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 Amy Wyman, 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.

This year, 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 a UCare scarf. 

As a special note, this year Bryn Mawr had more than 70 students attend the Minne-Loppet - a new record!  Because Bryn Mawr had the most students attend the event, the Foundation treated the children in attendance to a pizza party at the school.  Special thanks to Anita Chavez for her superb recruiting and to the many parents who served as chaperones!

Volunteers are needed. Skiing experience is purely optional. Call Amy Wyman 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 (link to North web site) - 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 (link to UCare website) - UCare Minnesota provides funding for the Bryn Mawr Skis Program.
• American Birkebeiner Foundation (link to birkie website) - The American Birkebeiner Foundation has provided funding for the Bryn Mawr Skis Program through their Skier Development Grant 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 (link to Park Board site) - 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.

The Anwatin Ski Team is led by coaches Jenni O’Link and Kineta Lyde.  Anwatin Middle School students ski 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, Coaches Marc Beitz and Kineta Lyde work with Physical Education Instructor Dr. Joe Rosenfeld to teach the Andersen students how to ski.  At the end of the program the students are bused to the Minne-Loppet.  The Andersen students are the ones wearing the yellow and black scarves - courtesy of Andersen Vice-Principal Diane Schmitz.   

Thanks to a generous grant from the Medica Foundation, students from Andersen Open School and nearby Stewart Park will be learning to paddle, trail run and mountain bike this summer, in preparation for the City of Lakes Tri-Loppet.  The Program will run in two sessions on Thursday afternoons.  The first session runs from 2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. and falls under the umbrella of the Andersen Community Education Department.  The second session will run from 5 p.m - 7 p.m. through Stewart Park. 

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.

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 Jenni O’Link 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 scarf.

Challenge Fitness Club – Triathlon session (CFC-Tri) 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 Amy Wyman at 612 604-5330 or send an email to info@cityoflakesloppet.com for more information.