Nordic Rocks – Northwest Primary School. Heidi Lange
RUTLAND, Vt. — Kids at Rutland’s Northwest and Northeast Elementary Schools are putting on their snow boots and parkas, but not just for recess. During physical education classes, the kids in grades K-2 are getting on snow to experience cross-country skiing through the New England Nordic Ski Association’s (NENSA) Nordic Rocks Program.
“I’m so excited to go skiing!” exclaimed one excited second grader.
“I want to do it all winter!” gushed a happy first grader.
Bringing skiing to the playground
Through a grant from the Killington World Cup Foundation, Casella Waste Systems and Share Winter Foundation, the Nordic Rocks Program brings enough skis to each elementary school so that every student in the physical education class has a pair. Each pair of cross-country skis features a specially engineered binding that eliminates the need for ski boots. Kids ski in their own snow boots, which the bindings hold firmly in place. Lost Nation R&D, an engineering firm in Albany, Vermont, designed the bindings using rigid plastic and stretchy but durable silicone.
From the Midwest to New England
Central Cross Country Skiing (CXC) launched Nordic Rocks over a decade ago in the Midwest. In 2015, Vermont Olympian Andy Newell brought the program to three schools in Southern Vermont and introduced about 300 kids in grades K-6 to cross-country skiing. Since then, the NENSA Nordic Rocks Program has expanded to 61 schools in New England and now brings the sport to 7,307 kids in grades K-6. Northeast and Northwest Elementary Schools in Rutland are two of the newest.
Skiing skills and fun in PE
“Many of these kids would never have an opportunity to try cross-country skiing,” says Rutland Physical Education Teacher Bryan Cupoli. “It’s about exposure and about getting them outdoors in winter.”
The Nordic Rocks five-lesson curriculum encompasses basic how-tos (getting up after you fall, how to glide, side stepping, herringbone), games, and indoor activities if the weather is poor. NENSA’s Youth and Introductory Program Director Mackenzie Rizio and other NENSA staff are available to assist schoolteachers, who may or may not have ski experience.
“Nordic Rocks provides an introduction in our literal winter playgrounds to a sport that embraces our region’s offerings and traditions,” says NENSA Executive Director Heidi Lange. “It’s about healthy, active lifestyles and the joy of being outdoors in winter. The curriculum covers fundamental ski skills but also emphasizes fun, games, and engaging with winter in a positive, healthy way.”
Support from local partners
Using grant money, NENSA annually purchases skis with proprietary bindings to give to physical education teachers interested in bringing Nordic Rocks to their schools. Thanks to the adjustable bindings, students of all ages from the same school use one group of skis. Schools keep the skis as long as they are participating in Nordic Rocks. NENSA also provides teachers and children with information about how to continue cross-country skiing in other local programs.
“Nordic Rocks is an amazing program that fits perfectly with the Killington World Cup Foundation’s mission to increase access to winter sports to youth in New England,” says Killington World Cup Foundation Executive Director Lynn Boynton. “It is inspiring to see the smiles on the kids’ faces as they glide their skis for the first time.”
“Contributing to programs that introduce young people to healthy activities like Nordic Rocks helps build and nurture sustainable communities,” said Casella Waste Systems Chairman and CEO John W. Casella. “By breaking down barriers of entry and connecting students with meaningful opportunities to experience our natural environment, Nordic Rocks is creating lifelong connections for young people, and we’re proud to play a part in that effort.”
About NENSA
The New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) is the umbrella organization for Nordic skiing events in the region. It is a member-supported service organization that promotes the culture of cross-country skiing by creating opportunities for youth, athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all levels. NENSA provides the support structure necessary to bring cross-country skiers to their highest potential at regional, national and international events. The organization’s mission is to share the joy of gliding on snow through educational, recreational, introductory, and competitive programs to nurture and sustain an active cross-country ski community for all ages and levels throughout the East.
About the Killington World Cup Foundation
The Killington World Cup Foundation was created to benefit local and regional youth development programs and to support the Women’s Alpine World Cup at Killington. The foundation provides grants to support the winter sports infrastructure and access to winter sports in the Northeast to create lifelong participants in the sport. Its donors and Killington’s support have enabled it to donate more than $2.3 million in incremental resources to the winter sports infrastructure and youth snow sport programs in the region from this event. This generosity has affected more than 45,000 kids, 39 percent new to the sport.
About Casella Waste Systems
Casella Waste Systems, Inc., headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, is one of the largest recyclers and most experienced fully integrated resource management companies in the Eastern United States. Founded in 1975 as a single-truck collection service, Casella has grown its operations to provide solid waste collection and disposal, transfer, recycling, and organics services to more than 1 million residential, commercial, municipal, institutional, and industrial customers and provides professional resource management services to more than 10,000 customer locations in more than 40 states.
About the Author: Press Release
