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The 2017 season will be a great year for the kids at Battle Creek. This is a volunteer led program. Every family is urged to help in some way. Please see below for volunteer information.
MYSL Battle Creek will meet for 8 Sundays beginning with our first meeting Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM at Battle Creek Recreation Center in St. Paul. Our last week of club meeting will be Sunday, February 25. We will have an end of season festival at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 3.
Battle Creek Recreation Center Address: 75 South Winthrop Street
In the event of no snow we will be moving our club to Hyland Lake Park Preserve in Bloomington. Our club meeting time on those days will be 4:30-6:00.
Because of the low windchill we are CANCELLING our session on FEBRUARY 4. You are still welcome to come to Battle Creek and enjoy the sunshine on your own. I will be there with hot cocoa and muffs.
Please sign up to bring a snack during the ski season: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bWag9kEM37qN8nGJcjFRjCPoJb8Ij85NuGGc3CEX0pc/edit?usp=sharing
I am looking for a co-leader for Battle Creek this year. I will still be doing all of the communication and coordination, but need another leader who can be in attendance during club time to answer questions, especially during some of the weekends I will be gone. If you can help out in this way, please email Chrissy (chrissy@mysl.org).
We will again offer adult lessons in cooperation with Endurance United! Sessions are designed for new skiers. Join the experienced EU staff for five sessions to quickly improve your skiing. At the end of the 5 sessions, we invite you to ski along with your kids in their group and support the lead coaches. Each session will have a coach dedicated to skate skiing and classic skiing. These sessions take place at the same place and time the kids are skiing (what could be more convenience than that?). Register through Endurance United.
We will not ski if the air temperature is below -2˚ F or the wind chill is below -10˚ F, or at the leader’s discretion. Because the little kids ski out in the open, wind is a big factor at Battle Creek. Always check the website or email battlecreek@mysl.org with questions. Cancellations will be posted on this Web page.
Children should be dressed in layers. A moisture wicking under layer, an insulating layer, and a wind proof layer are typically appropriate. 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 unless they are young and in the beginner group.
We have some great equipment for skiers to use for a nominal fee - $35 for the entire season. This equipment can be taken home and used for family outings. Please remember we have a limited number of ski packages and sizes, so register early. If you paid for rental equipment on-line but were not able to be outfitted, you will be reimbursed for the fees.
Our rental skis are classic no-wax skis. We do not have skate ski equipment available on a rental basis. Children skiing in level 5 or above should have their own skate skis, boots, and poles. In addition, for children skiing at level 4 or above, waxable classic skis are highly recommended.
Please register early to insure a spot at Battle Creek. Last season Battle Creek filled up before the beginning of the ski season. Register on the main page for MYSL by selecting "Club Membership."
For children who are new to MYSL, assign the child to the lowest skill level that spans their age as of January 1. If a child has skied at least 10 times, consider advancing them one skill level. It is common for kids to repeat skill levels, so returning families need to choose a skill based on last season’s performance, but still staying within the age ranges. Coaches will assess children at the first meeting, but it is important for parents to accurately assign levels by age during the registration process.
Classic ski lessons: Level I: Ages 4-7 (parents ski along with the child), Level 2: 6-8 (parents check in occasionally), Level 3: 7-10, Level 4: 8-12
Skate ski lessons: Level 5: 9-13, Level 6: 11-14
More about skill levels here: http://mysl.org/skill-levels. Questions about levels? Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org
If your skier is an older beginner (age 10 and up) please contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org. We typically have a group for older kids who are new to skiing, and it is helpful to know sooner than later how many skiers would be in this group.
We will be communicating with Battle Creek MYSL families via email. We need valid emails for all. When you register please include a contact e-mail address. You would be contacted for the following reasons:
MYSL is on Facebook! You can “like” the MYSL page to get general announcements, photos and videos from each of the MYSL club.
Need to contact us? Email us at battlecreek@mysl.org
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 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 an adult. Coaching at level 1 is a great way to accompany your child. We are also in very great need of coaches for all levels 1-6. Please consider coaching as it is our number one need! You do not necessarily need to coach at your child’s level.
We really need your help! This is our biggest need and is one of the most rewarding ways in which you can help the club. Kids get more out of the program when the coach-to-kid ratio is low, and coaches need not be experienced skiers to volunteer. The MYSL program makes it easy for a coach to know what to do. An eight week curriculum has been prepared for every class level and each day's lesson is printed on a card that can be carried in your pocket. The pocket guide also provides many helpful tips and games to keep classes enjoyable and interesting. You do not have to be an elite level skier to be a coach. All you need is a desire to help kids and have fun. Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
High-school aged skiers, we need you! We rely heavily on high school volunteers, who are fun, friendly and in far better shape than most of us. Coaching for Battle Creek MYSL qualifies as a service commitment for NHS. Think about how great this will look on a college application! Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
As an assistant coach, you can support a coach by accompanying the group on the trails and helping skiers. If you feel like your skiing level is at the same level as the level your kids are signed up for, you would be a fantastic assistant coach! You are not in charge of the instruction, rather you are there to make sure the kids are safe, have an adult to bring them to the bathroom, and can assist with activities.
If you are a sub coach, you can fill in when a coach isn’t able to make it to ski club.
Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
Help recruit coaches, adults and high school age. Assign substitute coaches as needed. Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
Set up sign-up for parents to bring weekly snacks and send reminders. Be available on ski days to help organize and clean up snacks. Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
Assist our head coordinator with distributing equipment, keeping track of who has what, collecting rental fees, and collecting equipment at the end of the season. Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
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 and not part of the standard club fees.) Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
Form a good working relationship with the Recreation Center. Make sure we leave our meeting room clean weekly. Contact us at battlecreek@mysl.org to sign up.
If you have ideas about how to help kids learn to ski, now is your chance to make it happen.
Please email Chrissy Snider, battlecreek@mysl.org
