Science Daily - April 1, 2009 pdf

The Bryn Mawr Skis Program started in 2004. The Foundation worked with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the Minneapolis Public Schools to bring the Loppet trails through the grounds of Bryn Mawr Elementary and Anwatin Middle School.

By leveraging sponsorship of the City of Lakes Loppet, the Foundation obtains ski equipment for the Bryn Mawr kids. Physical Education Instructor Anita Chavez, Foundation coaches Margaret Adelsman and Janet Prussman, and North Memorial Medical Center physicians combine to instruct the kids in fitness and skiing through the Bryn Mawr physical education classes. Classes usually start with a North Memorial physician teaching the kids about the heart or lungs, how exercise affects pulse rate or breathing patterns, or how lack of exercise relates to obesity or other health problems. The kids then put on their ski equipment and head out the door directly onto the ski trails, which are groomed by the Minneapolis Park Board.

At the end of the Program, the kids participate in the Sons of Norway Minne-Loppet in Uptown. Each kid receives a medal and hot chocolate and cookies prepared by the Sons of Norway.

Once again, UCare Minnesota provided grant funding to bring the program to a new level.  UCare provided weekly recipe cards with “Skiers’ Lunch,” “Skiers’ Snacks,” “Skiers’ Dinners,” etc.  At the end of the program UCare treated the students and their families to a nutritious banquet and each skier received a graduation certificate and goodies from UCare. 

As a special note, this year Bryn Mawr had over 50 students attend the Minne-Loppet.  While not a record (70 Bryn Mawr students participated in the Minne-Loppet in 2008) it was still the largest student number in attendance from the Loppet programs and earned Bryn Mawr skiers a pizza party from the Foundation. Special thanks to Anita Chavez for her superb recruiting and to the many parents who served as chaperones!

Volunteers are always welcome. Skiing experience is purely optional. Call Margaret Adelsman at 612 604-5330 for more information or to get involved.

Partners
The Bryn Mawr Skis Program is a group effort involving a number of excellent community partners:

• North Memorial Medical Center - Led by Residency Director Mark Bixby, North Memorial physicians work with the Bryn Mawr Skis Program each week to teach them the benefits of fitness and nutrition.
• UCare Minnesota - UCare Minnesota provides funding for the Bryn Mawr Skis Program.
• Minneapolis Public Schools - The Minneapolis Public Schools and Bryn Mawr Elementary School have worked closely with the Program from the beginning. Some of the trails that the students ski on are on Minneapolis Public Schools property. Physical Education Teacher Anita Chavez has been invaluable in her organization, support and enthusiasm for the Program.
• Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board - The Park Board grooms the trails for the Program, both on Public School property and through Theodore Wirth Park adjacent to the school. Trail Crew leaders John Gronquist and Marty Wandzel have been instrumental in making certain that the trails are groomed for the Program.
• Rossignol - Pure Mountain Company - Rossignol has provided ski equipment for the Bryn Mawr Skis Program as part of its sponsorship of the City of Lakes Loppet.
• Volunteers - Many individuals in the Twin Cities community have volunteered with the Bryn Mawr Skis Program. These volunteers are critical to the success of the Program.

2008-2009 was the first season for this new group. The Anwatin Nordic Race Team was led by coaches Brandan Ostroot and Ben Kremer and was funded by a US Olympic Committee (USOC) Urban Development Grant. Coach Kremer kept an updated log of training, with videos and photos of the team preparing for the winter season.

Several students from the Anwatin Race team are also participating in the new Anwatin TRI team, similar to the Tri-training program offered at Andersen middle school. Approximately 15 students will be learning to paddle, trail run and mountain bike during the Foundation's first Tri-Training Program at Anwatin, helping to prepare students for the City of Lakes Tri-Loppet.  Coached by elite athlete Caitlin Compton, the program runs on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. with organizational assistance from the Community Education Department.  Coaches will continue to keep an updated training log and photos of the students preparing for the Tri-Loppet on the existing Anwatin blog.

