Building Leaders on and off the Ice River Blades Instructor Mentorship Program Empowers Hastings Youth
River Blades Mentorship Program Empowers Hastings Youth
Did you know River Blades Skating School offers an instructor mentorship program designed to empower Hastings youth?
For more than 20 years, River Blades has provided young skaters with opportunities to become Junior and High School Instructors. During that time, more than 500 youth have trained through our mentorship program—learning valuable skills they can carry with them long after high school graduation.
The River Blades Instructor Mentorship program gives participants hands-on experience working alongside our professional instructors. Junior and High School Instructors attend training sessions throughout the skating season, shadow experienced instructors, and assist with classes. Along the way, they learn how to teach skating skills, work with children, solve problems, communicate clearly, and understand how a skating school operates.
The program is about much more than teaching skating. It helps young people grow into confident, responsible leaders.
“As leaders, it is important to recognize the impact we have on our youth and ask ourselves: How can we help every child develop the confidence and skills to become one of tomorrow’s leaders?”
— Amanda Truax, River Blades Skating Director
At River Blades, we believe leadership opportunities should not be limited to young people who are already outgoing, confident, or comfortable speaking in front of others. Some children are naturally more reserved, shy, or apprehensive about putting themselves out there—and those may be the young people who benefit most from a supportive mentorship experience.
Our goal is to recognize the potential within every skater. By providing encouragement, training, and age-appropriate responsibilities, we help participants gradually step outside their comfort zones. They learn that leadership does not require having the loudest voice. It can mean being patient, dependable, compassionate, prepared, and willing to help someone else succeed.
As they assist younger skaters, our instructors learn how to encourage children through challenges, celebrate their accomplishments, and help them build self-esteem and confidence on the ice. They develop patience, leadership, teamwork, responsibility, and pride in doing a job well.
For parents, one of the greatest benefits is watching their children gain confidence and discover that they are capable of making a positive difference in someone else’s life. Our instructors see firsthand how their encouragement can help a young skater try something new, overcome a fear, or feel proud of an accomplishment.
Through the River Blades Mentorship Program, participants have opportunities to:
Gain valuable experience teaching skating skills.
Develop leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Learn how to work with and inspire children.
Build confidence, responsibility, and pride in their work.
Volunteer and give back to the Hastings community.
Prepare for future teaching opportunities with River Blades.
Explore future employment within the skating and ice-sports industry.
Learn a valuable skill they can take with them after graduation.
As participants gain experience, High School Instructors may also have opportunities to earn income by teaching in our programs while attending high school or college.
The River Blades Mentorship Program creates a special cycle of learning and leadership: experienced instructors mentor young instructors, and those young instructors help the next generation of skaters develop confidence and a love for being on the ice.
As River Blades Skating School heads into its 21st year, we are proud of the lasting impact this program continues to make. We are not only teaching skating—we are building leaders, strengthening our community, and helping young people develop self-esteem and confidence for life.
