Calgary family skis to school, finding 'joy in the journey'

The promise of cross-country skiing and a few jumps helps one northwest Calgary family get the kids out of bed on winter school mornings.

The Copeland family lives just a park away fromCollingwoodElementary School and they ski to school.

"We quite like skiing. We're kind of an exploratory family. We like playing a lot, so it really just feels like playing on the way to school, finding joy in the journey to get there," mother LiselCopeland toldthe Calgary Eyeopener.

"There's no pressure, but to be honest, it's a great way to get the kids up in the morning. I say, 'Hey, do you want to go skiing?''Oh yeah!' And then they're pretty interested in hanging out outside."

Copeland, her dog Charlie and her two children, Lowell in Grade 5 and Jillian in Grade 3, recently moved to the neighbourhood, which was pretty close to the school. They can make it almost the whole way by skiing, except for crossing one road.

Lowell says he follows two rules: take off his skis when crossingthe street and wait for his little sister.

"I like that we're outside and not in a car because it gets you refreshed," Lowell said. "Ifyou'regrumpy in the morning, usually it perks you up."

Sometimes when they're tired, they'll walk and take their sleds along in case there's time for a few runs down the hill before classes begin.

"I like that you can kind of glide," Jillian said of her skiing mornings. "Sometimes we stop ...on that little hill and sometimeswe build jumps."

Her mom says she's happy to have the extra time with her kids in the morning and to see them staying active.

With files from James Young, Paul Karchut and the Calgary Eyeopener

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