Last Friday my dear friend, the sun, came out for a long awaited visit. I hadn’t realized how little sun we had had in the week before until I found myself outside with more than 50 third and fourth graders, enjoying the warmth on my face and the deep blue of the sky as we practiced cross country skiing skills and zipped around a groomed track.
Each year, the Catamount Trail Association partners with an area school to help build a lasting cross country ski program. This year, we have been working with the Brewster Pierce Memorial School in Huntington to provide six weeks of skiing experience and instruction as part of the physical education curriculum for the third and fourth grade classes. In-school program partnerships like this are a great way to provide many students the opportunity to try something new alongside classmates and friends without requiring any extra time commitment outside of school. There were, in fact, many kids who had never stepped on to a pair of cross country skis and some who were experiencing their first time ever “gliding on snow” last Friday. I was amazed at how quickly they all seemed to pick up the basics and pleased to hear that cross country skiing was a lot more fun than they thought possible!
As I looked through the photos I snapped out at the first day with the Brewster Pierce classes I was heartened by how many smiling faces I captured. Throughout the session- whether practicing falls, gaining more confidence with every lap around the track set by a generous parent, or racing through the relay course, the atmosphere was one of fun and excitement. I look forward to more great days on the snow with these guys and cherish the opportunity to share the joy of cross country skiing to this youthful generation!
With special thanks for support from Northfield Savings Bank
