Upper Valley
pr ograms encour age
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CONTENT S
4 N ATURE’S HIDDEN TRE ASURES
How should you get started observing the natural world in the coldest season? Read more to find out.
8
STUDENT HOSTS ICE FISHING DERBY
Cole Anderson was inspired to hold the event for his senior capstone project in order to get others interested in the spor t.
12
SKILLS HONED AT SKATING LESSONS
On most Tuesday evenings in mid-January young skaters gather on the ice at Union Arena rink for their weekly les sons.
: ON THE COVER
Bill Gokey, Jr., of Weathersfield, Vt., helps Elliot Bevis, 7, of Windsor, Vt., lure in a fish with an electronic finder during an ice fishing derby on Lake Runnemede in Windsor, Vt., on Jan. 20, 2025.
Valley News —Geoff Hansen
VALLEY NEWS –ALEX DRIEHAUS
Makayla DeCoteau, left, and Saige Gaspard, right, both members of the 5th and 6th grade Claremont girls basketball team, laugh together on the sideline during a game at Plainfield Elementary School in Meriden, N.H., on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. Read the story on Page 11.
Winter & Spring at the Hood Museum of Art
EXHIBITION TOUR (Family Friendly): Cara Romero
1 March, Saturday, 2:00–3:00 pm
For all ages! Join curator Jami Powell on this guided tour of works by Chemehuevi photographer Cara Romero in the exhibition Panûpünüwügai (Living Light). Stops along the tour will explore how Romero uses her images to tell stories about her community, as well as how she collaborates with others to do the same.
MAKER DROP-IN
5 April, Saturday, 1:00–4:00 pm
STORYTIME IN THE GALLERIES
5 April, Saturday, 11:00–11:45 am
Introduce your little ones to the museum with stories and play in the galleries. Explore art together and engage in hands-on activities inspired by the exhibition Beyond the Bouquet. For children ages 4–5 and their adult companions. Space is limited; register for free on the museum’s website.
This free, drop-in program for all ages invites you to try new mediums or tools for a self-guided artmaking activity. Make floral cyanotypes inspired by the exhibition Beyond the Bouquet. All materials provided and no experience necessary.
COMMUNITY DAY
3 May, Saturday, 1:00–4:00 pm
For all ages! Join us for this free drop-in program to explore the exhibition Cara Romero: Panûpünüwügai (Living Light). Enjoy spotlight tours, take part in hands-on art activities, and enter a free raffle for a chance to win surprise goodies. rePlay Arts will participate with a lightly used craft supply giveaway! No registration required.
Always FREE and open to all!
Family programming at the Hood Museum combines play, exploration, and creativity through games, conversation, and art making. Learn together through interactive programs inspired by the exhibitions for kids of all ages and their parents/caregivers. The Hood Museum also has Activity Guides and Gallery Go-Packs filled with free, fun family activities available during museum hours each Saturday.
6 E Wheelock Street, Hanover, NH • hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu
Encountering nature’s hidden treasures
How to teach kids about winter wildlife
By ANNA MORRIS For the Valley News
Winter is a special season. It’s a time to huddle close, stay warm indoors with family and friends and find ways to keep out the cold, dry air. Sometimes we might venture out to enjoy the snow on a hill or mountain slope, and marvel at the magic of fresh-fallen, clean powder sparkling on the trees, but soon return inside for warmth.
As mammals, we might assume that our winter patterns are similar to many of the animals that share our environment. The bears, squirrels and birds should also be hunkered down for the cold season, limiting their activities outdoors to only the most necessary. But there are surprising ways in which the natural world is still lively and dynamic in the winter months —some of which are accessible to families willing to brave the chill for a special experience.
There are so many benefits to getting outdoors and spending time in nature. But how should you get started observing the natural world in the coldest season? Isn’t this the wrong time of year for that sort of thing, anyway?
Actually, winter is the perfect time for beginners to learn about wildlife in their neighborhoods. Many birds are more visible in winter. When the leaves are off the trees, the bold little black-capped chickadees, bright northern cardinals and flocks of dark-eyed juncos are much easier to spot. Whether you hang up bird feeders to attract them to your yard, or simply take a walk in a park, you are bound to encounter the variety of birds who stick it out in New England through the winter.
