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         Ice Skating for Everyone was born in 2019 through the efforts of Emily Kelting, a former professional figure skater with The International Holiday on Ice, a hockey player with The New Canaan Mother Puckers, and a skating coach at The New Canaan Winter Club and The Millbrook School.   She believed that children of all colors and income levels should have the opportunity to learn to skate. 

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          In the fall of 2019, Ms. Kelting partnered with Horizons@New Canaan Country School  and the Darien Ice House and enlisted a host of willing volunteers-- figure skating pros, friends from women’s hockey leagues, and members of local high school and travel hockey teams. 

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            Ice Skating for Everyone relaunched on February 5, 2022 at the Sono Ice House with 15 first and second grade skaters. Some of the kids took to skating like they had grown up on the ice.  Others needed assistance from a skating trainer and a teen mentor.  One child crawled around on the ice until he was comfortable enough to stand.  Over the following weeks, everyone could skate by themselves, forwards and backwards. In March and April we added more sessions at the Darien Ice House too.  Now, as we head back to the Sono Ice House for six more sessions, the smiles on the faces of both the skaters and their teen mentors continue to light up all of our hearts as their lessons on the ice are teaching them lessons for life. 

      Check out the video below!   And be sure to turn on the audio...

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