Cottage Grove Ravine SkiSparks Club

 Welcome to the Cottage Grove Ravine SkiSparks Club!

The 2022 season will be a great year for the kids at Cottage Grove Ravine .  This is a volunteer led program.  Every family is urged to help in some way.  Please see below for volunteer information.

Schedule and location

MYSL Cottage Grove Ravine will meet for 8 Sundays beginning with our first meeting
Sunday, January 2, 2022 from 2:00- 3:30 PM at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park in Cottage Grove.  Our last week of club meeting will be Sunday, February 20, 2022.

Cottage Grove Ravine  Regional Park Website: https://www.co.washington.mn.us/501/Cottage-Grove-Ravine-Regional-Park

Address:
9653 KEATS AVE. S.
COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016
VIEW MAP

Announcements

Weather and cancellation policy

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 Ashley Swango at ravine@myxc.org with questions.  Cancellations will be posted on this Web page.

Clothing

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.

Equipment

We have some great equipment for skiers to use for a nominal fee - $45/classic, $90/skate for the entire season.  This equipment can be taken home and used for family outings.  Please remember we have a limited number of ski packages and sizes, so register early.  If you paid for rental equipment on-line but were not able to be outfitted, you will be reimbursed for the fees.

For children skiing at level 4, waxable classic skis are highly recommended. 

Registration

Registration will open October 13th, 2021.

Levels and age guidelines are as follows:

For children who are new to MYSL, 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. Coaches will assess children at the first meeting, but it is important for parents to accurately assign levels by age during the registration process.

Communications

We will be communicating with Cottage Grove Ravine MYSL 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.
2. To let you know if we have to shift the time we are meeting because of weather or event at Cottage Grove Ravine.
3. To clear up any questions we may have about your registration.
4. To be given periodic updates with news and information about the Cottage Grove Ravine ski club.

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

Need to contact us? Email us at ravine@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. 

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 MYSL program makes it easy for a coach to know what to do.  An eight week curriculum has been prepared for every class level and each day's lesson is printed on a card that can be carried in your pocket.  The pocket 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.  Contact us at ravine@myxc.org to sign up.   

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 Cottage Grove Ravine qualifies as a service commitment for NHS and other organizations requiring hours of service.  Think about how great this will look on a college application!  Contact us at ravine@myxc.org to sign up.

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.  

Contact us at ravine@myxc.org to sign up.   

Equipment Manager:

Assist our head coordinator with distributing equipment, keeping track of who has what, collecting rental fees, and collecting equipment at the end of the season.  

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

Contact info

Please email ravine@myxc.org.