The 2008-09 Anwatin Nordic Ski Team was led by coaches Julie Warneke and Dan Luoma.  Anwatin Middle School students skied after school from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. on the Loppet trails - which run right through the Anwatin school grounds.  This year’s team had great success at the City of Lakes Junior Loppet, with several students ranking high in their grade class categories.

The Andersen Skis Program started in 2006 and is now heading into its third year.  Housed in Andersen Open School, the Allina Hospitals and Clinics system provided a generous grant to fund the program.   

Andersen Skis was the first program to operate in a location away from Theodore Wirth Park.  Fortunately, Andersen is immediately adjacent to the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board’s Stewart Park.  Thanks to cooperation from the Park Board and to volunteer help from Jeff Richards, the snow in the park is groomed each week.  

Starting in late-November, Coach Marc Beitz worked with Physical Education Instructors Shirly Rowland-Suneson and Sherron Rowell to teach the Andersen elementary students how to ski.  At the end of the program the Foundation bused the students to the Minne-Loppet where they enjoyed showing off their new skills.    

Students from Andersen Open School and nearby Stewart Park will once again be learning to paddle, trail run and mountain bike during the Foundation's second annual Tri-Training Program, in preparation for the City of Lakes Tri-Loppet.  Coached by elite athlete Caitlin Compton, the Program runs in two sessions on Monday and Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 - 4:30 p.m. under the umbrella of the Andersen Community Education Department.  The latter half of the program during the month of June will be coordinated through neighboring Stewart Park. Margaret Adelsman will be keeping an updated log of training, with  photos of the students preparing for the Tri-Loppet.
The site is located at http://andersenopen.wordpress.com/

The Foundation is currently hiring coaches and arranging for equipment and transportation for the students.  As always, volunteers are welcome.  Call John Munger at 612 604-5331 or send an email to volunteer@cityoflakesloppet.com for more information.

2008-9 Pillsbury Elementary Loppet KidSki Program – sponsored by UCare
Pillsbury Skis at Loppet YouTube Video

Like the Bryn Mawr Skis Program, the Pillsbury Skis Program is sponsored by UCare Minnesota.  Started in 2007, the program was originally the brainchild of Pillsbury teacher Mark Trumper.  Mr. Trumper requested that the Foundation start a program and has been very instrumental in making the program a success.

Like the Andersen Program, Pillsbury does not have its own ski trails but backs up against Minneapolis’ Windom Park.  Jeff Richards grooms the snow in Windom each week - making for perfect trails, complete with a small hill.

Coaches Kim Rudd and Kati Campbell worked with Physical Education Instructor Kathy Dawson this year.  And, again similar to Bryn Mawr, UCare treated the students and their families to a banquet at the end of the year and presented each child with a certificate of completion and a UCare pencil and frisbee.

Loppet Tri/Run/Ski Clubs More Information and Registration

The Nordic Ski Foundation works with Minneapolis High School Ski Teams.  The Ski Teams help shovel the trails in preparation for the Loppet.  For example, the ski teams shovel under the many bridges on the Chain of Lakes, in the Brownie Tunnel and underneath Highway 55.  In return, the Foundation provides the ski teams with a small but growing equipment library and ski wax. 

The Foundation leverages Loppet sponsorship for these items.  So, for example, Fischer and Atomic have contributed ski equipment to the library and Swix and Gear West Ski Shop have contributed wax.  In this way, students without the means to purchase ski equipment have an opportunity to ski on equipment borrowed from the library. 

The Foundation gladly accepts donated ski equipment, provided it is in good condition (and, because the Foundation is a non-profit, the donations are tax deductible).  Call Margaret Adelsman at 612 604-5330 or send an email to info@cityoflakesloppet.com for more information. 

More info / Grant Application / on-line contribution

The City of Lakes Athlete Development Fund helps cross country skiers with a connection to the Minneapolis area as they pursue their athletic aspirations. Contributions to the fund are tax deductible to the fullest extent provided by law. The fund is administered by the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation. Grants are provided to athletes through a periodic application process. Call Fund Chair Piotr Bednarski at 952 237-0765 for more information.

CoLADF Steering Committee:
Kuan Teoh
Piotr Bednarski
Marc Beitz
Bruce Adelsman
Kate Ellis