BKL 5-8: 5th – 8th Grade Adventure Program

This program is designed for skiers and families who prefer the recreational approach of skiing, the ease of waxless classic skis, and the opportunity to readily access and explore our local wilderness. The program will include skiing adventures on and off the groomed trails. The program emphasizes adventure, exploration, fun and skill development. Practice may also include learning about wilderness safety, orienteering, leadership skills, and exploration of the skate skiing technique. This program promotes skiing for health and fitness and as a lifelong sport.

Family Night Info Session

Registration

Registration begins on October 1 each year and closes on November 1. To register your child, please use the blue “Online Registration” button to the right. We will cap our registrations based on coach availability so please register early! Late registrants must contact the Program Director to apply, will be subject to a $35 late fee, parent must volunteer on snow, and is provisional based on us meeting our coaching ratio requirement.

Program Details

  • Prior Experience: None
  • Grades: 5-8
  • Program Fee: $410 plus $25 NENSA membership (New England Nordic Ski Association) (Scholarships available)
  • Trail Pass: Required. Purchase through the Oak Hill Outdoor Center. Passes go on sale Oct. 1 (Discount pass information)
  • Volunteer Requirement:  For every child enrolled in the program, one parent/guardian must volunteer for a minimum of one volunteer session.  There will be volunteer opportunities on & off snow, before, during, & after practice times, and during Ford Sayre events.

Practice Information

  • November 19 to March 13
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays
    • November 19 through January 30 from 3:30 – 4:30
    • February 4 through March 13 from 3:30 – 5:00 (more daylight!)
    • There will be optional evening practice on January 28 and 30 from 5:30-6:30 – skiers will sign up for regular afternoon practice or an evening practice (more info will be emailed in January)
  • No practice:
    • Thanksgiving Break: November 28
    • Winter Break: December 24, 26, 31, January 2
    • SAU 70 February Break: February 18, 20
  • Practice location is determined by snow conditions. Practice location will be e-mailed the night before practice.
    • Oak Hill: Oak Hill Drive, Hanover, NH; top parking lot of the Storrs Pond Recreation Area
    • Garipay Fields: 9 Reservoir Rd, Hanover, NH; near the Dartmouth Rugby Fields
    • These locations are within walking distance of the Ray School and Richmond Middle School.

Cancellation of Practice

Practice will be cancelled if the Dresden School District is closed, including snow days, early dismissals, and school vacations (except when noted), OR if conditions are dangerous to children or the trails (cold temperatures, unsafe or icy trail conditions, heavy rain).

Equipment

  • Technique: Classic, with optional exploratory skate skiing
  • Equipment:
    • 1 pair of waxless classic skis required for classic technique days and may also be used on the exploratory skate technique days. 
    • 1 pair classic or combi ski boots
    • 1 pair of classic length poles
    • Additional pair of Skate skis and poles are optional for the skate technique days.
  • Refer to our ski gear page for more detailed information on equipment and contact the Grade 3-8 Program Head or the Grade 5-8 Adventure Lead Coaches with any specific questions.

Questions

Please contact the Grade 3-8 Program Head should you have any questions about enrolling your child in BKL 5-8 nordic programs for the upcoming season.

Attendance Expectations

Each season our programs fill up to capacity. Out of respect for other skiers, we expect that participants who register will have no regularly-planned scheduling conflicts and have every intention to attend as many practices as they can. Skiers who do not attend regularly often do not advance their skiing abilities at the same pace as the group; when they do attend, they often hold the group back and draw additional coaching attention. This is unfair to participants who have been regularly attending practices.

Participant Behavior Code

We expect that Ford Sayre nordic skiers will follow coaches’ instructions, adhere to COVID risk-mitigation protocols, make an effort to stay with the ski group, not interfere with other skiers’ learning, and generally maintain a positive attitude.  Should a participant not be able to follow these expectations consistently, the age group Lead Coach or BKL Head Coach will call parents to discuss. If the pattern of behavior continues, the coaches and Program Director may determine that the BKL program is not a good fit for the participant and the parent will be notified.  The program reserves the right to remove any participant from the program if inappropriate behavior cannot be modified.

Refund Policy

Please note that $60 of the program fee is non-refundable. Refunds of the remaining program fee will be issued at the discretion of the Program Director. Refunds cannot be granted for sessions not attended or canceled due to weather or safety factors.

Our Team

Hilary McNamee

Nordic Head Coach

Hilary hails from the most Northern reaches of Maine, where winter lasts nearly all year. Hilary began coaching with Ford Sayre in 2011, during her undergrad years at Dartmouth and later worked for four seasons as the Dartmouth Ski Team Assistant. She has a background in biathlon and attended five World Junior Championships representing USA. In her role as Ford Sayre Nordic Head Coach, she oversees all Nordic programming in addition to being the head coach for the Junior Nordic Team (JNT), Ford Sayre’s high school racing program. Her other passion in life is growing and arranging flowers. Hilary can be reached at: hilary@fordsayre.org

Jay Davis

BKL Head Coach

Jay started skiing in Bethel, ME, in elementary school. He lives in Lyme and works with first generation and low income students at Dartmouth College, where he captained the collegiate team as an undergraduate and then coached the college team for two years after graduation. He has two kids who have loved being part of Ford Sayre skiing and racing, and he has coached all grade levels with Ford Sayre in the 21 years he has been with the program.  As Head Coach for the K-8 BKL Programs, he is responsible for the organization, preparation and direction of our fabulous coaching team. Please address all coaching inquiries to Jay at HeadCoachBKL@FordSayre.org.

Courtney Marchetti

Grade 3-8 Program Head

Courtney is a lifelong alpine and backcountry skier who discovered the joy of xc skiing, along with her two children and husband, ten years ago while living in southern Vermont. She has since become an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of BKL programming in numerous youth programs throughout New England. When not outside seeking out adventures with her family and friends, she runs a child psychiatry practice in White River Junction. Email Courtney at BKL@fordsayre.org.

Susan Frankenstein

Grade 5-8 Adventure Co-Lead Coach

Bio coming soon.

Jennie Chamberlain

Grade 5-8 Adventure Co-Lead Coach

Jennie learned to cross country ski when she moved to Hanover in 2018 when her kids, also new to cross country skiing, joined Ford Sayre during their 8th grade year. Jennie’s kids continued to cross country ski through high school and Jennie has become an enthusiastic volunteer with the Ford Sayre Adventure program. Jennie thinks there is no better way to make sure you see the sun and enjoy the outdoors than warming up with cross country skiing and adventuring with a diverse group of skiers. You can spot her biking to practice with her skis in a tube, maximizing her outdoors time. When not outside cross country skiing with her family, Jennie teaches in Dartmouth’s Film and Media Department and serves on the Hanover Selectboard. She can be reached at jennie.chamberlain@gmail.com