If you are reading this blog you have probably been approached about becoming a member at the Skating Club of Boston.
You may be wondering what the benefits are, why it is important that my child or my family become a member, and what are my membership options.
First, it is important to understand some of the history of the Skating Club of Boston in promoting excellence in skating. Incorporated in 1912 the Skating Club of Boston is the third oldest club in all of US Figure Skating and has been home to many national medalists, as well as host of such important events as the 2001 U.S. National Championships, the 2014 National championships, and the 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships.
What are the main benefits for my child/family to join the club? What does the membership provide me?
The Skating Club of Boston offers the most available figure skating sessions in the Boston area. There are a few different types of sessions for people to skate. When looking at the club schedule certain sessions are colored in grey, whereas other sessions are white. The sessions that are left white on the schedule are non-member sessions. For these sessions anybody with a US Figure Skating membership, regardless of club affiliation may skate the session so long as they passed the corresponding tests.
Sessions in grey represent member sessions. Member sessions are fee-based ice sessions that are available only to members of the Club with skating privileges at the Club’s Boston facility. Sessions may be contracted or, as space permits, walked-on. If space is available a non-member can be guested onto these sessions for a limited number of sessions (2) per month. Please see below for an example
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The club also offers some special sessions for club members that are also colored in grey. These sessions include “club ice”, competitors ice, Friday evening club dance, and other free sessions offered to members only. This one of the best perks of a club membership!
The most important reason to join the club is to have full access to all training sessions at all times of the day. If your child needs to skate in the afternoon, or skate multiple sessions each day, it is imperative to join the club. This is the best way to give your skater a positive training experience and ensure they have sessions available to skate after school.
Additionally, club members enjoy a reduced cost for ice time. A non-club member walking on to a 50 min session will be charged a rate of 23.00$. A club member could walk on to (meaning skate without contracting ahead of time) for a rate of 18.25$. That is a savings of almost 5 dollars a session. The membership will easily pay for itself over the course of a year. Club members can receive a further discount by contracting the ice sessions.
Membership also allows skaters to participate in many fun activities throughout the year. The club hosts Friday night dinners, Ice Chips Show of Champions (one of the biggest and longest running figure skating shows in the world), Junior Activities, volunteer opportunities, guest seminars, etc. The goal of the club is creating a community of positive skaters who are learning to excel in skating, while also gaining skills for life.
There are several different tiers of memberships to look at. If enrolled currently in learn to skate, your best option is the introductory membership. This is a first year offer of a membership at a discounted rate. For more details on different options please follow this link: https://scboston.org/info/membership/
We recommend talking in more detail to the front desk staff at the Skating Club about the details of club membership. You may also network with a parent of a child from our community. Please look for future correspondences about how we connect parents and build community for our skaters. We hope to create an athlete-centered community of helpful, supportive, parents and children.
For additional support we also recommend attending a “new member orientation” session. In these sessions you will be given more information to get comfortable with the club, and understand better just how much the club has to offer your young skater. Please follow this link for more information: https://scboston.org/members/orientation/ or contact Katherine Steeger at katharine.steeger@scboston.org for more information.
Communication is key to our approach to coaching. Please feel free to ask us any questions about programming, club membership, and training for skaters. We are happy to discuss any questions you have.