Volunteer Roles

SkiSparks Leader*

• Task: Main coordinator for the club and the point of contact for MyXC Staff and families.
• Time Commitment: September - April, 2-3 hours a week
• Ski Experience: Background ski knowledge helpful.  No skiing required.
• Location: Personal computer and club meetings

SkiSparks Director*

• Task: Admin support for the leader, primarily ordering club supplies, compiling attendance and organizing bibs.
• Time Commitment: 8-10 hours during the season.
• Ski Experience: No skiing required.
• Location: Personal computer and club meetings

SkiSparks Outreach Coordinator*

• Task: Form connections to new communities and create a welcoming club.
• Time Commitment: September - April, 2-4 hours per month
• Ski Experience:  Background ski knowledge helpful. No skiing required.
• Location: Out in the community/schools, mentoring new families at club meetings

SkiSparks Equipment Manager* 

• Task: Manage, order, distribute and create storage plan for rental skis.
• Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per week in November and December.  2-4 hours in March.
• Ski Experience: Background knowledge helpful. No skiing required.
• Location: Home or facility. 

SkiSparks Coach

• Task: Lead groups of skiers through weekly curriculum activities and games.
• Time Commitment: 6-8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each
• Ski Experience: Beginner through elite. Must have ski equipment each week.
• Location: Club Meetings

SkiSparks Assistant Coach

• Task: Ski along with a group of kids and lead games. 
• Time Commitment: 6-8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each
• Ski Experience:  Beginner through intermediate. Must have ski equipment each week.
• Location: Club Meetings

SkiSparks Sweeper

• Task: Ski in the back of a group and encourage kids.
• Time Commitment: 8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each
• Ski Experience: Beginner. Must have ski equipment each week.
• Location: Club Meetings

SkiSparks Junior Coach (high school aged coaches)

• Task: Ski with a group of kids and show them how fun skiing is.
• Time Commitment: 4-8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each.
• Ski Experience: Intermediate through Elite.
• Location: Club Meetings

SkiSparks Chalet and/or Snack Coordinator 

• Task: Coordinate and monitor a space and/or snack for club connection and weekly socializing.
• Time Commitment: 2-4 hours during the season.
• Ski Experience: No skiing required.
• Location: Personal computer and inside the meeting area (if available at club location) during club meetings.

• Board of Directors or Board Committee
• Skiwerx sweeping
• Trailer Driving
• Event Support

 *SkiSparks Club Leadership Teams consist of dedicated volunteers in the Leader, Director, Equipment Manager and Outreach Coordinator roles. These are usually multi-year posts (because its fun to do it again once you get the hang of it!)

Impact

• Creates a community that encourages kids and families who may be new to winter recreation to be outside, enjoy winter, and develop cross-country ski skills.  
• Main coordinator for the club and the point of contact for MyXC Staff and families.

Goals and Responsibilities 

• Promotes fun at their club!
• Provide parent support and communication to help cross country skiing be a positive experience for families.
• Set 8 club meeting dates and time.
• Work with the facility to obtain necessary permits.
• Make weather and snow related decisions for club meetings.
• Read leader updates sent from MyXC Staff and delegate tasks.
• Send weekly club announcements via email. 
• Update club webpage.
• Check and respond to emails received in the club Gmail account.
• Promote volunteering (especially coaching) for your club.
• Recruit junior coaches from local high school teams.

Going Above and Beyond

• Working with facilities to improve grooming and/or snowmaking.
• Hold a pre-season meeting for your coaches.
• Organize fundraising to support your club discretionary fund or equipment fund.
• Organize families to attend an MyXC event (MyXC Festival, Team Sprints, Skiwerx Race, Family ski at another trail, etc.)
• Organize a season end celebration for your club.

Qualifications

• Background knowledge of cross-country skiing is helpful, but not required.
• No skiing required.
• Access to a personal computer and internet.
• Ability to attend weekly club meetings.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Time Commitment

• This can be a shared position.
• September - April, 2-3 hours a week.

