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Northfield kids and volunteers will gather starting January 6, 2019 for the fourth season of a Northfield MYSL chapter. This is a volunteer-led program, supported by MYSL's fabulous curriculum and structure. Your kids will be learning under the same organization that taught Jessie Diggins to ski! Kids learn the basics of cross country skiing through group games, exploring the trails of the Carleton Arboretum, and focusing on skill building. We can offer rental equipment to youth wanting to try skiing for the first time. It's a great way to be outside together on a Sunday afternoon.
December 10 Announcement: The Northfield SkiSparks club has reached capacity. If you would like to be put on the waiting list, please email Chrissy Snider, chrissy@mysl.org.
Schedule and location
Our last week of club meeting will be Sunday, February 24, unless weather makes extending into March a helpful proposition.
See the attached map for where to meet our group. The first several weeks we will start in the Carleton Arb office, just off Highway 19. Later we will start on the snow on the northeast side of the field behind the Rec Center. We'll announce each week by email and blog. Bathrooms on the east side of the Rec Center will be available to us, but you will not be able to enter the building on the west side (the main entrance). The Carleton Arboretum office serves as our indoor teaching site when necessary, and as our after-ski snack location.
Weather and cancellation policy
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. Cancellations will be posted on this Web page and by email if we have your address. Think about the wind when you dress.
We will be outside every lesson! Children should be dressed in layers, paying special attention to warm and dry hands and feet. Wool socks! 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. For more practiced skiers, a winter jacket and snow pants or a snowsuit are too warm once the child gets moving.
Equipment
November 2: We have a limited supply of equipment remaining in specific sizes. If you are in need of rental equipment, please email us (northfield@mysl.org) and we can check if we have your size. Another equipment option is the MyXChange (Swap and Expo) at Basecamp (near the Mall of America) on Saturday, November 17.
MYSL strongly recommends that youth begin skiing in the classic style. For beginner classic equipment, you can rent skis, boots and poles for the whole season. Note that our rental equipment is mostly for skiers ages 4-14. Large kids in the 13-14 year old range may need to seek used or rental equipment through other means. The MYSL Ski Swap in November is an excellent source for gently used equipment. All our rental gear is in the NNN binding style for boots and skis. Contact us directly well in advance of January if you have questions about gear.
If your child is ready to learn skate skiing -- that is, they are comfortable on classic skis and 9 or older -- great! However our rental equipment is classic style only. Contact northfield@mysl.org about ideas for equipping a new skate skier.
Levels and age guidelines are as follows:
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. 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 3-7 (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.
If your skier is an older beginner (age 10 and up) sign up for level 3 and we may create a group for older kids who are new to skiing.
Communications
We will be communicating with 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 statewide is on Facebook! You can “like” the MYSL page to get general announcements, photos and videos from each of the MYSL clubs. A number of fun events happen during the winter in the metro area that are open to all MYSL families.
Need to contact us? Email us at northfield@mysl.org.
Volunteering
This is a volunteer-run club. Parents and high school age skiers form our coaching staff. The success and affordability of this program comes directly from your contributions of time, energy, and talent. The more parents we have available, especially in the opening weeks as kids get accustomed to their equipment, the better experience everyone will have. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A GREAT SKIER TO HELP.
Following are some suggested areas of volunteer service:
Coaching:
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.
MYSL runs a great day of coaches' training on the first Saturday in December at Elm Creek Regional Park. Our head coaches will be going and you are invited to join us!
Junior Coaches:
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. Let us know if you need this coaching time documented for community service hours (such as for the National Honor Society).
Assistant and Sub Coaches:
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.
Other great volunteer roles:
Sweeper
Sweepers are parents who commit to "bringing up the rear" and helping keep the group together. They make it easier for us to keep kids of different abilities together and having fun.
Snack provider
Each week we close with snacks at the Arboretum office. Volunteers put on the hot cocoa and provide simple snacks like granola bars or clementines.
Snow maker
Just kidding. But obviously, we all need to think snow for a successful year!
Contact info
Email Pam Fickenscher at northfield@mysl.org with questions.
