For the first time in Canada, Rugged Maniac comes north of the border to organize an amazing 5km adventure race!

Registration
Looking for your next adventure? How about a day filled with 25 epic obstacles, rockin’ music and plenty of beer! Rugged Maniac Obstacle Race is coming to Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort this Saturday May 30th! Every participant will receive a finisher medal, high quality racer t-shirt, and a beer (19+)! So what are you waiting for? On-line registration is closed but anyone can register day at Chicopee!

Volunteers
Volunteer at the Rugged Maniac Obstacle Race at Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort this Saturday May 30th and you’ll get to run in that very same event (or a future one) for FREE!  You’ll also get two t-shirts, a beer (if of legal drinking age), and the opportunity to be a part of the action on race day! Simply go to http://www.ruggedmaniac.com/events/toronto/  and click the “Volunteer” button.

Any questions can be forwarded to:

Dave Cannon
Director, Rugged Maniac Canada
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(604) 868-3741

In a time when kids are choosing to spend more time in front of a screen instead of going outside, it’s becoming more important to ensure they stay physically active. According to a survey by Participaction, children up to the age of 12 spend an average of 8 hours in front of a screen every day. Summer camps are perfect for getting any kids off the couch and away from technology.

Summer camps help kids get the most of their summer vacation in ways that let them have fun while also providing an excellent learning experience. Instead of studying history or math, they’re learning leadership or problem solving skills. Instead of science or geography, they’re learning social skills. Summer camps provide kids with opportunities for personal growth by helping them develop these important life skills.

Summer camps also have physical activity benefits. The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that youth aged 5 to 17 have at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. According to a Canadian Health Measures Survey, only 5% of youth aged 5 to 17 meet these recommendations. Summer camps help surpass these recommendations by providing active experiences that are fun for kids of all ages. From tennis to ropes courses to biking, there are so many ways to keep kids active. With a range of activities for them to explore, their experience differs day to day keeping them engaged.

Summer camps go above and beyond by bringing learning, physical activity, and fun together in one great experience. From making new friends to discovering new hobbies like climbing or volleyball, summer camps provide so many opportunities for kids to enjoy and explore all in one great program. So is summer camp the best option for your child? The answer is yes!

Arguably the best part about summer camps is that they can do all of this without breaking the bank. So if you’re worried about the cost, then we have good news for you!  There are multiple benefits from the Canadian Government that can be used to help pay for children’s care in programs like summer camps. For example, the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) is increasing and expanding by giving parents $160 in benefits per month (up to $1,920 a year) for each child under the age of six, and adding a new benefit of $60 per month (up to $720 a year) for each child aged six through 17.

In addition to this, the Government is doubling the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit (CFTC) and making it refundable to help families with the costs of fitness activities, like summer camps. There is now a $1,000 limit for the year that is refundable starting this year. Summer camps can also be claimed under the child care expenses deduction section of your taxes.

There’s even more good news! Chicopee’s summer camps fall under the CFTC so families can be reimbursed for the money they put towards our summer camps. Sounds like getting your cake and eating it too!
Here at Chicopee, we offer some exciting summer camps for kids born between 2002 and 2011. Our camps are designed for campers who enjoy being active in the great outdoors and feature a wide range of activities. A week at a Chicopee summer camp can include: climbing, biking, beach volleyball, tennis, low ropes, high ropes, field sports, disc golf, team building games, crafts, and more!

Check out our summer camp programs and sign your kids up today for a summer of fun at Chicopee!

We would like to congratulate all of the amazing members who took part in Club Championships on March 7th!

Please find the results attached below:

Club Championships
Club Championship Trophies

Since the 1960s when snowboarding was invented, there has been an ongoing debate over whether skiing or snowboarding is the better winter sport. When snowboarding made its debut to ski resorts in the 1980s, not everyone extended a friendly welcome to the new sport. For years there was a rivalry between skiers and snowboarders. Snowboarders thought skiers were snobs, since skiing was more of a high class sport back then. Skiers thought snowboarders were rude because they didn’t think snowboarders respected the hill-etiquette. But of course, there is always more than one side to every story.

Back in 1995, Chicopee opened its hills to snowboarders for the first time. Although skiers and snowboarders now use the hills together without issue, it wasn’t always that way. For a while there was noticeable tension between the athletes and even though some didn’t mind the addition of snowboarding to the hills, others chose to express a more aggressive attitude to the newcomers.

As the years went by, the rivalry faded. The slopes once again became a place of peace where individuals of either sport could enjoy the hills and do what they love. Snowboarding has been a part of Chicopee for 20 years now, and Chicopee wouldn’t be the same without it.

A major contributor to the rivalry fading is acceptance by both snowboarders and skiers that the other is just as much of a sport and is actually quite similar. Skiers can do most of the tricks that snowboarders can do, and vice versa.

So if you’re trying to decide whether you want to learn to ski or snowboard, both have their benefits. The following is a breakdown of skiing and snowboarding to help chose the right sport for you.

Learning the Sport: Skiing is generally easier to learn than snowboarding, but skiing is harder to master. With snowboarding, once you’ve got the balance part down the rest comes more naturally. Balance is easier with skiing, especially when you use poles, and harder with snowboarding because you only have one board to stand on.

Injuries: For skiing, the most common injury is of the knee. With snowboarding, the most frequent injuries are of the wrist. These injuries come from falling while skiing or snowboarding. As with any sport, the risk of injury decreases as the athlete becomes better at that sport. That being said, accidents do happen and everyone should always be careful and be aware of their surroundings.

Other Aspects: For those seeking speed, skiing actually achieves faster speeds than snowboarding. Skiing also performs better on harder and icy surfaces, whereas snowboarding excels in fresh powder or slush. When maneuvering around the hills, skiing is considered easier as well. Snowboarders have to move themselves around by taking one foot out of their bindings to push themselves across the ground, whereas skiers can just use their poles. In addition, snowboarders have to pause at the top of the hills to put their foot back into their bindings, whereas skiers can go straight down the hill.

Still don’t know which sport you want to try? Chicopee offers $29 Discover Packages every Monday after 5pm, which include rentals, a beginner lift ticket, and a lesson. They’re perfect for trying out skiing or snowboarding for the first time!

At the 2015 Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards Gala last night, Chicopee was awarded with the Non-Profit Award. Nominees included some amazing organizations:

Goodwill Industries – Kitchener Community Store
Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region
KW Symphony
Lisaard House
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region

This marks the second Business Excellence Award Chicopee has received within the past 3 years. Chicopee was awarded the Hospitality/Tourism award in 2012.

You can view all of the other winners by visiting the Chamber Website Here.

About the Business Excellence Awards

The Business Excellence Awards Gala was established to recognize those businesses who have made exceptional contributions through their involvement and leadership, making a clear difference and who act as role models in the community. Businesses and entrepreneurs are nominated and recognized in 12 award categories that look to highlight the best and the brightest in Waterloo Region.