But what if you or your family are not already confident in identifying the things you see? You really don’t have to be an expert to find value in exploring your backyard. Make your learning experience a family affair: take a trip to your local library to check out a field guide to help you put names to the feathery faces you encounter.
Field guides aren’t just for the birds either: some can help you identify animal tracks, such as those left
Awhite-breasted nuthatchpicturedat theVermontInstitute ofNaturalScience inQuechee.The birdsspend winters in the Upper Valley.
behind in the fresh snow. Though it’s hard to catch a glimpse of a bobcat, it’s much easier to marvel at the lovely, rounded print one left behind a few hours ago on the edge of the woods. I would never have dreamed that a moose might have walked through my backyard in Windsor until I stumbled across the unmistakable tracks in the snow a few years ago.
The best time to go out looking for tracks is just after a light snowfall so that they will be at their clearest and most well defined. In addition to your field guide or camera, bring a ruler with you —not only to measure the tracks themselves, but the distance between each track, or the stride length of the animal. These will help you figure out exactly which animal walked by hours earlier right where you are standing now.
Even so, using a field guide for the first time can be daunting. Some field guides are not as accessible to beginners as others and it can be hard to find just the right balance. But there is a completely different tool that has made identifying any species you see a lot easier. The free app iNaturalist lets you take a picture of any plant or animal —or evidence of an animal, such as a track
—and upload it to their database. The app will offer a suggested identification right then and there. The photo will also be shared with a community of naturalists who can confirm the identification or offer other suggestions to what the creature might be. There is even a kidfriendly version of iNaturalist called Seek, which lets you earn badges for finding different species, adding a game-like element to encourage further outdoor exploration and learning.
Finally, a great winter activity to connect you directly with your wildlife neighbors is “owling.”L ate in winter —far too early to be considered spring —owls begin to move into the parts of the forest where they will build a nest, and thus need to establish their territory. Maybe you’ve heard the distinctive, barking “who cooks for you?”hoots of the barred owl, and wondered in the wee hours of the morning, what exactly are they going on about? An owl’s hoot is its way of telling other owls about the boundaries of its territory, or advertising a nest site. They are essentially saying, “I am the barred owl that lives in these woods!”
We humans can take brief advan-
tage of this communication, in order to be treated to a good look at these camouflaged creatures. If you practice, you can venture outside and recreate the rhythm of a barred owl’s hoot with your own voice, in response to their calls. Hearing such a surprising declaration may cause the owl to fly in for a closer look at this imposter. Be careful not to overdo this calling, as you may convince the owl to leave your “ter ritory ”with too-frequent hooting.
If you want to see how this works firsthand, consider signing up for an “Owl Prowl”with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. This nighttime hike with two VINS naturalists is happening twice: on Feb. 28 and March 14. (Even if no wild owls respond to the hooting, you’ll get to meet one of the VINS Ambassador Owls before the hike.)
Whenever and wherever you go outside in the winter, be sure to dress warmly and bring plenty of water. You might be surprised to find how much there is to see outside in the winter.
AnnaMorris isthe directorof WildlifeAmbassador Programsat the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee.
COURTESY PHOTOGRAPH
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Largest optical showroom in the area
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Medicare and Major Medical Accepted Evening Appointments Available Locations in Evening appointments available at the White River location.
Discover Upcoming Children, Youth and Family Programs
Vernal Pool Family Walk (with Lake Sunapee Protective Association): Saturday, April 26 ~ 1pm-2pm
Family Story Walk (with New London Barn Playhouse): Saturday, May 17 ~ 11am-12pm
Kids Watercolor Camp: July 7-July 9
Kids Gardening Camp: July 14-July 16
Kids in Nature Camp: July 21-July 23
Raptors Up Close Program (with VINS): Wednesday, July 23 ~ 2pm-3pm
Fairy Festival: Sunday, August 3
Hay Day Fall Festival: Sunday, October 12
For More information visit thefells.org
C OLUMN
Stop to catch a snowflake
Winter activities for young children, families
By LORI STEVER For the Valley News
Winter life in the Upper Valley can easily get overshadowed by the daunting chores: keeping fires going, shoveling snow and other physical needs of survival. At the same time, winter is amazingly beautiful here. Unfortunately, because we need to cope with some of the increased responsibilities that winter brings, it takes a conscious effort to slow our minds. If we do so, that allows us to be in the moment to feel, see and experience beauty and the “wow ”factor of Upper Valley winters. In working with families with young children, I am forever trying to think about how to make it easier for families to allow themselves to appreciate the beauty first.
