Upcoming Events

Jessie Diggin's "Brave Enough" Book Launch

04/05/2020

Join us for the official book launch event for Brave Enough, the memoir from 2018...

04/26/2020

For new and experienced leaders and volunteers to recap the season and prepare for the next....

K COUNTER TOP 10

Skier	Club	KM
Selah B	Woodland Wapiti	519.29
Jack K	Willow River	315.98
Ryan K	Willow River	301.48
Liam L	Lake Elmo	259
Zoe W	Wirth Saturdays	246.5
Finnian A	Carver SkiSparks	235
William M	Wild River	217
Eric O	Lake Elmo	191.4
Galen P	Hyland Lake	186.6
Soren L	Hiawatha SkiSparks	169.5

Lebanon Hills Youth Ski Club

Primary tabs

Location

860 Cliff Road

55124 Eagan , MN

Phone: 651-554-6530

See map: Google Maps

Minnesota

Lebanon Hills

Venue Name:

Lebanon Hills Park

Attachment	Size
Meeting Location at Hyland, Parking Directions, and pass purchase location	217.82 KB

Registration:

Full

Meets:

Sunday

12:45 - 2:00. If we meet at Hyland time changes to 11:45 - 1:00

Starts:

January 5, 2020 - 12:45pm

Rentals:

Club Rentals - closed

Membership:

$50 (Classic only at this club; no skating)

Other (Equipment Options):

Club online rentals: Classic $45, Daily rentals also available on-site conditions permitting

Other (Ski Pass Requirements):

Dakota County Parks Ski Pass required for adults skiing on their own

Leader:

Dave Freed ,

952-891-1054

Email:

lebanonhills@mysl.org

Sign up to Volunteer by clicking this link

FEBRUARY 23th - Last session of the year and we're skiing at Lebanon Hills

FEBRUARY 16th - We're skiing at Lebanon Hills

FEBRUARY 9th - We'll ski at Lebanon Hills

FEBRUARY 2nd - Home, sweet home at Lebanon Hills.

JANUARY 26th - Unless you hear otherwise, we will be at Lebanon Hills again!

JANUARY 19th - WE ARE PLANNING TO BE AT LEBANON HILLS

Conditions should be skiiable at Lebanon Hills on Sunday, so please plan to show up there on Sunday, January 19th unless you hear otherwise. Plan to arrive in the parking lot at least by 12:30 since we start skiing at 12:45. The address is 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN 55123 which is at the Visitor Center near Schulz Lake. Since this is our first time at Lebanon Hills this year, here are some additional details.

Meeting Place: Our meeting area will be behind the visitor center near the lake. To get there from the parking lot, go between the Visitor Center and the rental equipment building where you will find our bib distribution table. There you can pick up the Minnesota Youth Ski League bib with your skier’s name, and then proceed to the meeting area for your skier’s group which is identified by a colored flag. You can determine which flag to meet at by matching the flag to the color on your skier’s nametag.
Start Time: To minimize the amount of time skiers stand around getting cold, we try to release the skiers onto the trails promptly at 12:45. To make sure they are ready to ski at 12:45, we suggest you allow at least 10 minutes for skiers to get their bib, put on their skis, and get to their meeting area. That means it is probably wise to be in exiting your vehicle in the parking lot at 12:30; earlier if you have multiple skiers to corral. Latecomers will need to wait for their group to return since we can’t have skiers heading off on their own to try and find their group unless they are with a parent. If you arrive late we will try to have your skier’s group return to meet your skier but this is not always possible, so in that case your skier may have to ski with their parent/guardian.
Visitor Center: Although you are welcome to use the Visitor Center to have your skier change into ski boots, we’ve found that it is best if skiers put their boots on at home or in the car to minimize congestion in the building and to help them be ready to ski at 12:45. Please do not bring skis or poles into the Visitor Center. There are ski racks outside the building to use. Some may be reserved for MYSL use, so feel free to use those if you see them.
Skier Group Assignments: Our coaches to their best to place skiers in a group that is the best fit for them, and this may change from week to week, and may mean the skier is separated from a friend. If this is a problem let one of our volunteers or coaches know and we'll work to figure out a solution.P
Parent Skiers: You are welcome and encouraged to ski with your child’s group as a “Ski Chaperone”. Just let the group leader know, and if you can assist with any issues such as dropped mittens, loose boots, etc. while skiing along that would be appreciated. Please be aware that all adult skiers who are not coaching will need a trail pass, so please factor this into your schedule since that could take a few minutes depending on the line. Cost at Lebanon Hills is $5 or $6 per day or a season pass for $25.
On Site Rentals: if you are renting skis at Lebanon Hills, as you come down the sidewalk the rental building will be on your left. Ask for the MYSL rate, which is valid for both youth skiers and their parents or guardians. Remember to arrive even earlier to allow for the time it takes to go through the rental process.
End of Session: At the end of the session, skiers should remember to a) return their bibs to the bib distribution table; and b) thank their group leader and any assistants. Dakota County sells hot chocolate and has other drinks available in the Visitor Center, and many skiers find it enjoyable to get a hot chocolate drink after their session. Cost is $1.
Meet the Coach/K Counter: We encourage parents and guardians to introduce themselves to your skier’s coach at the end of each session. This way you can understand what your skier learned that day and how far they skied. We encourage you to log in to your MYSL account and enter the distance your skier skied at the “K counter” section so you can track their progress throughout the season.

