We are a NENSA (New England Nordic Ski Association) member organization. 
They have lots of great resources including:

XC Ski Bingo!
Events
Ideas for skiing with kids

Putney BKL Parent Guide

Welcome to the Putney Bill Koch League!
Putney Bill Koch League is a youth ski program for kids ages 4 to 14. It is open to all kids, at any level of experience. We teach beginners to get comfortable on skis and advanced skiers to go faster, and the goal for everyone is the same HAVE FUN in the SNOW!

Practices
This year, practices will be on Monday and/or Wednesday afternoons from 3:30-5pm. If there is no snow on the ground (anywhere) we will one practice per week on Wednesdays. We have numerous practice locations that we can use given the snow conditions, so keep an eye on the weekly emails. Practices will run through February, and longer if we have snow. 

You may participate in one or both practices every week – a la carte. We don’t require attendance, but we do hope you’ll make it to at least one practice a week. Your kids will benefit from regular practice. 

Skis
We have rental skis/boots/poles available at West Hill Shop. They are very kind to administer our rental program, so please keep good care of the equipment and return it promptly at the end of the season.
This year we will be trying to make it possible for more kids to learn to skate ski, so we will have some beginner skate ski practice, and we have increased our rental and loaner skate ski fleet.

If you’re new to skiing, an explainer: “classic skis” have an area of grip on the bottom so you can “kick” backwards against the snow. Our rental fleet has “fishscales” – a pattern in the ski that locks into the snow. Race skis use sticky wax. “Skate skis” are smooth on the bottom, a little shorter, and are used more like skates on snow, pushing off perpendicular to the ski. Skate skiing was popularized in racing by our namesake, the Olympic medal winning Brattleboro native Putney Ski Club alum Bill Koch!

Philosophy
We believe in getting kids on skis, moving and having fun. We don’t “teach” little kids how to ski – we provide a fun, social environment for them to explore skiing. Ideally we also motivate them to move around fast – the faster they want to go the better skiers they will become! With bigger kids we do some coaching, but our philosophy is based around fun and play.

Snacks
We provide snacks (cookies, apples, baby carrots, etc.) at every practice – please let us know if your child has dietary restrictions. 

Volunteering/coaching
We are an all-volunteer club, and we rely on people helping out where they can. You are part of an incredible group of families and volunteers that help with things from running practices and fundraisers to putting on races. We’re always happy for more help. Wait for the call, or get in touch if you would have ideas, want to coach, or be involved.

Skiing with your kids
We encourage everyone to enjoy skiing together as a family. We are lucky in Putney to have lots of ski trails (the Putney School, Dusty Ridge, others), and our skiers and families are welcome on those trails. Winter is a beautiful and precious resource and we hope you will all take advantage at every opportunity. When possible and helpful I will send out trail reports.

Skiing with kids can be extremely joyful and also sometimes test patience. Here are some quick tips to get your family out skiing together:

• Poles: Start without them. Figuring out two pointy boards on your feet is already a lot. Also, skiing without poles improves your technique  
• Clothing: XC skiing is like running – you’ll need to shed layers once you get moving, and so will your kids. Dress with a base layer, a fleece or sweater, and then a puffy jacket over top. Most days the puffy jacket will come off pretty quickly.
• Falling/getting up: Everyone falls down. It is important to let your kids get up on their own. (also it’s nearly impossible to pick up a kid while you have skis on). We practice “dead bug”: roll on your back, sort out your skis with your legs in the air. Then roll onto your side, and get up onto your skis. Parental assistance is usually more harmful than helpful – your skis will hinder the kid getting up. The exception is when the kid has had enough – then it’s time to pack them back in the pulk or head back to the car and have a warm drink.
• Food: Pound-for-pound, kids burn more calories than any other kind of person. Skiing is hard work, and kids can burn through a lot of energy fast. Try to have a meal before you head out, and have a lot of trail snacks and water at the ready – granola bars, gummy bears, apples, cheese, hot chocolate – high energy foods that are easy and quick to eat. 

Events/Races
We keep a calendar on our website of races, both local and regional. The XC ski community does an amazing job putting on races for kids that emphasize fun and community over speed and results. It is a truly welcoming environment and we encourage you to attend and participate. 

BKL Festival
The marquee event of New England Kids skiing is the BKL Festival, held every year in the first weekend of March. This year it will be held at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville Maine on March 1-2. If you haven’t been, it seems a little preposterous to drive all that way for a weekend of skiing, but it is a truly magical event. 

Health 
If you are sick, please stay home from Putney BKL events until you have been free of fever for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and your symptoms are improving. Skiing is hard work, so please also make sure you are well enough that you will be able to enjoy practice. 

We ask that if you are recovering from a recent infection (covid or something else) you wear a mask for indoor ski club activities. Thank you for helping us reduce the spread of illness this winter!