Outside play
In addition to the natural phenomenon of the season, there are clear physical, developmental, and emotional health benefits for children living and playing outside in the winter. Here are a few ways families can enjoy experiencing winter together:
■ Explore, observe, and appreciate nature: Turn every trip to the car, to the mailbox, etc., into a nature walk, an opportunity to explore and wonder.
■ Enhance motor skills and problem solving: Go for a walk through the deep snow and wind, build snow people, make snow angels, pull sleds up a hill and create a snow fort.
■ Play cooperatively with siblings and friends: Go on a nature walk, create a scavenger hunt and build snow structures together. See who can make the biggest snowball or the tallest snow mountain, slide down age-appropriate hills together.
■ Experience healthy exposure to sunlight: Spend time outside in natural light, which can influence overall well being, improve sleep and boost immune systems.
■ Create family traditions and memories: Build “snow chairs”around a fire and roast marshmallows or hot dogs, or go on a family hike together to mark the season.
Inside play
While the cold temperatures often make it necessary for families to spend
more time indoors in the winter, there are plenty of opportunities for shared memories and activities inside. As I’m planning activities in my role with The Family Place, I recognize that during these long winter months, sometimes “getting out”means getting out of the house, having opportunities to socialize and have organized activities with other families. We coordinate indoor playgroups, parent/child workshops and parent education offerings for families that can be a breath of fresh air during the coldest days.
I appreciate the slower pace of winter and often cuddle up on the couch with a comfy blanket and read some fun books about snow and winter. Some books I recommend for families reading and learning about snow together: “A Snowy Day,”by Ezra Jack Keats, “First Snow,”by Bomi Park, “Soup Day,”by Melissa Iwai, and “Tracks in the Snow,” by Wong Hubert Yee.
Here are some other indoor activities families can enjoy together:
■ Play interactive winter-themed games: Make paper snowballs and have a snowball fight. Mix white playdough and create indoor snow people. Bring in
snow from the outside and paint in the snow. Build snow people out of cotton balls and glue.
■ Cook and decorate food together: Make hot chocolate and cookies to dunk. Create snowflakes using pretzels. Use yogurt cups to build snowmen. Make snow people out of pancakes.
■ Listen to and sing winter songs:
“The Mitten Chant,” “If all the Snowflakes Were Candy Bars and Milkshakes,” “Funny Little Snowman,” “Snowflake, Snowflake.”
The next time you hear a snowstorm is coming, instead of grumbling about the cold, ice and wind, I challenge you to think of the beauty first and share that with the children in your life. Together you can experience the excitement of seeing, feeling and exploring the blanket of white snow; of holding, touching and tasting an icicle, and the giggle you make when you feel the wind in your face when sledding down a hill. Be in the moment and allow yourself and your child to “stop to catch a snowflake.”
LoriStever isthe ParentEducation Coordinator at TheFamily Place in Norwich.
COURTESY PHOTOGRAPH
EVERY CHILD SHOULD HAVE A SCREENING EXAM BY AGE 7
Mouthbreathing, Snoring, and Finger
Sucking habits harm good jaw growth. Crowding, Protrusion, and Crossbites get worse with time. Early Treatment can make a significant difference
We Listen to your Concerns and Answer All of Your Questions
The Examination and Panorex are Complimentary
Community Arts Open Studio (CAOS)
Drop in for our Free Family Art Program! All art materials are provided—just bring your creativity and get ready to have fun.
Toddlers and Preschoolers: Fridays, 9:30-11:30 AM For Families: Saturdays, 10 AM-1 PM Register
Crossroads Academy
STRONG MINDS • KIND HEARTS
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‘I am a big f isherman’
Windsor High senior hosts ice fishing derby
By PATRICK O’GR ADY Valley News Correspondent
WINDSOR —In thedays leadingup toaJanuaryice fishingderby,itsorganizersmonitoredconditions onthe62acre Lake Runnemede. At 9-inches thick, it was deemed safe for ice fishing. Hours before the derby’s8 a.m. start time on a 5-degree morning with a bright sun highlightingthe freshsnowfall, Windsor RecreationDirector James Aldrich drilled several holesin the middle ofthe lake witha battery-powered auger.