JANUARY 12th - WE'RE MOVING TO HYLAND - HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

As posted previously, we will be meeting at Hyland for our Week 2 session. Please read previous posts to be aware of key items when meeting at Hyland. Some important items to be aware of this week:

Our coaches make every effort to head out on the ski trails promptly at 11:45 so it best to ARRIVE by 11:30 if not earlier.
If you have anyone to carpool with, please do so. That way one adult can help unload skiers while the other searches for a parking spot.

We are scheduled to finish at 1:00 PM, but sometimes groups return early. It is always nice to be waiting for your skier(s)when they return so you can see the big smile on their face showing you what a fun time they had.
We DO have authorization to use the “Jan’s Place” building to warm-up if needed. Be aware that it can get very crowded in so don’t assume you’ll be able to find room in there while waiting for your skier.

Thanks and we’ll see you there!

DETAILS REGARDING MOVE TO HYLAND

Due to un-skiable conditions at Lebanon Hills, our first ski session will move to the Hyland Park Reserve in Bloomington (10145 Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438) where they have snowmaking equipment. We will meet from 11:45 to 1:00. We apologize for having to meet at the earlier time but due to the high demand we have to take the time assigned to us.

There are a couple of things to be aware of at Hyland:

• Meeting Place: We will be meeting outside the building called "Jan's Place". This is the first parking lot PAST the main visitor center. There you can pick up the Minnesota Youth Ski League bib with your skier’s name, and then proceed to the meeting area. Just look for the flag with the same color as your skier's nametag. There may be other ski clubs there so be sure to look for the Lebanon Hills club.
• Start Time: To minimize the amount of time skiers stand around getting cold, when at Hyland we will try to release them with their leaders onto the trails promptly at 11:45. To make sure they are ready to ski at 11:45, we suggest you allow at least 15 minutes for skiers to get their bib, put on their skis, and get to their meeting area. That means it is probably wise to be in exiting your vehicle in the parking lot at 11:30; earlier if you have multiple skiers to corral. Latecomers will need to wait for their group to return; we can’t have skiers heading off on their own to try and find their group unless they are with a parent. They expanded parking at Hyland over the summer, but it may still get crowded.
• Trail Pass: At Hyland, a trail pass must be purchased for anyone 12 years of age or older. Passes ($9.50 + tax last year) can be purchased at the main Visitor Center. Please plan your time accordingly if you need to purchase a trail pass. Note that our group will NOT be meeting at the main Visitor Center so if you have to buy a pass you will need to make a separate stop here.
• Label Your Equipment: Please be sure to label your skis and poles with your child’s name. Colorful duct tape or painter's tape works well for this process. Many youth skis are the same brand and size and they are easy to mix up.
• Prep: We’ve found that it is best if skiers put their boots on at home or in the car to help them be ready to ski at 11:45.
• Parent Skiers: You are welcome and encouraged to ski with your child’s group as a “Ski Chaperone”. Just let the group leader know, and if you can assist with any issues such as dropped mittens, loose boots, etc. while skiing along that would be appreciated. Please be aware that all adult skiers (inlcuding coaches) will need a trail pass, so please factor this into your schedule since that could take a few minutes depending on the line.
• On Site Rentals: if you are renting skis at Hyland, do so at the main visitor center as you enter the park. Remember that we do not meet at this location, we meet at the building called "Jan's Place". Remember to arrive even earlier to allow for the time it takes to go through the rental process
• Hyland does NOT allow any walking on or alongside the trails, so those of you with younger skiers will not be able to accompany your skier unless you are on skis. However, the very young skiers will be likely be in the "training" area and parents can stand nearby and watch.

