How Our Camps Work
The curriculum behind every Open Ice camp. Four skill tiers running concurrently, six skill modules, and a placement made on day one rather than assumed from a birth date.
How campers are grouped
Every camper takes a skate assessment on day one and is placed into one of four groups. Each group runs its own arc through the week. A camper can be moved up mid week if they progress quickly. The guiding rule is simple: never hold a confident skater back, and never overwhelm a newcomer.
| Tier | Who it serves | Goal for the week |
|---|---|---|
| First Stride | Total newcomers who have never skated | Stand, glide, stop, and get up without fear |
| Crossover | Beginners with some skating | Skate confidently and handle a puck while moving |
| House League Ready | Developing players | Pass, shoot, and play positions in small games |
| Rep and Returning | Returning and advanced campers | Refine technique, compete, and lead by example |
Six skills, four depths
Every tier draws from the same six modules at a depth appropriate to the group, so a camper who moves up is not starting again.
| Module | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Skating | Balance, stride, edges, stops, crossovers, transitions |
| Edges and balance | Isolated inside and outside edge work |
| Stickhandling | Puck control with the head up, soft hands, protection |
| Passing and receiving | Give and receive a pass under increasing pressure |
| Shooting | Technique first, then accuracy, then release under pressure |
| Small area games | Everything above, applied in a game the campers actually want to play |
A day at camp
Roughly three hours of ice per day, split into two sessions, plus a dryland block between them. Lunch is free and provided. Campers who are new to the sport spend more of the week on skating and balance. Campers who arrive with skills spend more of it on puck work and small area games.
Beyond the ice
Camps also run a life skills workshop block and finish with a Keep Your Gear graduation, where every camper takes home the equipment they used all week.