Over each hole,which were several inches in diameter, Aldrich placed a rectangular frame called a tip-up. It has a spool ofline andon oneend asmall, orangeflag onthe endof anarm. Whena fishbites, thearmtipsup, signalinga catch. Others were“jigging,”which is the more traditional way to catch fish using a fishing pole.
From the startof the three-hour derby the fish were biting.
“We arehammering,”Aldrich yelled at onepoint. “Three bass andtwo pickerel.”
Theeventdrew about40peopleincludingseveralchildren who,withothers, braved the frigid temperatures without complaint.
“I came out for fun,”Paxton Haehnel, 10, ofWindsor, said, addingthat Aldrich is his basketball coach. “Iam a big fisher man.”
The derby wasWindsor High School senior ColeAnderson’s idea. Hewas inspired tohold the event forhis senior capstone projectin orderto getothers interested in the sport.
“I’vebeendoingit sinceIwasakid and Iabsolutely lovethe sportand want people to enjoy it as well,”Anderson said, ashe stoodby atable nearthe banks of Lake Runnemede.
Anderson creditedAldrich andThe Coon Clubin Windsorfor helpingorganizetheproject,which heworkedonfor four months.The nonprofitorganization raisesmoneythrough avarietyof fundraisers including raffles and dinners for conservationefforts, as wellas to support outdoor activities for youth such as sending kids to conservation camps.
“They arethe mainreason Iam here,”Anderson said about the Coon Club. “They helpedwith door prizes, food and drinks.”
Ice fishingis growing inpopularity in Vermont and New Hampshire with thousandsventuring outontolakes tonot
SEE ICE FISHING S10
VALLEY NEWS –GEOFF HANSEN
Wes Merriam, 14, of Claremont, N.H., uses a rod and reel in an ice fishing holeduring a derby on LakeRunnemede in Windsor, Vt., onJan. 20, 2025.Moments laterhe caught asmall perch that he released back into the lake.
Windsor High senior hosts ice fishing derby
only fish but also barbecue.
“Formany, it’snotjustabout thefish,”Ver mont Agency of Natural Resourcesfisheries biologist Shawn Good wrote in a 2022article titled “Ice Fishing Fundamentals”posted to the agency’swebsite. He noted that it is oftenmore accessible than openwater fishing and does not cost a lot to get started.
“Kidsloveicefishing becausetheycanrunaround and slide onthe ice or playin the snow. I’veseen families withgrills, foodand hot drinkshaving agreat time. They set their tip ups, build snowmen, play football, and even skate in between bouts of fishing,”Good wrote.
Improvements in clothing tostay warm and popups, portable shanties that are easier to assemble and move around than traditional bob houses, have also helped to increase participation.
DuringtheWindsorderby, Aldrichshowedafew youngsters howto bait an icefishing hook witha live minnow.
Partwaythrough thedemonstration,someone shouted. A tip up popped up and everyone raced over to the hole in the ice.
Paxton dropped to his knees, removed his gloves and grabbedthe fishinglinerunninginto thedeep,dark hole of the frozen surface.
“Pull, pull,”Aldrich instructed. “Hand over fist. Now let it go a little. Okay, keep it tight.”
Suddenly out of the smallhole, Paxton pulled up a bass and broke into a smile as he held it up.
“That isa bigone,”exclaimedAldrich ashe readied hisportablescale andclaspeditonthe mouthofthe fish.
“Three pounds, 2 ounces,”Aldrich announced before droppingthefish backintothelake. “We can’t keep bass,”he said. Vermont Fish and Wildlife prohibits bass from being harvested from Lake Runnemede from Dec. 1 to the middle of June.
It didn’ttake longforotherstopullup afewpickerel fromthe tipupsthatwere placedovereachhole witha line and bait.
“Just the thrill of it andcatching good fish to bring home,”said MaciBurch,14,of Windsor,whenasked what she liked about being on the ice.
Maci was with her parents,Zach and Savanna, and brother Jackson, 13, at the derby.
The Burchfamily had apopup shanty witha heater inside. Zach said it took about an hour to set everything up.
