Children’s Programs

2023-2024 Bunny Rabbit, Jackrabbit and Dynarabbit Ski Programs

The Jackrabbit Program was named after the legendary ski pioneer Hermann “Jackrabbit” Smith-Johannsen – a Norwegian immigrant to Canada, who lived and skied to the impressive age of 112. Jackrabbit attributed his long life partially to cross country skiing, a healthy outdoor life and always striving for his personal best. Many of our Olympic nordic stars, including Beckie Scott and Sarah Renner, started in their local Jackrabbit Programs.

Kanata Nordic members who are between 4 and 13 years old can enroll in the Bunnyrabbit, Jackrabbit and Dynarabbit programs. These on-snow learn-to-ski programs run on Saturday & Sunday afternoons at Wesley Clover Parks for 10 weeks starting in January. Kids also receive a free toque and poster in addition to lessons. Some dryland activities for program participants are available in the fall, subject to public health guidance.

Registration for 2023-2024 season opens September 10th, 6 pm for returning members and September 17th for new members. Enrolment in programs requires a club membership.

Register by clicking the button above.

Wait List

If the program you would like to register for is full, please add yourself to the waitlist

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Bunny and Jackrabbit programs can be found here.

Bunny Rabbit (4-6 year olds) Program Information for 2023-2024

The Bunny Rabbit program introduces nordic skiing through organized games and play on skis. It is very important for our newest skiers to have fun while they are learning! For these young skiers, the objectives are to learn the basic ski skills including falling/rising, side-stepping, herringbone and ski walking.

Children (and their parents) in the Bunny Rabbit program ski without poles.

Each child in bunny rabbits must have a parent with the group, so adults should be prepared to have fun with your children!

Saturday Sessions Program Dates: Saturday January 6, 2024 to Saturday March 9, 2024

Sunday Sessions Program Dates: Sunday January 7, 2024 to Sunday, March 10, 2024

Program Times: 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM

Location: Wesley Clover Parks (401 Corkstown Rd. )

Program Prices: $95.00

Jackrabbit (6-11 year olds) Program Information for 2023-2024

The Jack Rabbit program develops nordic skills, gradually involving more advanced techniques. Our emphasis is fun while learning, with lots of games incorporated into the lessons. As they progress through the four levels, children learn both classic and skate techniques. Participants are given a personal booklet to track their progress each season. Sticker awards are given for technique and program achievements.

There are four levels in the Jack Rabbit program, starting with Level 1, which follows after the Bunny Rabbit program. Generally children achieve a level in one season, although Level 3 and more so Level 4 can take multiple seasons to master. Participants will gradually develop skills in both the classic and skate skiing techniques with the aim of acquiring competence for virtually any cross-country ski outing and condition. Skate skiing is typically introduced in JR3. Skiers are placed into levels according to their age, ability, and previous ski experience.

Saturday Sessions Program Dates: Saturday January 6, 2024 to Saturday March 9, 2024

Sunday Session Program Dates: Sunday January 7, 2024 to Sunday, March 10, 2024

Program Times: 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Location: Wesley Clover Parks (401 and 411 Corkstown Road)

Program Prices: $95.00

Dynarabbits (New skiers age 9 to 13)

Dynarabbits is for children starting their skiing at an older age. This is a great entry point for new skiers ages 9 through 13 years who would feel out of place with the younger beginners in Bunny Rabbits or early Jack Rabbit levels. The objective for this program is to give these older new skiers an introduction to skiing in both techniques, so that they can leapfrog into the level of their peers within a season or two.

Saturday Program Dates: Saturday January 6, 2024 to Saturday March 9, 2024

Sunday Session Program Dates: Sunday January 7, 2024 to Sunday, March 10, 2024

Program Times: 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM

Location: Wesley Clover Parks (401 and 411 Corkstown Road)

Program Prices: $95.00

Program Leaders & Assistant Leaders

Please volunteer! Kanata Nordic’s limiting factor for enrollment in children’s programs is having enough coaches; with more leaders, we can help more children learn to ski (e.g. potentially add more junior classes).

Please note, Rabbit volunteer leaders and assistant leaders receive registration priority for their children if classes fill-up. Without your help, the programs won’t happen this winter.

All Kanata Nordic programs depend on volunteer coordinators and coaches. Club-subsidized training (Nordiq Canada & NCCP) for volunteers is available, including as ski leaders, assistant coaching and/or first aid. This is a great opportunity to build your cross-country skills and share your passion for nordic skiing with others. You do not need to be an expert level skier to coach, especially in the younger levels like Bunny Rabbit or Jack Rabbit – enthusiasm is more important!

Volunteer to be a Leader

For more information on Children’s Programs contact our Jackrabbit Coordinator, kanatanordicjackrabbit@gmail.com or info@kanatanordic.ca

Equipment:
Ski swaps are the best place for a deal on used equipment. They usually happen in October and November. Plus you can resell old equipment there and get back some of your original purchase price (junior skis hold their value for a surprisingly long time).

Cancellation Policy

As much as we love to ski, there are some days when learn-to-ski lessons are not feasible due to weather conditions. Lesson cancellation will happen in the event of extreme weather or unsafe ski conditions (i.e. freezing rain / icy conditions). We follow Cross Country Ontario Guidelines for cancellation:

Bunnyrabbit groups (age 4-6): If the temperature without windchill is below -15°C
For older children / adults : If the temperature without windchill is below – 18°C

Determining & Communicating Cancellations:
Lesson cancellations are determined by 10:30 am on Saturday mornings and be posted on the www.kanatanordic.ca website.

In colder temperatures, leaders adjust their lesson plans so skiers are not standing around. As well, we respect parents’ decisions to determine what is best for their child and in what conditions they should be skiing.

Always make sure you and your children are dressed for the weather and are comfortable in the conditions.

Refund / Cancellation Policy

Membership fees are non-refundable.

Learn-to-ski (LTS) program registration fees will be refunded, less a 20% administration fee, within the first 7 days of the start of the program. No refunds will apply to withdrawals on or after the 7th day. To obtain a refund, please contact registration@kanatanordic.ca
Teen Skate program registration fees will be refunded, less a 20% administration fee, within the first 7 days of the on-snow component of the program. No refunds will apply to withdrawals on or after the 7th day. To obtain a refund, please contact registration@kanatanordic.ca

Please note:

Kanata Nordic reserves the right to cancel any programs with insufficient registration or without volunteer leaders. In this case every effort will be made to find an equivalent program or a refund will be offered.
Kanata Nordic programs are subject to the will of Mother Nature. We follow Nordiq Canada’s weather guidelines in terms of program cancellation. This means programs will be cancelled if conditions are unsafe or temperatures are below acceptable limits. We attempt to reschedule cancelled events but at the discretion of group leaders. The Club will attempt to give its members as much notice as possible for program changes caused by inclement weather or adverse conditions.
In the event that program instruction days are cancelled by Kanata Nordic at the direction of Provincial or Municipal authorities in response to the COVID health emergency and classes cannot be rescheduled in the current ski season, credit will be given for a portion of the program fee towards 2024-2025 registration fees.