Nordic Rocks

Nordic Rocks is CCSC's signature community outreach program, and a part of our commitment to community.

When Nordic Rocks launched in 2019, it was a pilot program serving 100 students at 2 Benzie County schools. The goal was simple - teach the foundations of cross country skiing to elementary school students at no cost. As of 2025, our goal remains the same but our impact has skyrocketed - we are proud to serve over 700 students from 12 different schools in 4 counties. We provide professional grade skis, poles and boots, as well as instruction from certified XC Ski coaches. We are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for kids to learn, bond with their peers and fall in love with XC skiing.

Our award-winning curriculum was thoughtfully developed to accommodate different age groups and fitness levels. We start with 3rd graders, who learn the foundational elements of Classic skiing on their own playgrounds using small, strap-on skis. 4th and 5th graders progress to the next level and are invited to come ski the pristine trails at Crystal Mt Nordic Center with full professional equipment. We offer 4 sessions per season to each class, all of which include fun skill building games, drills, team-building activities and of course post ski-ski hot chocolate!

Nordic Rocks is a unique program that exposes kids to the magic of nature in their very own backyard. It gives them the opportunity to build self confidence, share a memorable experience with their classmates, appreciate our Michigan winters and discover the transformative sport of XC skiing!

NEW this season: We invite 3rd grade classes to come to Crystal XC and learn to ski on our training trails!!!

Nordic Rocks as able to thrive due to the support of many individual donors, several foundations, continued generosity from Crystal Mountain, and most of all years of support from the Share Winter Foundation.