“This is our first time out this winter,”he said. BraydenMatteau, 9,of Windsor,said hecame outto spend time with his friend, Paxton, and just “have fun.” Early on in the derby, Brayden pulled up a pickerel. When things quieted down after the flurry of early catches,Aldrichinstructed PaxtonandBraydento “scoop”eachhole using aflat metal tool,which clears theicethatcanformin lessthananhourinthecold temperatures.
Aboutmidway throughthederby,Anderson saidhe wasmorethanpleasedwith theinterestamongtheice fishing community.
“It feels great,”he said. “It was a lot of work to put it togetherand ithas turnedoutreally well.I wasn’t expecting this many people to come out because of the cold and the snowstorm.”
Patrick O’Gradycan bereached atpogclmt@ gmail.com.
VALLEY NEWS –GEOFF HANSEN
Jackson Burch, 13, of Windsor, Vt., shows off a chain pickerel he caught with his sister during an ice fishingderby on Lake Runnemedein Windsor, Vt.,on Jan. 20,2025. The event waspart of Windsor High senior Cole Anderson's capstone project.
ICE FISHING FROM S8
‘I like playing basketball because it is a team thing’
Claremont’sPiperLeClair,center,attemptsto blockapassbyPlainfield’s MackenzieWhite,right,duringa5thand 6thgradegirlsbasketballgameat Plainfield Elementary School in Meriden, N.H., on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. Claremont won, 30-14.
Claremont recreation program provides opportunities for every kid to play
By PATRICK O’GR ADY Valley News Correspondent
CLAREMONT —Balloons and basketballs?
Though they may seem like an unlikelycombination onthecourt, coach Tim LeClair used both at practice one eveningat the Claremont Community Center to teach his fifth and sixth grade players what he believes mattersmost attheir level: The fundamentals.
Thegirls firsttried dribblingtwo basketballs ata time,one witheach hand. Thenout camethe balloons. With one hand dribblingthe ball, the
otherhandhad tokeeptheballoon from hitting the floor.
“Eyes up,”LeClair instructed. “You can’t look at the ball while dribbling and also hit the balloon”
The drill,one ofseveral doneduring a one-hourpractice, improves hand-eye coordination, LeClair said.
In another drill, two girls pair up andpasstheball backandforthas they runup anddown thecourt or bounce pass to each other with one of theplayers makingalayup atthe end. At the start of practice, the playerssit againstthewall whileLeClair andKrystal DeCoteau,whohelps coach, pass the ball back and forth to each one.
“Handsout, handsout,”L eClair told them.
After thepractice, MaekaylaDeCoteau, 10,Krystal’s daughter,said
she plays for the fun of the game.
“All I cansay is I justreally like basketball. I like dribbling the best and I practice it a lot,”Maekayla said.
It isthe time of yearwhen the ubiquitous sound of bouncing basketballscan beheardin recreationcentersandgymnasiums alloverthe UpperValley asthousands ofyoungsterslearn thefundamentalsand hopefully apply whatthey learn in games. In Claremont, the basketball program begins withStart Smart for kids ages preschool to kindergarten which has26 childrenenrolled this year. For firstand second graders there is aninstructional program with 30kids. Thethird andfourth gradeteams,and fifthandsixth gradeteams, separatefor boysand girls, comprise 90 players.
Passing, defensive positions, movingwithout theball aresome ofthe facets ofthe game LeClairhas his players work on.
“We don’t scrimmage in practice because you can’trun aplayifyou can’t catch and dribble so we learn to catch and dribble,”he said. “These girls pass really well,so you don’t needa lotofplaysif youpassand move without the ball.”
LeClair ’s Kings(so namedbecause teamshad to choosean NBA teamnameand severalplayersfancied theSacramento Kings’purple color scheme) play games at the communitycenterbut alsotravelto Charlestown, Plainfield, Lebanon, Hanover, Hartford, Woodstock and other communities.
Valley Parents, S a t u rd a y,February22,2025
VALLEY NEWS –ALEX DRIEHAUS
Rec program provides opportunities for every kid to play
Shaun Laplante, assistant director and supervisor of programs at the community center, said the program begins withplayer evaluationsdoing different drills. The evaluations are compiled on score sheets and used to assign players to teams.
“Wetry tomaketheteams asfair as possible,”Laplante said.
