The following is a list of programs and organizations operating in the East that work to mitigate barriers to entry in cross country skiing and provide children, regardless of their background, the opportunity to ski. Please read on to learn about these programs. Perhaps you know of individuals who might want to participate or you want to learn how you, your club, or your organization can get involved as a supporter or volunteer. Please reach out to Mackenzie Rizio (mackenzie@nensa.net) if there are additional organizations in the East doing similar work that we can add to this list.
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All New England States and New York:
Nordic Rocks: Funded by the Share Winter Foundation and Killington World Cup Foundation, 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. NENSA is actively working to expand this program and provide more opportunities.
Website: https://nensa.net/nordic-rocks/
Engagement Opportunities:
- If you are a teacher or school administrator, you can look into bringing Nordic Rocks to your school. See NENSA's Nordic Rocks Scholarship Application for 2021.
- If you are an individual, club, or organization, you can donate to a Nordic Rocks equipment scholarship for new schools.
Contact: Mackenzie Rizio mackenzie@nensa.net
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Massachusetts:
YES Operation SnowSports: Youth Enrichment Services (YES) is a private, nonprofit organization which provides affordable and impactful sports-based youth development and leadership programming for Boston children and teens. Operation SnowSports is the largest program at YES where youth are inspired and challenged through skiing and snowboarding - many for the first time! YES welcomes a diverse group of applicants from all backgrounds and ability levels. Roles for beginner skiers, snowboarders, and parents aim to engage 90% people of color. CSU and Eastern Mass BKL currently partner with YES.
Website: https://yeskids.org/about-us/
Engagement Opportunities: https://yeskids.org/cross-country-ski-volunteers/
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Vermont:
Catamount Trail Association: The CTA Youth Programs are free, community based, learn-to-ski programs for youth across Vermont. Programs are tailored to each community, but all share a common mission of reducing barriers to entry, connecting students to their local landscape, promoting exercise and outdoor play, and building community. All programs are free, share a common curriculum, and include at least six sessions a winter. Ski Cubs is our weekend program primarily serving BIPOC and New American students from 14 schools in the greater Burlington area. Ski Cubs takes place each Saturday at Bolton’s Nordic Center.
Engagement Opportunities: become a Ski Cubs volunteer (https://catamounttrail.org/
Website: https://
Contact: outreach@
Boys and Girls Club of Burlington Outdoor Adventure Program: The Boys and Girls Club of Burlington's mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, healthy, caring, and responsible adults. The goal of the Boys and Girls Club of Burlington's Outdoor Adventure Program is to ensure that youth from socially and economically marginalized communities have the opportunities to participate in enriching activities like sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, swimming, hiking, skiing, and more. The Boys and Girls Club is hoping to provide opportunities for Outdoor Program participants to get on cross country skis right in Burlington on a soon-to-be finished ski trail behind Burlington High School.
Engagement Opportunities: https://www.bandgclub.org/copy-of-get-involved
Website: https://www.bandgclub.org/
Contact: Kylie DeGroot kdegroot@bandgclub.org
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Maine and New Hampshire:
WinterKids: a nonprofit in Maine dedicated exclusively to increasing outdoor physical activity in children and families during our longest, most sedentary season. WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activities, and creates opportunities for children to be active, vibrant, and healthy in the outdoors in Maine and New Hampshire.
Engagement Opportunities: https://winterkids.org/support-winterkids/
Website: https://winterkids.org/about-winterkids/
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New Jersey:
(with opportunities for partnered expansion into other states)
Winter 4 Kids: a youth-focused organization that changes lives through winter activities. Provides mentor-based experiential learning and encourage kids to have FUN while mastering Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, and Snowboarding. Programs deliver incremental physical fitness and have been designed to inspire participants and build confidence in an educational environment. Core values of Honesty, Compassion, Integrity, Confidence, Communication, Perseverance, Humility, Humor, Respect, Responsibility, and Courtesy serve as the principles for the programs and organization.
Engagement Opportunities: https://winter4kids.org/support-us/#sponsor
Website: https://winter4kids.org/
Contact: information@winter4kids.org
