Arkansas’ first large-scale, multi-discipline adventure race designed exclusively for kids ages 6-14.
Slaughter Pen Park
Bentonville, Arkansas
JUNE 5 - 7, 2026
OZ Kids™ Adventure Race gives kids a chance to challenge themselves physically while experiencing teamwork, problem‑solving, and the thrill of a real adventure race—all in a safe, supportive environment. In teams of two, participants compete together by bike, in water and on foot through a 2.5 - 4 mile course featuring up to 15 challenges and natural obstacles. The race will take approximately 90 minutes to complete.
Built to inspire confidence, resilience, and teamwork, OZ Kids™ Adventure Race brings together trekking, climbing, mountain biking, with challenges, like archery and casting, and problem-solving into a fun, high-energy experience that feels more like a real-world adventure than a typical youth race.
Friday, June 5
Skills Clinics: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Packet pickup: 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Saturday, June 6
Races kick off at 9:00 AM
Race Waves 1-3 (ages 8-14)
4 Mile course
15 Obstacles
Strider Bikes Bentonville presents OZ Kids™ Balance Bike Race - ages 5 and under:
Strider race begins at 2:00 PM
Sunday, June 7
Races kick off at 1:00 PM
Race Wave 4-5 (ages 6-7)
2.5 Mile course
10 Obstacles
OZ Kids™ Family Adventure Race: 4:30 PM
2 Hour Race
Scavenger and team building challenges
Skills Clinic is a half-day, four hour, confidence booster that will prepare your child for this epic adventure. Participants will rotate through four 50-minute courses with specialist instructing the clinic. Skills Clinic fee is $40 per participant.
ADVENTURE RACING 101
An introduction to the basics of adventure racing, including teamwork, map reading, equipment, and strategies.
CLIMBING AND ROPES
A hands-on workshop on climbing and ropes skills to show harness use and gain confidence in climbing the wall.
ARCHERY AND CASTING
An introduction to the basics of archery and casting a fishing line to a target.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
A clinic on mountain biking skills and techniques, including handling, shifting, braking, and navigating rough terrain.
Step off the sidelines and into the adventure.
The OZ Kids™ Family Adventure Course is your chance to experience the thrill of an adventure race—together. Designed for everyone from first-time explorers to families ready to push their limits, this is a true choose-your-own-adventure experience.
Each family receives a map filled with checkpoints scattered across the course. From there, the path is yours to design. Ride, trek, or run to the checkpoints that call to you. Go all out or take it at your own pace; there’s no single “right” way to do this.
At every checkpoint, your team will face a new challenge, some physical, some mental, some skill-based, but all built to bring your family together. You’ll problem-solve, communicate, laugh, and maybe even get a little muddy along the way.
This isn’t just an event. It’s a shared experience.
It’s for the families who want more than watching from the sidelines.
It’s for the ones who want to jump in, get their hands dirty, and create something memorable together.
Because the best stories aren’t told from the bleachers,
they’re built out on the course."
Each team member must have the following gear. All items to be provided by participants and carried the entire race.
Mountain bike with knobby tires in good working order
Properly fitted bike helmet
Bike gloves
Socks, sturdy athletic shoes
Water (Minimum of 10 oz.)
Small Back Pack or Hydration Pack
Small snack
First Aid Kit: Small resealable bag with some wet wipes, bandages, white tape, minor wound ointment
Light wind/rain jacket (depending on weather - race organizers will announce any mandatory equipment changes race week)
We are committed to producing a race that is challenging, competitive, and super fun. To capture just the right balance, we’ve recruited the best team from across the US to kick this event off right.
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Jesse Tubb
RACE DIRECTOR
Founder of GRIT Adventures. 17 year endurance competitor. Two-time national adventure racing champion
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Summer Reighn
COURSE DIRECTOR
Local trail expert and avid adventure racer. -
Helene Mattison
GROUND CONTROL/TIMING
Founder of Kids Adventure Games. 16 years of producing kids adventure races. 30 years of adventure racing experience.
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Ashley Williams
VOLUNTEER DIRECTOR
Founder of Ashley Lauryn Experiences with extensive background directing and managing events.
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Chandler Harris
MEDIA
Founder of Chandler Harris Media. 7 year media veteran, including FOUR SUPER BOWLS.
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Julie Heimeshoff
EVENT DIRECTOR
Operations, Marketing and Communications Director for Ozark Foundation, including the five year history of OZ Kids™.
We need you!
Help us bring the OZ Kids™ Adventure Race to life! Want to help make a difference in your community while having a blast? Join our volunteer team!
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Kids will trek, mountain bike, run through creeks, cross a slack line, Tyrolean traverse over a creek, scale up a 24’ climbing wall. They will participate in archery, casting, cargo net climbing, along with other outdoor physical and problem-solving challenges.
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In additional to the race experience, your child’s entry fee includes a shirt, a swag bag with branded race merch, pre‐race training tips from two time national champion adventure racer and race director, Jesse Tubb, a finisher medal, and an awards ceremony.
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Yes. The age group the team races in will be determined by the age of the oldest teammate.
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Races are limited to 180 teams per race day, spread across three waves. Teams are released two teams at a time every two minutes to manage course flow.
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Yes, but you will register as a team of two. Registration forms will not be confirmed until both teammates’ information is complete and payment is received. You can enter your own child’s name twice but you are responsible for changing this at a later date.
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Yes and no, you can follow along near the course to watch them at the different challenges. There will be some trails for kids over eight that are not fully conducive to spectators. Parent are not allowed to assist their child during the race. Cheering and encouraging - YES! Picking up their bike, helping with the map, handing them water - NOPE! Course marshals will be on hand to assist if children have difficulty. When the kids cross the finish line, we want them to feel the epic satisfaction of completing the race on their own.
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We recommend kids wear moisture‐wicking clothing as they will get wet & running shoes for footwear. They will be required to wear a helmet and bike gloves throughout the entire competition. NO JEANS. You may want to bring a change of clothes for after the race - you could be loading tired, wet kids into your car.
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The race will take place rain or shine. In the event there is lightning in the area, the Race Director will make the appropriate call to delay or cancel the race. No refunds will be given if the race is cancelled due to weather.
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Refund requests received 60 days prior to race day will receive a refund. Any refund request received after that date will not receive a refund. Participants can transfer their registration to another person.
Participants must formally request a refund or transfer by emailing info@ozarkfoundation.org.
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Yes. Registrations can be transferred to a new and different team up to 10 days prior to your event date. Request a transfer by email info@ozarkfoundation.org.
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Yes, race registrations are transferable up to 10 days prior to the race. You can do this by contacting info@ozarkfoundation.org
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Yes, but you will register as a team of two. You can enter your own child’s name twice but you are responsible for changing this at a later date.
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Mandatory PERSONAL equipment: Each child is responsible for bringing a mountain bike with knobby tires, a properly fitted bike helmet and bike gloves. Additionally, each child will need to carry the following items with them during the event:
First Aid Kit: small resealable bag with wet wipes, bandages, white tape, minor wound ointment.
Sunscreen
Minimum of 10 oz water
Light snack
Small back pack
Light wind/rain jacket (depending on weather - race organizers will announce any mandatory equipment changes race week)
Race organizers will provide a climbing harness and a life jacket
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