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training is encouraged (in person and/or online)
• HeadsUp Concussion Training - every three years (online)

Impact

• Enables clubs to run smoothly, leading to a more inclusive, welcoming and fun atmosphere.

Goals and Responsibilities

• Create name tags for skier bibs.
• Hand out coach bibs.
• Manages and tracks attendance.
• Completes order and arranges pick-up of pre-season and end-season club supplies.
• Manages club purchases and submits reimbursements from discretionary fund.
• Ongoing communication and coordination with club leader and club volunteers.

Going Above and Beyond

• Assist club leader with additional tasks as needed.
• Follow up with families mid-season that have low attendance.

Qualifications

• No skiing required.
• Personal computer.
• Organizational skills.

Time Commitment

• This can be a shared position.
• Approximately 8-10 hours during the season.

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training or Welcome Session is encouraged (virtual)

Impact

• Build relationships to help meet our goal for membership and volunteers to reflect the diversity that exists in your club’s community.

Goals and Responsibilities

• Recruit skiers to the club from new communities through intentional outreach.
• Form relationships with social workers and PhyEd teachers at neighboring elementary schools.
• Form relationships with Park Rec departments and begin conversation about partnership.
• Get the word out about your club to local papers, local ski shops, community organizations, etc.
• Contact schools that are close to existing clubs that have a high percentage of BIPOC and underserved populations and make connections.
• Welcome new families (in person or with a phone call) and consider organizing club families to "adopt" new families.

Going Above and Beyond

• Partnering with community leaders for outreach and events.
• Use the MyXC Equipment trailer for free outreach events.
• Partner with community leaders for outreach events.
• Attend monthly MyXC Equity Committee Meetings (virtual)
• Follow up with families that have low attendance to see how what can improve the situation.

Qualifications

• Background knowledge of cross-country skiing is helpful, but not required
• No skiing required
• Passionate about lifelong health, winter and access to outdoor recreation for all
• Outgoing personality, able to take risks, make connections and form new relationships

Time Commitment

• This can be a shared position.
• September - April, 2-4 hours per month

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training or Welcome Session is encouraged (virtual)

Impact

• Reduce the largest barrier to new skiers by handing out correctly-sized equipment.

Goals and Responsibilities

• Inventory club equipment
• Order equipment needed to fulfill rentals
• Pickup equipment orders at the MyXC warehouse
• Hand out equipment
• Follow up with skiers that need different sizes
• Collect equipment at the end of the season
• Store equipment (at home, facility or another option)
• Manage equipment budget and submits reimbursements from equipment fund (non-metro)

Going Above and Beyond

• Add a skate ski rental option to your club (which requires waxing maintenance)
• Fundraising for additional equipment

Qualifications

• Some background knowledge about skiing is helpful but not necessary
• Spreadsheet experience is helpful.
• Ability to organize and distribute skis.
• Ability to arrange pickup of new equipment MyXC Warehouse in Minneapolis

Time Commitment

• 2-3 hours per week in November and December (depending on size of equipment bank).  
• 2-4 hours in March
• Often a shared position in larger clubs

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training or Welcome Session is encouraged (virtual)
• Pre-Season meeting with MyXC Staff

Impact

• Spark joy and confidence about cross-country skiing and lifelong health.
• Coaches are the key ingredient to getting families who are new to skiing outside and on skis.

Goals and Responsibilities 

• See the potential in every child and encourage growth.
• Follow the weekly MyXC Curriculum.
• Lead groups of skiers through weekly curriculum activities and games.
• Check skier equipment to make sure skiing with appropriate equipment. Communicate with the equipment manager, club leader and/or parent if changes need to be made.
• Complete skier assessment card at the end of the season and recommend next year’s level for each skier in group.

Going Above and Beyond

• Recruit more adults and teenagers to coach.

