Skate for Joy

What a simple and great idea. Offer the beautiful and technically challenging sport of ice skating to youth throughout our state, with a focus on inner-city youth. One person has this vision, and her name is Carolyn Drumm, founder of Skate for Joy (SFJ).

Begun in 2001 as a grassroots idea, SFJ has since blossomed into a high-quality afterschool sports enrichment program. In their first year, 12 youth were served; in 2008, 90 youth were served, in addition to a considerable waiting list.

Skate for Joy offers in programs in Providence and Newport, where outdoor ice has been donated to the organization (Bank of America Ice Rink in Providence, and both St. George’s Prep School and the Yachting Center in Newport). Afterschool programs from other communities are certainly welcome to attend, but must supply their own transportation.

SFJ uses the United States Figure Skating Association’s Basic Skills program, a curriculum designed to keep skaters enthusiastic about learning from the time they begin lessons until the time they reach their goals. It is a structured approach, one where you must master a skill first before moving onto more challenging skills. The Basic Skills program is useful for skill building in both figure skating and hockey. SFJ makes the curriculum fun, engaging, and developmentally appropriate for all youth in the program, as the ages range from 5 to 16.

Carolyn has an unofficial motto with the youth: “You can’t do it—yet.” It fits in well with the Basic Skills program. Each skater truly starts with familiarizing themselves with the ice and equipment. The first skill taught during the program is how to fall on the ice and get back up, a concept that most of her beginner students express fear about. It is not untrue to say that many youth in the program have never experienced the feel of skates on their feet, or purposefully stepped onto ice, for that matter. Once the youth realize that falling is no “big deal,” the real fun begins. They learn to master a skill at one level, are tested, and then advance to the next level of skill building.

A strong volunteer base comes from two local universities—Johnson and Wales (Providence) and Salve Regina (Newport). Many of these young adults fulfill their community service hours requirement with Skate for Joy, but have so much fun helping out, that they continue to volunteer beyond their required hours. Both schools have been integral in assisting SFJ with various fundraising events.

The schedule is typically two hours long and includes a lesson, free skate, snack, and group time to interact with a speaker on a life-skill subject. Certainly there are many technical skills learned on the ice, but Skate for Joy also strives to teach the youth skills they can use off the ice, in the classroom, and in social situations. Carolyn uses outside speakers/partners (e.g., the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence) to help reinforce the importance of staying in school, away from gangs, and making positive choices for themselves.

There is obviously a physical fitness benefit to the program, but just as essential is the social/emotional benefit of SFJ. The program espouses the idea of respect: for one’s self, for others, and for the community. One thing that Carolyn is very firm on is the idea of respect for others in the program. There is a zero-tolerance policy surrounding bullying or teasing. Youth are asked to leave the ice and may only return when they exhibit exemplary, respectful behavior.

Carolyn understands the importance of parent involvement in her program. As such, she is in the process of spearheading a parents’ association to assist with overall support of the organization.

At the end of each year, Skate for Joy holds a banquet for all youth completing the program. Carolyn mentions the smiles, delight, and pride evident during the banquet, not only from the youth, but from their families, too. The skills learned on the ice are very real, very transferrable to the outside world, and parents notice this fact.

While Carolyn would like to expand into more communities, she certainly requires more volunteers, especially ones skilled in ice hockey or figure skating. An indoor ice rink would also be optimal, as it would take out of the equation bad weather, which often disrupts the outdoor programs.

Skate for Joy is one of only five programs of its kind across the country. The passion and commitment of Carolyn and her volunteers is considerable; they have the ability to produce waves of talented cohorts of figure skaters and hockey players, to add to our state’s history of hockey success. What a simple and great idea…

For more information about Skate for Joy, please visit their web site at www.skateforjoy.org.