Nordic Rocks

This winter, the snowy trails of the Northeast came alive with adventure, creativity, and the kind of joy only Ski Bingo can deliver! From zooming through homemade obstacle courses to giggling through gliding contests, spotting animal tracks in the snow, and even giving other winter sports a whirl — our Bingo participants embraced the snowy spirit of the season.

Now in its fifth year, NENSA’s virtual XC Ski Bingo kept the winter vibes high and the energy playful. And guess what? We had Bingo cards for both kids and adults, making this a full-family frolic for the third year running!

The real magic? The stories, the laughter, and the snapshots shared by our amazing skiers. Whether it was snowy woods in Vermont or a sparkling trail in Maine, the fun was as deep as the snowbanks. And with so many creative challenges to complete, no two Bingo cards (or ski days!) looked the same.

Scroll on to check out the epic photos and tales straight from the trails — because nothing beats winter fun when it’s shared.

“We introduced a first time xc skier friend to skis on this adventure!”

“My skier skied no poles all the way up Parizo Trails to the cabin at Trapp’s! so much grit. He did a ski that day of his age in miles (7). we were so proud of him, and he was proud of himself, too!”

“It made it fun to do new things!”

“I liked looking for animal tracks.”

“I was excited to join BKL this year and to do my first races (and get ribbons)! I also enjoyed the Sleepy Hollow Wednesday Night Worlds fun races. I skied lots of new places this year at Sleepy Hollow and Camels Hump, and made it to Trapps Cabin for the first time. I loved skiing to and staying in Butternut Cabin and Flagstaff Hut with family. I also liked looking for animal tracks when out skiing and trying to figure out what animal they were.”

“NENSA bingo inspired me to ski my age in K three times this season. My daughter and I spent a whole afternoon researching the birkebeiners after falling down a historical ski fact rabbit hole.”

This week, we had the pleasure of visiting one of our Nordic Rocks programs in Rutland, Vermont, where the excitement was as fresh as the winter air!

Representatives from Killington World Cup Foundation and Casella joined us to witness first-hand the 350 primary school students in Rutland City discovering the joy of cross-country skiing—right in the schoolyard. Despite being nearby to alpine and Nordic trails, many children in this community have never had the opportunity to access winter sports. Now, through the NENSA Nordic Rocks program, skiing has become an exciting part of their school day, opening the door to a lifetime of outdoor winter adventure.

But the impact of this program goes beyond just fun on the snow—it’s shaping healthier, happier kids. Learning a new skill like skiing fosters confidence, resilience, and teamwork—qualities that serve students well both on and off the snow.

Each class began with a simple but powerful message: “We can do hard things, and we are going to challenge ourselves today.” Students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, push through challenges, and embrace the learning process. And when falls inevitably happened, they were reminded, “We are going to fall, and that’s okay—we’re going to get back up!” These words teach young skiers that success isn’t about perfection but about the effort and attitude that we have when trying new activities.

By breaking down barriers to winter recreation, this initiative is not just about skiing—it’s about empowerment, inclusivity, and ensuring every child has the chance to embrace the magic of the winter in New England.

We were joined by representatives from Killington World Cup Foundation, Casella Waste, NENSA Staff, and local community members interested in witnessing a program visit in person.  

Topics that were covered during class included the anatomy of the ski, how to stand up on skis, the “side slide” stepping and turning, and the favorite on the day, the “dead bug” technique of getting up after falling. Once we practiced our “dead bugs” a few times, we were ready to start gliding! We played a few rounds of Simon Says and our first-grade classes even tried out skiing up and down a hill!

The NENSA Nordic Rocks program is generously funded by the Share Winter Foundation and the Killington World Cup Foundation and was developed to introduce children in grades K-6 to the excitement of cross country skiing. Nordic Rocks provides elementary school students with an opportunity to experience cross country skiing during the school day with their teachers and classmates, and to learn the health and lifestyle benefits associated with exercise and outdoor fun. The overarching goal of this program is to provide all children with the opportunity to ski as well as grow and develop life skills through sport.

This year, NENSA is thrilled to share that we are growing our program to include a total of 61 new and returning schools, and serving 7,307 children.

A huge thank you to the Share Winter Foundation and Killington World Cup Foundation for supporting this program and helping us share the joy of skiing with children in elementary schools across the Northeast.

Check out some photos below from our recent school visits, where adventure and learning collided across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont! Scroll down to see the energy and joy captured in action—students eagerly exploring the equipment, mastering the fun “dead bug” technique of falling and getting back up, gliding on skis with growing confidence, and sharing laughter while playing exciting games with friends. These moments are what make our visits so special!

While we cannot accept any additional new schools for the 2024-25 season, elementary schools may apply to join the 2025-26 Waitlist here to be considered for enrollment next year.