like Coler, was one of myfirst hidden gems that I thought
I found.
Turns out, I was going to startworking for the foundation that
(14:26):
operates Coler, so yeah amazingLane.
Beth Bobbitt (14:30):
Lane what about you?
Lane (14:31):
I'll plug another one of our properties.
One of my core memories is Imoved here not that long ago.
So I've lived in NorthwestArkansas for a while but moved
to Bentonville just last summer.
But I've really enjoyed theQuiver.
You know you can go bowling,you can go to Topgolf, that kind
of thing.
But you know archery is sounique I don't think I would
have had the opportunity to trysomething like that anywhere
(14:51):
else.
So probably shooting my firstarrow out of a bow would be a
core memory in Bentonville forsure.
Beth Bobbitt (14:58):
Yeah, my daughter's hooked.
We're looking at the camps.
Lane (15:01):
It's something you didn't know you'd like until you really
give it a try.
Kyla (15:07):
And then it's like whoa, this feels good to hit the
target.
Yeah, absolutely.
What do you think, kylie?
Well, I moved here 20 years agoin May.
I've been here a long time and,yeah, it's changed a lot since
then.
I would say, if we're talkingabout core Bentonville memories
when my kids were younger mykids are 11 and 13 now but when
(15:29):
they were probably four and six,five and seven, we would ride
up the street to Park SpringsPark and go play in the creek
down there and it was just likethis it's beautiful down there.
It's really different sincetheir tornado, Um, and it's
actually not open right now.
Whitney (15:48):
So I don't.
Kyla (15:48):
I don't know when it's opening, but, um, it's a
beautiful place and um, andthere's a creek.
So the kids were totallyengaged, like you know, tromping
through the water and exploringand being out in nature and um,
and we could ride our bikesthere from our house, and so it
was.
It was just like a place whereI don't have like one particular
(16:09):
time, but like we would gothere really every week or every
other week just to kind of getout of the heat, cause you go
down in that Valley.
I think we call it a holler.
It's just a beautiful place.
So I'm looking forward to thethings blooming again to see
what I think I mean.
It'll be different, but it'llstill be beautiful.
(16:30):
Yeah, absolutely.
Beth Bobbitt (16:32):
I love Park Street because the equipment's
minimal.
I mean it's all about thenatural surroundings and you
know getting to explore.
So one more question localcrush, a secret spot, or you
know a restaurant or a placethat's just really special to
you, that maybe our listenersdon't know about Go back around.
Whitney (16:54):
Yeah, I'm gonna say the meadow at Compton Gardens,
compton Gardens is just off ofthe square, super easy to walk
to, but the meadow at ComptonGardens.
Compton Gardens is just off ofthe square, super easy to walk
to, but the meadow is just offthe Greenway and it has the Oz
Art heart hand sculpture.
I love that place and Iactually got engaged there, so
it is really special to me andmy husband and so I love it.
(17:17):
It's beautiful and when theconeflowers the native
coneflowers bloom, it's just.
It's such a beautiful spot tojust like have a little coffee
or a little snack or something,nobody's ever said that, that
yeah that's beautiful I lovethat one.
It's very peaceful.
Lane (17:31):
Lane mine is the Peel Museum store just because you
know we have Walmart, we haveother kind of gift stores, but
people don't really think of thePeel Museum store.
Special gifts, um, I've gottenlike cutting boards and candles
and all kinds of like fun.
Everything's local, so it's alllocal goods and gifts and some
of my favorite gifts I've given,given people, even for
(17:51):
christmas, have been from there,so it's definitely a place to
check out yeah, kylie, what'syour spot?
Kyla (17:57):
I didn't even know there's exactly exactly.
Whitney (17:59):
Come by come by best hot honey out there yeah,
there's some fun stuff, okay,fun plug, yeah, do it.
Kyla (18:06):
Um, I you know I I'm gonna pick something outside
because I just love to beoutdoors.
Um, I think the the there.
You might think they're inBella Vista, but in in
Bentonville, in north NorthBentonville, um it, it's called
Lake Bella Vista.
It's not really a lake, it'smore of a creek, but there's
some trails up there, there's awalking path, the Veterans Park
(18:31):
is up there and then BlowingSprings.
You can get a picnic before youhead up there and have a picnic
by the springs in BlowingSprings.
I just I think that area ofBentonville slash Bella Vista,
like far South Bella Vista, farNorth Bentonville is just it's,
it's beautiful.
My kids would spend hours atBlowing Springs.
(18:53):
They're like, they like to beoutside too.
Beth Bobbitt (18:57):
So yeah, amazing.
Well, I'm really want to getoutside now.
Wetted the palette, so, uh, anylast minute plugs.
Lane (19:09):
How do we find out more about Peel Compton Foundation?
Yeah, I would say, go topeelcomptonorg and then just
check out our social media forall of our properties.
We're we're always online,always posting what we're up to.
Yeah.
Whitney (19:17):
We've got a calendar that is also on our website Um
find any of our events, our freeprograms, our programs that are
, you know, anywhere from $20 to$100, depending on you know
skills or you know classes oranything like that.
So, yeah, check out thecalendar for all the fun spring
and summer updates.
Definitely Amazing, will do.
Kyla (19:36):
Bike School Bentonville.
Our story is the same.
Bikeschoolbentonvillecom hasall of our classes and events
and our social media atBikeschool Bentonville on
Instagram, Facebook.
I don't think we do X.
Beth Bobbitt (19:50):
Yeah, okay, okay.
Good, let's stick to the basics, yeah.
Kyla (19:54):
Instagram's probably the most updated.
Beth Bobbitt (19:56):
Well, thank you all for coming on.
We appreciate your time.
Whitney (19:58):
Thank, you so much.
Thank you so much for having us.
This was a fun time.
Beth Bobbitt (20:02):
As always, Visit Bentonville is here to help you
navigate things to do, where toeat and stay and what's going on
in our new American Town.
Give us a follow on socialmedia, Sign up for the
newsletter and check out ourwebsite at visitbentonvillecom.
Thanks for listening.
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