Thanks for your understanding with this move. Although it is likely a further drive for you, the conditions should make it a more positive experience for your skier.

CHANGE OF TIME AND LOCATION FOR JANUARY 5TH

The warm weather has deteriorated the conditions at Lebanon Hills and unfortunately we will need to move tomorrow's session to Hyland. This means there is also a time change and we will start skiing at 11:45 AM. Please try to arrive by 11:30 AM.

We will send more details in an email later today, but wanted to let you know now about this time and location change.

Information for First Session on January 5th

Welcome to the 2020 EVAA Cross-Country Skiing season! Our first session is, Sunday, Jan 5th, from 12:45 -2:00 at Lebanon Hills. That means you should probably plan to arrive in the parking lot at least by 12:30 since we start skiing at 12:45. The address is 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN 55123 which is at the Visitor Center near Schulz Lake. If the weather changes and we need to move our location, we will send an email, so be sure to check this web page or your email Saturday eveing. As you prepare for our first session, we wanted to provide the following helpful hints for week 1:

1. Meeting Place: Our meeting area will be behind the visitor center near the lake. To get there from the parking lot, go between the Visitor Center and the rental equipment building where you will find our bib distribution table. There you can pick up the Minnesota Youth Ski League bib with your skier’s name, and then proceed to the meeting area for your skier’s group which is identified by a colored flag. You can determine which flag to meet at by matching the flag to the color on your skier’s nametag.

2. Start Time: To minimize the amount of time skiers stand around getting cold, we try to release the skiers onto the trails promptly at 12:45. To make sure they are ready to ski at 12:45, we suggest you allow at least 10 minutes for skiers to get their bib, put on their skis, and get to their meeting area. That means it is probably wise to be in exiting your vehicle in the parking lot at 12:30; earlier if you have multiple skiers to corral. Latecomers will need to wait for their group to return since we can’t have skiers heading off on their own to try and find their group unless they are with a parent. If you arrive late we will try to have your skier’s group return to meet your skier but this is not always possible, so in that case your skier may have to ski with their parent/guardian.

3. Label Your Equipment: Please be sure to label your skis and poles with your child’s name. Colorful duct tape works well for this process. Many youth skis are the same brand and size and they are easy to mix up.

4. Visitor Center: Although you are welcome to use the Visitor Center to have your skier change into ski boots, we’ve found that it is best if skiers put their boots on at home or in the car to minimize congestion in the building and to help them be ready to ski at 12:45. Please do not bring skis or poles into the Visitor Center. There are ski racks outside the building to use. Some may be reserved for MYSL use, so feel free to use those if you see them.

5. Patience: We have over 100 skiers signed up for our session, so when combined with parents we will have quite a crowd. All of our coaches and leaders are volunteers who are donating their time to help make this a good experience for your skier. Please be patient as our volunteers do their best to get organized this first week, and remember that your child’s group leader may also be working with his/her own child to get equipment on, visit the restroom, or handling the many other needs that spontaneously arise with children.

6. Skier Group Assignments: We do our best to place skiers in a group that is the best fit for them. If you find that your child’s assigned group does not seem to be a good fit, please let one of our volunteers or coaches know and we’ll attempt to adjust for future sessions.

7. Parent Skiers: You are welcome and encouraged to ski with your child’s group as a “Ski Chaperone”. Just let the group leader know, and if you can assist with any issues such as dropped mittens, loose boots, etc. while skiing along that would be appreciated. Please be aware that all adult skiers who are not coaching will need a trail pass, so please factor this into your schedule since that could take a few minutes depending on the line. Cost at Lebanon Hills is $5 or $6 per day or a season pass for $25.

