Children’s Programs – Full for 2023 Season!

2022-2023 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 2022-23 opens September 11th at noon for returning members and September 18th for new members. Enrolment in programs requires a club membership.

Wait List

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

COVID-19 Related Changes for 2022-23 Season:

Kanata Nordic is altering traditional Bunny Rabbit and Jack Rabbit programming to align with Public Health guidance from Ottawa Public Health, the province of Ontario, Cross-Country Ski Ontario and Nordiq Canada. The two major restrictions are (1) limits to group sizes for organized activities and (2) use of indoor facilities.
As a result of group size limits, we plan to use both the 401 Corkstown Rd (equestrian area) and the 411 Corkstown Rd. (campground) trail networks to spread out the skiers and reduce the crowding in parking lots and trail heads.
We likely need to cap class sizes to help create smaller cohorts. This means that we need volunteer leaders more than ever because smaller classes = more classes = more coaches needed. Please step up and help the kids out.
We are very likely unable to use the club chalet at 411 Corkstown Rd. This means that we are unable to have a warming break with hot chocolate during lessons. If that is still the case in January 2023, then Kanata Nordic will shorten lesson duration to 60-75 minutes for Bunny Rabbits and 90 minutes for Jack Rabbits to ensure that the children stay warm.
In order to assist families with children in both Jack Rabbits and Bunny Rabbits, we will have staggered start times. Jack Rabbits will start at 1:30 pm and Bunny Rabbits will start at 1:45 pm. Likewise, BR will finish at 2:45 and JR at 3:00 pm, enabling those who might need to travel between 401 Corkstown and 411 Corkstown to do so.
Bunny Rabbits will still need to have one parent accompanying them during the lesson, but we will be unable to accommodate parents accompanying the Jack Rabbit classes except for Leaders and Assistant Leaders.

Bunny Rabbit (4-6 year olds) Program Information for 2022-23 FULL for 2023 Season!

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 7, 2023 to Saturday March 11, 2023

Sunday Sessions Program Dates: Sunday January 8, 2023 to Sunday, March 12, 2023

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

Location: Wesley Clover Parks (401 Corkstown Rd. )

Program Prices: $90.00

Jackrabbit (6-11 year olds) Program Information for 2022-23 FULL for 2023 Season!

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 7, 2023 to Saturday March 11, 2023

Sunday Session Program Dates: Sunday January 8, 2023 to Sunday, March 12, 2023

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

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

Program Prices: $90.00

Dynarabbits (New skiers age 9 to 13) – Full for 2023 Season!

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 7, 2023 to Saturday March 11, 2023

Sunday Session Program Dates: Sunday January 8, 2023 to Sunday, March 12, 2023

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

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

Program Prices: $90.00

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 Jackrabbit Coordinator, jackrabbit@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 2022-2023 registration fees.