ADVENTURE RUNNING KIDS INFORMATION

OVERVIEW: Adventure Running Kids is an adventure running training and racing program open for boys and girls aged 8-16. Adventure Running combines orienteering running, trail running, night running, cross country running and during the winter snowshoe running into a fun, challenging and often muddy eco-adventure. Our coaches and leaders not only challenge and teach kids to be stronger, tougher and faster runners while having an appreciation of our environment but they also coach kids on the problem solving skills that are valuable in training, racing and life. New for our 2010-2011 Adventure Running Kids season we have a new program called ARK Attack.

SESSIONS: Adventure Running Kids includes three sessions (autumn, winter, & spring) per season.  Our spring and autumn sessions are 13 weeks in length and the winter session is 7 weeks long. Each session includes a weekly Wednesday training night and each session finishes with "ARK FEST!"  (see below for details). We are excited to announce the dates of our 2010-2011 Adventure Running Kids season (and tentative locations):

AUTUMN 2010: September 8 to December 1 (13 weeks on Wednesday evenings at Sanctuary Park in Dundas and Chedoke Golf Course in Hamilton)

Google directions to Sanctuary Park. ARK will meet north of the rail trail and in the south-west section (on your left as you enter) part of the park.

Google directions to Chedoke Golf Course. Continue up the hill to the parking lot. ARK will meet at the east end of the parking lot.

WINTER 2011: January 5 to February 16 (7 weeks on Wednesday evenings at Canterbury Hills in Ancaster)

SPRING 2011: March 23 to June 16 (13 weeks on Wednesday evenings at Lion's Club Pool in Ancaster and Scenic Woods Park in Ancaster/Hamilton Mountain)

TRAINING NIGHTS: New for our 2010-2011 season participants can choose between our 5:30-6:30 PM and 6:30-7:30  PM time slots on Wednesday evenings. At these training night practices our coaches focus on a different adventure running theme such as running agility, speed training, route finding, running power, terrain running, etc.). The practices are built around the fundamentals of running and navigation but are organized and presented in both a fun and inspiring way. Locations of of Wednesday training nights will be in the Ancaster, Dundas, or West Hamilton area.

ARK FEST!: Starting in our 2010-2011 Adventure Running Kids season the final training night of each session (week #13 in the autumn and spring and week#7 in the winter) will be  our totally muddy "ARK FEST!" from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. ARK FEST! includes a fun ARK race, food, participation awards, and a short seminar by a  local adventure athlete. It will also include an optional parent adventure running challenge (Are you faster than an ARK racer?). Stop by for part or all of this two-hour finale.  The seminar will be a short presentation by  a local or Canadian athlete and world class adventure runner. This speaker is  an important part of our program as they inspire, empower and motivate our Adventure Running Kids. ARK FEST! details including location and the adventure running athlete scheduled to present at ARK FEST! will be announced early in each session.

INFORMATION EVENINGS: Prior to each session we will offer an information and registration evening where parents and kids can learn more about the program and get a sneak peek of some the adventures that await our young adventure runners. Our coaches and some of our Adventure Running Kids that took part in our very popular pilot project will make a presentation and will be available to answer your questions.

AUTUMN 2010: September 2, 2010 (6:30 - 8:30 PM) at Adventure Attic in Dundas. Directions

WINTER 2011: early December, 2010 (date TBA).

SPRING 2011: early March, 2011 (date TBA).

REQUIRED GEAR: Adventure Running Kids should bring the following to each training night practice: weather appropriate clothing, warm jacket (to be worn when not running), full water bottle (we will have a large container for refills), headlamp, and running shoes (they will get muddy!).