8. On Site Rentals: if you are renting skis at Lebanon Hills, as you come down the sidewalk the rental building will be on your left. Ask for the MYSL rate, which is valid for both youth skiers and their parents or guardians. Remember to arrive even earlier to allow for the time it takes to go through the rental process

9. End of Session: At the end of the session, skiers should remember to a) return their bibs to the bib distribution table; and b) thank their group leader and any assistants. Dakota County sells hot chocolate and has other drinks available in the Visitor Center, and many skiers find it enjoyable to get a hot chocolate drink after their session. Last year the cost was $1.

10. Meet the Coach/K Counter: We encourage parents and guardians to introduce themselves to your skier’s coach at the end of each session. This way you can understand what your skier learned that day and how far they skied. We encourage you to log in to your MYSL account and enter the distance your skier skied at the “K counter” section so you can track their progress throughout the season.

Please be aware that we will not necessarily send reminder emails to you for upcoming sessions, so it is always wise to check the club webpage for any announcements. In addition, we have facebook, twitter, and instagram accounts managed by our Minnesota Youth Ski League partners that will enable you to stay abreast of club announcements and information.

• Twitter: @mysl_leb_hills
• Facebook: MYSL Lebanon Hills
• Instagram: mysl_lebhills

Thanks, and we are looking forward to a fun, snow-filled season. If you have any questions, it is best to email them now rather than waiting to ask in person when we’re trying to get the skiers in their groups and out on their skis.

We'll see you on Sunday!

Volunteer sign-up for Week 1 on January 5th

Welcome to the 2020 Lebanon Hills Youth Ski Club!

Our club was formed to help children from age 4-15 in the Rosemount/Eagan/Apple Valley area learn to love the life-long sport of cross-country skiing. The low registration fee and absence of attendence requirements make this a great way to for younger skiers to experience the sport for the first time while also allowing older athletes to stay in shape and cross-train for soccer, swimming, track, cross-country running, lacrosse, and other sports. Because of the grooming policy at our venue, with the Lebanon Hills Ski Club the ski sessions are designed for "classic" style skiing rather than "skate" style skiing. However, we will attempt to schedule some skate ski instruction as well if there is enough interest and skiiers have the proper skate ski equipment.

11/23/19 Announcement

Lebanon Hills SkiSparks has reached capacity. If you would like to be on the waiting list for this club, please fill out this form. We will contact you in a few weeks if space opens up.

We encourage you to register for another SkiSparks club! SkiSparks clubs are more alike than different. If we have room for your family in the Lebanon Hills club we will contact you and your membership can be transferred. Alternative clubs to Lebanon Hills:

Battle Creek SkiSparks (rental skis available!)
Lake Elmo Saturday SkiSparks
Hiawatha Saturday or Hiawatha Early Sunday SkiSparks

Schedule, location, and trail passes

Our first meeting date for the 2020 ski season will be Sunday, Jan 5. Our home venue is Lebanon Hills Park in Eagan, at the same location as the Visitor Center at 860 Cliff Road, Eagan, MN 55123. We are tentatively scheduled tol meet from 12:45 - 2:00 PM for eight weeks in January and February. If snow coverage is not adequate at Lebanon Hills, our sessions will be held at Hyland Recreation Area in Bloomington from 11:45 - 1:00 PM.

Our last session of the season is scheduled for Sunday, Feb 23, with members encouraged to add the Midwest Junior Ski Festival to your calendar the weekend of of March 14th & 15th at Wirth Park in Minneapolis.

Youth skiers under age 18 will not need a trail pass at Lebanon Hills. Adult skiers will need to purchase a either a daily pass for $5 or a season pass for $20. If we need to move to Hyland recreation area due to poor trail conditions at Lebanon Hills, ALL skiers age 12 and older will need a pass which was $9 per session last year.

Registration

Registration is handled on-line by clicking on the "Register Today" link on the MYSL home page. Equipment rental fees (see equipment section below) can also be paid online. If your skier already has equipment, be sure they are "classic" style skis. If your skier has "skate" style skis, contact the club leader to determine if we will have access to the proper venue and coaching to support skate skiing.