Theseason culminateswiththe Twin State ValleyTournament beginning thelast weekof February and concluding withsix championship games in early March. The double eliminationtournament will have more than 40 teams this year, withmany comingfrom beyondthe UpperValley, Laplantesaid..Middle school teamsof seventh and eighth graders are not part of the recreation program,but playin the tour nament.
On aSaturday morningin late January, the Kings were home against the teamfrom Woodstock. Thegame beganclose withClaremont ahead 6-4 after the first sixminutequarter. Butafter that,the Kingsslowly builta leadto win2210.
What pleased LeClair the most wasnotthewin buttheprogresshe saw in his players,who were showcasing skillsthey didnot possessa month ago.
“Bestpart ofthe(first) halfwas when Lily (Haines) was in the paint, gotopen,gotthe ballandshotit,” LeClair said. “A month ago she probably doesn’t catch itand if she does, she panics and loses the ball.”
Otherplayers,he said,cannow dribble end-to-end, amajor improvement from the first week when they could barely dribble at all.
LeClairalso seespassing asthe keyto keepingeveryoneinterested and involved.
“If you don’t get the ball, you are not going to want to play,”he said.
On thesidelines, it isclear that LeClair. who encourages, praises and instructs,but neveryells, enjoys the coaching role, whichhe has been doing for about three years at elementary school level.Several of the players were coached by LeClair at the thirdand fourthgrade level,including his daughter, Piper.
The playersall get inthe game andthe playis oftena littlehelterskelterwith looseballsand turnovers, whichis finewith LeClair who said scoring and winning is secondary to learning the game.
“If you are too worried about winning you shouldn’t be coaching at this
level,”LeClair said.
After the game, Lily, 10, gave her reason for playing.
“I likeplaying basketballbecause it is a team thing,”Lily said.
TOP : Claremont’s EmmaPerry goes in fora layup duringa5thand 6thgradegirlsbasketballgame against Plainfieldat PlainfieldElementary Schoolin Meriden, N.H.,on Jan.29. ABOVE :Claremont 5thand 6th grade girls basketballcoach Tim LeClair, center, laughs with hisplayers during a timeout. LEF T: Plainfield’s Layla Darak, second from right, attempts to dribble away from Claremont’s Emma Perry, second from left,and Lily Haynes,right, whileher teammate Mackenzie White runs behind.
Another player, Saige Gaspard, 11, said the team concept also appeals to her.
“I really like basketball because youcanbeaggressive anditisa
teamsport andyoucan bondwith your friends doing this,”Saige said.
Patrick O’Gradycan bereached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
BASKE TBALL FROM S11
VALLEY NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS –ALEX DRIEHAUS
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‘It is more fun doing it
with
people I know’
Students
have fun, learn new skills in Woodstock ice
skating lessons
By PATRICK O’GR ADY Valley News Correspondent
WOODSTOCK –The smiles say it all.
On a Tuesday evening in mid-January young skaters gathered on the ice at Union Arena rink for their weekly lessons. Skaters ages 6 to young teens, of varying abilities, worked on the ice with several coaches. In another corner of the rink, afewexperiencedskaters practicedtheirspins,turnsand jumps.
WillowMoore, 7,sporting pinkandblue earmuffsand wearing purple tights, a flowered dress and a grin that never left her face,zipped around nearly nonstopfor the one-hour session
“I skate because I love it,”said Willow, who has been skating since age 3. “It is really nice here.”
Students a few years older andjust getting used to the sport moved about the ice together.
“It is easier when you are with friends and they help you,” saidHarperCoupe, 10,ofQuechee.“Myfirst daywaslast Tuesday. It is more fun doing it with people I know.”
Nicki Buck,president of theUnion ArenaSkating Club, said the program began when the arena opened more than 20 years ago.It offers lessonsto children asyoung as 3in its “Snowplow Sam”group. This year, there are 30 kids enrolled in the program.
“It just gets them out thereand introduces them to skating,”Bucksaid ona Tuesdaynight asthe skatersstepped onto the ice.
The rinkis dividedin half. Hockeypractice takesplace on one side and lessons, with about 15 skaters, on the other. The advantage oflearning to iceskate at ayoung age isyou don’t fall as far and youngsters can handle landing on hard ice a lot easierthanadults. Skatingalsocanimprove balanceandcoordination.Children cangainconfidenceas theybecomeeager totry newmoves, whichin turnaccelerates theirlearning, coaches said.
