When the world’s top biathletes converge on northern Maine this coming February for the 2016 International Biathlon Union World Cup, some of their top supporters in the stands at Presque Isle’s Nordic Heritage Center will be schoolchildren from throughout the region.
Aside from experiencing the thrill of Europe’s number-one winter sport, the coming Biathlon World Cup will bring with it many lessons for County youth, both inside and outside the classroom, that include geography, world cultures, language, and even math and science.
The official kickoff to those learning opportunities was celebrated recently in the fifth-grade classroom of teacher Robin Norsworthy at Presque Isle’s Zippel Elementary School. Joining the students and Norsworthy were biathlon organizers and officials with Katahdin Trust Company, which is supporting the World Cup as partner for the school program.
“I could not think of a better place to officially launch a key component of the 2016 IBU Biathlon World Cup than right here in a County classroom surrounded by some of the young people who will bring so much excitement to our venue in just three months,” said Jane Towle, event director. “There are many benefits to hosting these events in our region, none more compelling than building a legacy for our region and ensuring a bright future for our youth. The hands-on lessons students will learn through our school program will introduce them to a world of opportunity.”
In the coming weeks, curriculum guides, to assist area educators in developing activities to better engage students with the Biathlon World Cup, will be distributed electronically to schools across Aroostook and beyond. The booklet contains information on how to bring into the classroom valuable lessons in advance of, and during, the competition, set for Feb. 11-14.
Elaine Hendrickson chairs the school program initiative. The well-known, retired teacher knows firsthand how international biathlon events can positively impact the learning of schoolchildren.
“As a former teacher, I feel that involving students in the biathlon is very beneficial to them, as well to the athletes. It is one way that our County students can experience other cultures from around the world. The athletes really appreciate our students cheering for them. In Europe, it is very unusual for another country to root for athletes from a country other than their own,” said Hendrickson.
“The curriculum guide offers many opportunities for teachers to implement lessons that help our students better understand different cultures, as well as the sport of biathlon before attending the IBU World Cup,” Hendrickson added.
Norsworthy could not agree more. She is already planning how her fifth-graders will get the most out of the world coming to their doorstep. She detailed how she has engaged her students in the past when similar activity has come to the region, and her plans for the coming months.
“Over the years my students have adopted one or more of the athletes and have focused on their countries, customs, food, languages, and have spent time learning as much as we can about them before the races. These lessons have been incorporated across all subjects, such as reading, social studies, math, physical education and health,” said Norsworthy.
“We are looking forward to the new teacher’s guide and planning an exciting adventure at the 2016 Biathlon World Cup,” she added. “My current students will certainly benefit by learning another person’s culture, how to set a goal and achieve it, and become personally invested in the athletes.”
Katahdin Trust President and CEO Jon Prescott joined in the classroom announcement, sharing why it is important for Katahdin to partner in this effort.
“All of us at Katahdin Trust are proud to be a part of this event in such a unique way to help educate the next generation of biathlon athletes and fans. Our participation is an extension of our commitment to the communities that we serve, broadening the horizons of hundreds of students by bringing the IBU Biathlon Word Cup into Maine classrooms,” said Prescott.
Prescott and some of his colleagues joined with Towle, Hendrickson, Norsworthy and her students in unveiling the cover page of the electronic curriculum guide. To demonstrate both the use of technology and other instructional tools that will be incorporated into the biathlon learning experiences, students simultaneously revealed the cover design with a traditional unveiling, as well as one using the classroom smart board.
The IBU World Cup 8 will be hosted by the Nordic Heritage Sport Club at the world-class Nordic ski and biathlon venue in Presque Isle. The event is the next to last in a series of nine stops on the 2015-2016 international circuit, and the only stop in the United States. Teams and visitors from the participating countries are expected to arrive in Aroostook County three days prior to the start of competition and depart the region on Feb. 15.
Upwards of 300 of the world’s top male and female biathletes, age 20 and over, from more than 32 countries are expected to be here for the competition. They will participate in sprint, pursuit, and relay in both men’s and women’s divisions.
The 2016 World Cup is the latest in a number of national and international Nordic ski and biathlon events to be hosted at the Nordic Heritage Center. The most recent such activity was the IBU Youth/Junior Biathlon World Championships in 2014. The last World Cup hosted in The County, in February 2011, had stops in both Presque Isle and Fort Kent.
The 2016 event will mark the first large-scale event hosted in The County since the Nordic Heritage Center has operated independently of direct support provided by the Maine Winter Sports Center. The operation and maintenance of the four-season facility are supported in large part by the Libra Foundation, as well as local businesses and organizations, other donations, club memberships and revenue generated by events, including those sanctioned by the International Biathlon Union.
