Carver SkiSparks Club

Welcome to the Carver Youth Ski Club

The 2025 season will be a great year for the kids at Carver Park Reserve.  This is a volunteer led program.  Every family is urged to help in some way.  Please see below for volunteer information.

Schedule and location

Carver SkiSparks will meet for 8 Sundays beginning with our first meeting Sunday, January 12th 2025 from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM at Carver Park Reserve.  Our last week of club meeting will be Sunday, March 2nd.

Announcements

We will not ski if the air temperature is below -2˚ F or the wind chill is below -10˚ F, or at the leader’s discretion.  Always check the website or email carver@myxc.org with questions.  Cancellations will be posted on this Web page.

Children should be dressed in layers.  A moisture wicking under layer, an insulating layer, and a wind proof layer are typically appropriate.  Please use your discretion noting your child’s activity level and the outside temperature/wind chill.  Often a winter jacket and snow pants or a snowsuit are too warm once the child gets skiing unless they are young and in the beginner group.

Carver Park has classic and skate rentals available at the chalet/visitor center.  Additionally, our club has a limited supply of classic equipment for levels 1-4 available for seasonal rental. Children skiing in level 5 or above can rent from Carver Park Chalet or can use their own skate skis, boots, and poles.

A great option for equipment is the MyXChange (Swap + Expo) on Saturday, November 16th at Basecamp near Fort Snelling.

Trail passes are not required for children 11 years old and younger.  Ages 12 and up (skiing parents/coaches as well) need to purchase passes.  The annual passes are good at all Three River parks except Elm Creek and Hyland.  Elm Creek and Hyland require a snowmaking ski pass.  More information about passes can be found on the Three Rivers Park website.  

Registration

Please register early to insure a spot at Carver.  Register on the main page for MyXC by selecting "Club Membership."

Levels and age guidelines are as follows:

For children who are new to MyXC, assign the child to the lowest skill level that spans their age as of January 1.  If a child has skied at least 10 times, consider advancing them one skill level.  It is common for kids to repeat skill levels, so returning families need to choose a skill based on last season’s performance, but still staying within the age ranges.  Coaches will assess children at the first meeting, but it is important for parents to accurately assign levels by age during the registration process.

Classic ski technique: Level I: Ages 4-7 (parents ski along with the child), Level 2: 6-8 (parents check in occasionally), Level 3: 7-10, Level 4: 8-12

Skate ski technique: Level 5: 9-13, Level 6: 11-14

More about skill levels here: https://www.myxc.org/skisparks-1.  Questions about levels? Contact us at carver@myxc.org.

Communications

We will be communicating with Carver SkiSparks families via email.  We need valid emails for all.  When you register please include a contact e-mail address.  You would be contacted for the following reasons:

1. In the event we cancel because of weather or because the Recreation Center is closed.
2. To let you know if we have to shift the time we are meeting because of weather or event at Carver.
3. To clear up any questions we may have about your registration.
4. To be given periodic updates with news and information about the Carver ski club.

MyXC is on Facebook!  You can "like” the MyXC page to get general announcements, photos and videos from each of the MyXC club.

Need to contact us? Email us at carver@myxc.org

Volunteering

This is a volunteer run club.  The success and affordability of this program comes directly from your contributions of time, energy, and talent.  By registering for this club, you are committing to the club’s success and are agreeing to volunteer. More information on training for volunteering here.

Level 1 skiers will need to be accompanied by an adult.  Coaching at level 1 is a great way to accompany your child.  We are also in very great need of coaches for all levels 1-6.  Please consider coaching as it is our number one need!  You do not necessarily need to coach at your child’s level.

Following are some suggested areas of volunteer service:

Coaching:

We really need your help!  This is our biggest need and is one of the most rewarding ways in which you can help the club.  Kids get more out of the program when the coach-to-kid ratio is low, and coaches need not be experienced skiers to volunteer.  The MyXC program makes it easy for a coach to know what to do.  An eight week curriculum has been prepared for every level and each day's plan is available on an app.  The guide also provides many helpful tips and games to keep classes enjoyable and interesting.  You do not have to be an elite level skier to be a coach.  All you need is a desire to help kids and have fun.

Junior Coaches:

High-school aged skiers, we need you!  We rely heavily on high school volunteers, who are fun, friendly and in far better shape than most of us.  Coaching for Carver SkiSparks qualifies as a service commitment for NHS.  Think about how great this will look on a college application!

Assistant and Sub Coaches:

As an assistant coach, you can support a coach by accompanying the group on the trails and helping skiers.  If you feel like your skiing level is at the same level as the level your kids are signed up for, you would be a fantastic assistant coach!  You are not in charge of the instruction, rather you are there to make sure the kids are safe, and can assist with activities.  

If you are a sub coach, you can fill in when a coach isn’t able to make it to ski club.    

Snack Coordinator:

Set up sign-up for parents to bring weekly snacks and send reminders.  Be available on ski days to help organize and clean up snacks.

If you have ideas about how to help kids learn to ski, now is your chance to make it happen.