On February 2, NENSA was excited to host 50 second-grade Nordic Rocks students from Rutland Northwest Primary School in partnership with the Chittenden Nordic Ski Club and Mountain Top Resort. This special day represented an important step in expanding access to cross-country skiing by connecting school-based programming with community partners and local ski centers.
NENSA was especially excited to welcome many of the same students we skied with last February and support their progression from schoolyard skiing to exploring a groomed ski center for the very first time. This extension of their learning environment helps build confidence and shows young skiers that the sport can be part of their lives beyond school. Just as importantly, it provided meaningful connections between students and local ski club leaders, helping to strengthen pathways into further participation in the sport.
After arriving and getting geared up in the same Nordic Rocks skis they use during school sessions, students were divided into groups for a second-grade “Fun-Lympics.” Stations included a dual slalom, a glide-out downhill track, a ski relay, and a bean bag biathlon. Skiers practiced gliding, worked on their downhill technique, honed their aim, and even explored ski tracks to build confidence on hills.
While part of the group took a lunch break, the other half headed out for a guided ski tour around some of the groomed trails. Students had fun staying in the tracks while navigating uphills, downhills, and curves. After reuniting, many chose to continue practicing their downhill skills, with noticeable improvement as the starting point gradually moved farther up the hill. We wrapped up the day with hot cocoa and a group photo, celebrating both the students’ hard work and the sense of community built throughout the event.
A few weeks later, we returned to Mountain Top Resort with a new group of Nordic Rocks students from Neshobe Elementary School and Barstow Memorial School. This time, we welcomed an even larger group, approximately 75 fourth graders ready to build on their schoolyard experience. We ran a similar program focused on fun and on-ski skills, and the excitement on the trails made it clear just how meaningful these extended opportunities can be.
Many thanks to our generous Nordic Rocks supporters—the Killington World Cup Foundation, Share Winter Foundation, and Casella Waste—as well as the Chittenden Nordic Ski Club for their coordination and Mountain Top Resort for hosting. Together, these partnerships help ensure that young skiers are not only introduced to the sport, but supported as they grow from schoolyard beginners into confident members of the Nordic community.
