Volunteers help create a novel trail for nordic bunnies

A colourful Nordic Adventure Trail was recently launched by the Sun Peaks Nordic Club. Featuring wooden animal figures, it was a community project involving a team of volunteers. The purpose: to help children gain agility, balance and coordination on skis, while having fun.

The trail was designed for younger kids – known in the Sun Peaks Nordic Club’s skill development program as the bunnies – and follows a narrow, twisty route lined with entertaining signs and brightly painted figures. 

It all began last fall with an application for a grant from Cross Country BC and Kal Tire. Head of project, Ann Carter told SPIN the next step was getting land-use permission from Sun Peaks Resort LLP.

“We…walked the area with the head of outside operations, who quickly gave his blessing to the project,” she explained.

A large turnout of club volunteers cleared the trail in one day and then attention turned to designing the fun features. Signs were made to identify the trail and custom bibs were ordered for the bunnies, all featuring a ‘skiing bunny’. 

“I then approached Diane Smid, our bunnies coach, who is also an early childhood educato, with some digital plans for wooden animal cutouts,” Carter said. “Her husband, Howard, is a skilled woodworker and has a shop in their home here. He jumped on the project and had four animals made in a few days, all without plans!” 

Faced with the task of painting the figures, Carter asked friend and local artist Edit Pal, as well as two other talented volunteers – Adele Cooper and Vera Steinberger – for their help. 

“Edit advised acrylic paints and the necessary colours,” Carter said. “Each artist decided on their colour and design on the animals, but Edit has given lots of advice.” 

The primer and acrylic layers were followed by several coats of varathane for weather protection. 

“Painting the animals was truly a lot of fun,” Pal told SPIN. “It brought out the ‘inner child’ in all of us.” 

Having conferred on a rough plan, the four friends each adopted one of the animals to work on. 

“We started the fun, the painting – all of us had a lot of creative input and freedom to paint whatever we envisioned,” Pal said. “As a painter, I feel like applying colour is one of my strengths, and this is the area where I could help the most. I feel like we brought those animals to life together as a team!” 

Chained to trees at strategic points along the trail in winter, the four figures will be stored in the off season for weather and theft protection in the Nordic Club container – itself a beautiful piece of Zuzy Rocka art.