The recent Co-op ‘Fuel Good Day’ brought in $3,000 for the Boissevain School’s new cross country ski club for students Grade 4-12, this being through Boundary Co-op's Boissevain gas bar.

Co-founder of the new club, Megan Robertson, teaches Grade 4 at Boissevain School.  Being so close to the groomed trails in the Turtle Mountains is what inspired Robertson and fellow Boissevain teacher, Krista Clyne, to start this student recreation initiative. 

"We talked about it last spring, seeing just how close we are to the Turtle Mountain Provincial Park that has great trails in the winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.  We thought there would be opportunity to get kids involved in that.  [Krista] used to do the downhill ski program but this is able to be closer to home."

Discussions continued throughout the summer as to how to get the new program rolling.  Applying for and receiving the Boundary Co-op 'Fuel Good Day' grant was the perfect fit for this school/community program.

"That was amazing," shares Robertson. "They're wonderful at the Co-op!" 

"That helps us get our program started," she explains. "We bought some skis, from a second-hand dealer out of Winnipeg so we're hoping that those will help us get started. For those who don't have equipment, they can still join our club," she adds.  "We have 10 sets now and so we're looking at purchasing maybe another 10 sets."

The initiative continues to be a community-based effort as the two teachers have partnered with local business owner Casey Guenther who has headed up the adult incentive of cross country skiing in that community.  On the school-front the Bossevain School shops class will be constructing a storage unit for the newly purchased ski equipment. 

The last item on the list is snow!

"It's kinda' crazy to already by hoping for snow so we can start our club," laughs Robertson, "but I guess it depends on the year when we'll actually get started, but hopefully there will be some good snow this year so we can enjoy our trails!"

Megan Robertson shares more of their incentive, and their appreciation for the community support, and Boundary Co-op's support for their fundraising efforts: