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Miles Of Smiles
Teaching kids to XC ski creates miles of smiles
Story by Walter Meanwell * Photos by Stacey Meanwell
Do you remember when you first learned to cross-country ski? Were you excited and a little bit apprehensive? Teaching children to ski is a fun way to bring back those feelings - and bring a smile to the face of a child.
With those results, the Madison Nordic Ski club is teaching young kids, many of them from low income families, to ski.
In partnership with Madison Public Schools, and the Mayor's Fit City Kids Program, the MadNorSki and Blackhawk Ski clubs are increasing the appeal of Nordic skiing among younger kids.
Every Wednesday afternoon in January and February, two buses of children arrived at the doors of the Blackhawk ski club. Their laughter and energy joined the sound of the wind through the pines. Club volunteers fitted everyone with boots, skis, and poles. And children without hats, gloves, or even coats were outfitted from big bins of winter clothing donated by club members and REI.
With everyone bundled up and equipped, the kids were divided into small groups with an instructor. After lessons and a few games on skis, the children took breaks for fruit, cookies and hot chocolate served around a warm fire.
Programs like these are important to introduce cross-country skiing to kids at a young age. The inclusion of low income kids is especially positive because many of them wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. The program is also an efficient and cost-effective way to get hats, gloves, coats and warm pants on children who don't have them.
Kids this age enjoy doing something new. Many of them are good athletes who pick up skiing very quickly. And their energy is just fun to be around.
If you or your club want to start a program like this or expand one that you already have, you can. As hinted above, there are several things you'll need.
Organization
It helps to have a group of committed volunteers who believe in the idea and are willing to commit the time and energy necessary to make it happen. Plan on not more than five kids per instructor. Parents and teachers can be outfitted in adult gear and can help a lot.
Start small
Organize one or two events with a fewer number of children and see how it goes. The program can grow from there. One thing is for sure, if you build it they will come. The supply is limitless.
Facilities
It helps a lot if you can provide reliable snow. If you do not have access to it then plan on alternative games for no snow days. It is also nice to have access to a warming facility and ideally a fire. Kids love a warm fire.
Equipment
Nothing attracts more donated gear than a program like this. All you have to do is ask. But while individuals can provide plenty of clothing and equipment, it will come in all sizes, ages, and models. And much of it will be incompatible. Use this stuff as back up.
What you need is standardization. Ask your favorite ski company representative or outdoor retailer for help. Many companies have programs to promote the sport and are very willing to donate gear. For example, Rossignol rep Gary Ladd provided us with 40 sets of children's classic skis, boots, and poles.
Clothing
Kids are always forgetting something or they simply don't have it. Having bins of extra warm clothes is very helpful. Hats and mittens are in especially high demand, as well as coats with working zippers. City and school lost and found items are a great place to start. Retailers are another good source for clothing. REI donated over 50 pairs of children's mittens to us for our program.
Food
While you don't necessarily have to feed them, kids are always hungry and it's nice for them to have something to look forward to after skiing. Hot chocolate is inexpensive and well received, especially when it's cold. Cookies are always a big hit but many kids have weight issues so we try to give them fruits and veggies. If you start with healthier foods, you won't get so many kids asking where the cookies went. Many grocers are quite willing to help. Failing that, the cost is still reasonable.
Children
Most schools have after school programs that are always looking for activities. These programs often have teachers and supervisors who will come with the kids and help.
It is best if the school buses the kids to and from the activity because the carpool logistics can get complicated. Many schools are more than happy to help get their kids to this type of activity.
If you have skiing kids and parents to include in the program, it helps a lot. The skiing kids are good role models and examples for the children just learning to ski and are in many ways better teachers than the adults. Many high school kids in particular are looking for community service hours with which to burnish their college applications.
While a children's cross-country ski program may sound like a large undertaking, it is very manageable and quite fun. It doesn't have to cost a lot either. Get as much help as you can and don't hesitate to ask for more. People are extremely willing to do what they can for kids, especially if it gets them outside in the winter months.
Teach a kid to ski. It will provide miles of smiles.
Walter Meanwell is co-president of the Madison Nordic Ski Club.