Qualifications

• Ability to attend weekly club meetings.
• Knowledge and skills on skis slightly more than the kids you are coaching.
• Ability to connect with kids, play games and laugh.
• Embraces winter and can encourage kids to have fun with the season.

Time Commitment

• 6-8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each.

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training is encouraged (in person and/or online)
• HeadsUp Concussion Training - every three years (online)

Impact

• Spark joy and confidence about cross-country skiing and lifelong health.
• Assistant coaches make it possible for skiers to get more attentions and have their needs met.

Goals and Responsibilities

• See the potential in every child and encourage growth.
• Follow weekly MyXC Curriculum.
• Assists lead coaches with activities and games.

Going Above and Beyond

• Ability to lead the level if the head coach is absent.

Qualifications

• Ability to attend weekly club meetings.
• Skiing level at the same level or above the kids in group.
• Ability to connect with kids, play games and laugh.
• Embraces winter and can encourage kids to have fun with the season.

Time Commitment

• 6-8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each.

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training is encouraged (in person and/or online)
• HeadsUp Concussion Training - every three years (online)

Impact

• Spark joy and confidence about cross-country skiing and lifelong health.
• Individualized attention to skiers.

Goals and Responsibilities

• See the potential in every child and encourage growth.
• Ski along at the back of the group encouraging any skiers who are having difficulty.
• Skis with kids who need to go to the meeting area to warm up, use the bathroom or rest.

Going Above and Beyond

• Ability to lead a game or activity.

Qualifications

• Ability to attend weekly club meetings.
• Skiing at the same level or above the kids in the group.
• Ability to connect with kids, play games and laugh.
• Embraces winter and can encourage kids to have fun with the season.

Time Commitment

• 6-8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each.

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training is encouraged (in person and/or online)
• HeadsUp Concussion Training - every three years (online)

Impact

• Spark joy and confidence about cross-country skiing and lifelong health.
• Junior Coaches are the heroes for many young skiers!  They look up to junior coaches and want to be just like you someday!

Goals and Responsibilities

• Follow weekly MyXC Curriculum.
• Assists lead coaches with activities and games.
• Ski along with the group and give skiers individual encouragement and cheers.

Going Above and Beyond

• Ability to lead a game or activity.
• Ability to lead a small group on a trail system.

Qualifications

• Current high school student or 8th grader that is 14 years old.
• Ability to attend at least 4 club meetings.
• Skiing level at the same level or above the kids in the group.
• Ability to connect with kids, play games and laugh.
• Embraces winter and can encourage kids to have fun with the season.

Time Commitment

• 4-8 Club Meetings, 1 ½ hours each.
• Eligible for volunteer/service hours for school requirements.

Training

• MyXC Coach Training is encouraged (in person or virtual)

Impact

• Create community by telling your club’s story through photos.

Goals and Responsibilities

• Take pictures of smiling kids and adults during club.
• Make a plan to rotate through the different skill levels.
• Share pictures through a photo sharing site with club members and MyXC Staff.

Going Above and Beyond

• Provide high quality pictures for use on MyXC website, social media and newsletters.

Qualifications

• Ability to take pictures and share.

Time Commitment

• This can be a shared position.
• 2-4 hours during the season.

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training or Welcome session is encouraged (virtual)

Impact

• Coordinate and monitor a space and/or snack for club connection and weekly socializing.

Goals and Responsibilities

• If the club does not have an indoor space, responsible for setting up tent and/or table as gathering point.
• Organize Sign-Up for families to bring weekly snacks.
• Ensure that no skier is in a room with 1:1 contact with adults.

Going Above and Beyond

• Make hot cocoa for skiers each week.
• Strategizing no-waste, compostable or low-packaging snacks

Qualifications

• No skiing or background knowledge required

Time Commitment

• 2-4 hours during the season.

Requirements and Training

• Complete Volunteer Sign-Up and pass background check
• MyXC Abuse Prevention Training (online, part of volunteer sign-up)
• MyXC Coach Training or Welcome Session is encouraged (virtual)