7.a) Staff Report-Winter Programmings
SCDIA
STAFF REPORT
Date of Meeting: October 7, 2013
To: Parks and Recreation Committee
From: Judi Negus, Office Assistant
Re: Winter Programming
Background
During the past few years, we offered two skating program classes: Pleasure Skating (K -6th
grade) and Open Skating (4 -6th grade). Last year, we cancelled the Open Skating program due
to low enrollment. (We had four registered students and did not meet the minimum
enrollment of 5 students.) The Pleasure Skating class was held with 19 registered students. As
in past years, Matt Rasmussen and Dana Wojotowicz volunteered to teach the class. The cost
of the class was $25 for the six-week program.
Issue
Should the PRC offer a structured skating class taught by an experienced coach for winter 2013-
2014?
Proposal Details
This year, I am proposing a structured Learn to Skate Program that would be taught by Katy
Herman, the Skating Director of Cutting Edge Skating Association (CESA) in Forest Lake. The
class could run the same time as last year's program, from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m., one day a week
for six weeks at a cost of $59. Katy would receive 80% of the registration fees as compensation.
The Learn to Skate program would be structured to teach recreational skating to children of
different abilities. The children would be divided into two different groups, according to their
skills, each class lasting 30 minutes. The group not having its lesson would have access to
supervised open skating. The beginner's class would start at 4 p.m., the novice class at 4:30
p.m. The Learn to Skate program, for the beginner's class session, would be directed at
children who have little or infrequent skating experience. Depending on the success and
interest in the program, more advanced levels could be incorporated into other sessions. The
skills to be taught in the Learn to Skate program would be the elements of testing created by
the ISI (Ice Skating Institute) and used by CESA in Forest Lake. The beginner skaters would learn
techniques for standing up and falling safely, forward march and forward skate, 2 foot and 1
foot glides, forward swizzles, backward wiggle, backward swizzles and 2 foot snowplow stop.
Depending on the abilities of the beginner group, forward stroking, forward crossovers and 1
foot snowplows stops may be introduced. The novice group would work on backward stroking,
back crossovers, t -stops and/or hockey stops, and Mohawks (a forward to backward
maneuver).
With the program having a maximum number of 30 children, the Learn to Skate program,
lessons and open skate, could be contained entirely within the hockey rink. This would leave
the open skating rink area available for a lesson -free open skate option. Cancellations due to
inclement weather or poor ice conditions would be rescheduled and would extend the program
a week.
Katy is the Skating Director of Cutting Edge Skating Association in Forest Lake. Katy also
coaches the CESA's figure skating club and their Learn to Skate program. Katy is a member of
the ISI, and has completed concussion training required by the state of Minnesota for all
coaching staff.
Options
1. Offer structured Learn to Skate Program in addition to Pleasure Skating and Open
Skating programs offered in past years.
2. Offer Learn to Skate Program to replace Pleasure Skating and Open Skating programs
offered in past years.