Weather and cancellation policy

We will not ski if the air temperature is below -10˚ F, or the wind chill is below -30˚ F, or at the leader's discretion. Cancellations will be posted on this web page in the "Announcements" section above.

Gear

1. Please use your discretion noting your child's activity level and the outside temperature/wind chill. Often a winter jacket and snow pants or a snowsuit are too warm once the child gets skiing. They will warm up quickly, so it is okay if they are a little bit cold to begin with.

2. Children should be dressed in layers. A moisture wicking under layer, an insulating layer, and a windproof layer are typically appropriate. Each layer should be breathable.

3. Make sure to dress your child in a waterproof and windproof outermost layer. Cross-country skiing often requires hard work and skiers may sometimes fall down. Without a waterproof layer, the child could get wet from falling down, which makes for a cold and uncomfortable session.

4. Make sure your skier is wearing a hat, insulated & waterproof gloves, and warm socks. Wool socks are the best choice for cross-country skiing.

5. Avoid long scarfs that could fall off or get in the way. A better option is a nordic buff. Here is an example of what a nordic buff looks like https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/b/buff/c/cross-country-skiing?r=b%3Bc&pagesize=84&queryRule=outlet-only&ir=category%3Across-country-skiing&outlet=true

6. Try avoid cotton because it has little insulation capabilities and once it gets wet, it stays wet and can create a miserable experience.

7. Pay attention to the weather. On colder days, more layers are appropriate. If it is warmer out, do not overdress your child. It is never fun to be too hot or to have to carry around layers.

Equipment

We have a limited number of rental ski equipment for skiers to use for for the full season for the low price of $45. This equipment can be taken home and used for family outings or other skiing events. REGISTER EARLY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FANTASTIC RENTAL OPPORTUNITY!! Please remember we have a limited number of ski packages and sizes. If you pay for rental equipment on-line but are not able to be outfitted, you will be reimbursed for the fees. Our rental skis are classic no-wax skis.

As mentioned previously on this page, Lebanon Hills does NOT have skate ski grooming at our location; we only use classic technique. As a result neither Lebanon HIlls nor MYSL rent skate ski equipment for our club.

If we don't have sizes for your skier, or if all club ski equipment is rented, ski equipment can be rented for daily use at Lebanon Hills, with the fee expected to be approximately $6 per session.

Volunteering

This is a volunteer run club. The success and affordability of this program comes directly from your contributions of time, energy, and talent. By registering your child for this club, you are committing to the club's success and are agreeing to volunteer. Level 1 skiers will need to be accompanied by a parent. Coaching at level 1 is a great way to accompany your child. Please consider coaching as it is our number one need! You do not necessarily need to coach at your child's level....in fact it is often better if you don't. If you are able to help coach "on snow", we will provide instructional information for each session and discuss training opportunities to learn more about proven coaching techniques and drills.

If you aren't comfortable coaching on skis, there are many other ways in which you can volunteer, including:

Assistant Coaching: Sometimes we just need someone to provide encouragment, a smile, and support on the snow. This is a great way to be involved and enjoy watching kids learn.

Ski Chaperone: Do you want to get out on your skis but aren't yet confident enough to coach? Volunteer as a ski chaperone to do things like helping to make sure the group stays together, assisting skiers with putting their mittens back on, picking up hats that fall out of pockets, and providing general assistance to the Coach and Assistant Coach.

Bib coordinator - To help identify the skiers as part of the club, they wear "race bibs" during the sessions. We need someone to make color coordinated level cards with skiers name and insert them in bib pockets, recording bib number with child's name, and collecting bibs at session's end.

Race Coordinator - Make other club members aware of available racing events for the kids, and coordinate the group at the race location. (Note: Races are optional opportunities not part of the standard club fees)

Club Leader Contact Information:

Dave Freed

952-891-1054 (office)

612-760-0771 (mobile calls or text messages)

email: lebanonhills@mysl.org

K Counter leaderboard

Are you a skier in this club? Click here to log-in to enter your activity into the K Counter.

Skier	Distance (km)
Caleb L	104.5
Addison L	59.5
Leif W	43
Cecilia W	36.5
Andrew J	35
Arlo S	34.25
Theo M	28
Eleanor W	28.5
Oliver M	22
Isaac A	18.53

Full K Counter

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