“We are veryinformal,”Jen Flaster, oneof the coaches, said. “They get a half-hour lesson and a half-hour of free time. We merge the kids based on their ability.”
The moreexperienced group ofmiddle schoolersare in thepre-freestyle andfreestyle skatingprogram, wherethey workonjumpsand traditionalmovements,Bucksaid.In March,those whoareso inclinedcanparticipatein anice show to demonstrate what they have learned.
Maddie Murphy, 13, of Bethel, enrolled in lessons with several other beginners about her age. They moved a little cautiously, butit isobvious theyare gainingconfidence on skates.
“I just started,”Maddie said. “I think it is awesome. I meet so many new people. I just like the idea of being good at skating and this is a great way to learn.”
S15
Witha stuffedanimal inhandAlexandre EybalinSebastiao,5, ofKillington, Vt.,skates aroundconesduringhislessonwiththe UnionArenaSkatingClubinWoodstock, Vt., on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.
VALLEY NEWS –JENNIFER HAUCK
Students have fun, learn new skills in ice skating lessons
edge. Thiswill lead theminto learning crossover (of the skates).”
“Come on, you can do it,”she encouraged often. “Nice job everyone.”
Attending the program with friends is an added benefit that helps the learning process, Buck said.
“It is important tobe able to play withyour friendsbecauseas longas you areon skates, youare learning,” she said.
Hazel Lussier, 13, of Quechee, is in her second year of skating and was joined by herfriend Addison Coupe, also 13.
“Thisis justmy secondtime, Iam doing it becauseshe is,”Addison said, referring to Hazel.
In anothercorner of theice, sisters Annesonia andSarea Beardsley taughtyounger skaters.Annesonia guided a young girl around one of the hockey face-off circles in the ice.
“They are learning how to use their edges, pushing offthe outside skate” said Annesonia, 17, of Woodstock, a talentedfreestyle skater.“Ifthey canfeel that, they can make the curve on the
Aurelie Eybalin, thehead coach, had Hazel,Addison, Maddie,Harper andafewothers linedupforsome lessons.
Eybalin first instructedthem to keeptheir headsupand notlook down at their skates. She urged them to use theirimagination because skating lets them be “anything you want.”
“L et’s havefun. It makesit easier,”Eybalin said.
While skatingbackwards, Eybalin hadthe skatershold theirarms straightoutwhile liftingonefootoff the ice as they glided forward. After about 20 feet, they went back the other way. From there, Eybalin had them tryjumping offthe ice,first with one foot thenboth at the same time.More drillsincludedgoing backward and pushing first in and then outwith theirskates tomove for ward.
After the group dispersed, Flaster said thefocus is havingfun while they learn.
“Partofourethos iswewantthe kids to have a good experience on the ice and enjoy skating,”she said.
As everyone exitedthe ice, the skaters appearedhappy tohave made alittle moreprogress. And they were all still smiling.
Patrick O’Gradycan bereached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
VALLEY NEWS –JENNIFER HAUCK
During a skating lesson, instructor Annesonia Beardsley, helps Trevor Doton, 6, of Barnard, Vt., up with fellow students Walter Hendricks, 5, of Woodstock, Becky Palmer, 5, of Woodstock, and Alexandre Eybalin Sebastiao, 5 of Killington, Vt.
ICE SKATING FROM S14
SPEECH THERAPY
Valley Regional Hospital provides evaluation and treatment to individuals at all ages with communication and swallowing deficits. Our Speech Therapists assess a patient’s speech, language, cognitive communication, as well as their oral, feeding, and swallowing skills. Following each evaluation, a plan of care is developed to address parent/client goals and the therapist works closely with family members as appropriate toward those goals.
Speech Therapy for Children
Our services may address:
• Language delays impacting communication, such as late talkers
• Problems producing clear speech sounds, or being understood
• Trouble with social skills and emotions
• Impaired understanding of language, like following directions
• Difficulty expressing thoughts and ideas, such as answering questions
Contact your child’s primary care provider to have a referral sent to our rehabilitation department. We have immediate availability!
Valley Regional Hospital has been caring for the greater Claremont community since 1893.
Dana Ferland, MA, CCC-SLP