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Our celebration of winter. The Festival events are all day Saturday (including the Fishscale...
The 2018-19 season will be a great year for the kids at Elm Creek. We are fortunate to have a location that is capable of making snow! (IF it is cold enough!) This is a volunteer led program. Every family is urged to help in some way. Please see below for volunteer information.
MYSL Elm Creek will meet for 8 Sundays beginning with our first meeting Sunday, December 16*, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Our last week of club meeting will be Sunday, February 24. We will have an end of season pizza party on Sunday March 3rd at 2:00, location TBD. (**Parking is tricky, but there are shuttles, please plan for this in your timing!)
(*SNOW PERMITTING: if we have snow or if it's been cold enough to make snow. We need the 2.5k loop ready to have our group start.)
**Schedule: 12/16*, 12/23, 12/30, 1/6, 1/20, 1/27, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3 (if needed and/or party) This gives us 10 Sundays with which to work in our 8 sessions with a possible bonus ski day. -January 13th will be a break (a third of the coaching team will be gone); and I never schedule Loppet Weekend - February 3 (AKA Superbowl Sunday).
We WILL have class on MLK Sunday (1/20) and the park WILL BE BUSY! Plan accordingly.
Elm Creek Park Reserve 12400 James Deane Parkway, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Registration will begin in October, watch for dates. Our club is expected to fill. Register early!
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 Elm Creek. Always check the website or email elmcreek@mysl.org with questions. Cancellations will be posted on this Web page.
"There is no bad weather, just bad clothing"
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 can be too warm once the child gets skiing unless they are young and in the beginner group. “Wool is wonderful. Cotton is rotten!”
Elm Creek has a rentals available at the Chalet. 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. The cost for children's rentals is $7 each week for Youth Classic skis.
Trail Passes are not required for children 11 years old and younger. Ages 12 and up (skiing parents/coaches as well) need to purchase passes. Daily $9 or seasonal $75 for the first in the household ($37.50 each additional). The annual passes are good at ALL Three Rivers parks ski trails.
MYSL Ski Swap Sale is set for Saturday November 17th details found here: https://www.mysl.org/events/skiswap
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. Consider AGE FIRST, then ability.
Classic ski lessons: Level I: Ages 4-7 (parents ski along with the child), Level 2: 6-8 (parents check in occasionally, younger skiers may still need parents), 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 elmcreek@mysl.org
If your skier is an older beginner (age 10 and up) please contact us at elmcreek@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 Elm 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:
1. In the event we cancel because of weather or snow isn't ready at Elm Creek
2. To clear up any questions we may have about your registration.
3. To be given periodic updates with news and information about MYSL.
MYSL is on Facebook! You can “like” the MYSL page to get general announcements, photos and videos from each of the MYSL club. https://www.facebook.com/MYSL-Elm-Creek-SkiSparks-221703068373096/?ref=bookmarks
Need to contact us? Email us at elmcreek@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 elmcreek@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 Elm Creek MYSL qualifies as a service commitment for NHS. Think about how great this will look on a college application! Contact us at elmcreek@mysl.org to sign up.
As an assistant coach, you can support a coach by accompanying the group on the trails and helping skiers (sometimes known as “Sweepers”). 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 elmcreek@mysl.org to sign up.
Set up sign-up for parents to bring weekly snacks. Be available on ski days to help organize and clean up snacks. Contact us at elmcreek@mysl.org to sign up. Then we need families to sign up for beverages (juice/cups) and snacks.
Please email Kirsten Kjome elmcreek@mysl.org
