North Star Grant Program and Trail Stewardship Activities
The North Star Ski Touring Club (NSSTC) is the leading advocate for cross-country skiing in the Twin Cities and Minnesota.
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The mission of the club is "to enjoy and promote the development of cross-country skiing." We fulfill our mission through group activities, education and trail development.
Cross-Country Skiing and More
Cross-Country Skiing and Year-Round Outings: The club also hosts trips to build community and share passions for outdoor recreation. Cycling, hiking and paddling trips are examples of warm weather outings. Club leaders with years of know-how make outings stress-free, fun and inviting for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels.
Advocacy and Leadership for Trails: Although skiing is prominent in NSSTC’s name, the club plays a role in outdoor recreation-oriented issues year round. Through a formal grant program and organized volunteer initiatives, NSSTC contributes to developing and improving ski trails across Minnesota. As a member of the Minnesota Recreational Trail Users Association, NSSTC helps the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources prioritize approximately $2.5 million in annual funding for trail projects.
North Star Grant Program
The North Star Ski Touring Club manages the North Star Grant Program created by a generous gift from one of the club’s founders. Through the grant program the club strives to develop and improve trails, educate new skiers, advocate for cross country ski trails to various government bodies, stimulate synergist local partnerships, support and strengthen our club and Nordic skiing. The grant program is led by a committee who evaluates each proposal based how well it meets these goals makes recommendations to the board of directors within the allowed budget.
Each year a “Request for Proposal” (RFP) is sent to a broad list of interested organizations who are instructed to submit a proposal by early April. Over its 8-year history the grant program has distributed about $150,000 to other Nordic clubs and other local groups, typically small grants of under $5,000 per project. Projects are usually completed within one year. We ask them to let us know the results of the project and to share photos to make it real.
Mission of the North Star Grant Fund: Funds were bequeathed by Norm Oakvik, a club co-founder, in 2015-16 to the North Star Ski Touring Club to be spent as grants for activities to enhance and ensure the vitality of the club so that it may thrive and continue into the future. Grant proposals in amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000 are anticipated. The limits for a grant amount may be waived by the NSSTC Board as part of its review and approval of a specific grant award.
To apply for a grant, please click on the link below. Complete the electronic form and email it to grants@north-stars.org between January 15 and March 31 of each calendar year.
North Star Grant Program Policy and Criteria
North Star Grant Fund Application
North Star Grant: Contract Agreement Template
Previous grant awards:
2024 Grants:
We awarded
Itascatur Outdoor Activity Club, in Itasca area, to realign trails, maintain warming house, and partial fund new grooming equipment.
Norpine Trail Association, near Lutsen on North Shore, to improve trails by redirecting water flow and reduce erosion by filling ruts with gravel.
Ottertail Nordic Ski Association, in the Fergus Falls and Pelican Rapids area to expand trails, complete a DNR equipment grant and purchase a groomer/roller.
Alexandria Nordic Ski Club to purchase 10 to 12 sets of ski equipment to make their youth programs more accessible.
Banadad Trail Association, on the Gunflint Trail, to purchase a roller and compactor for the wilderness trails that suffered from wind-blown fallen trees and a 2023 fire that challenged the local volunteers
2023 Grants:
We awarded $25,125 to six organizations to enhance cross-country skiing.
•
Ashland Ski Trail Association: new grooming machine
• Loppet Environmental Action Planning Committee: support the Loppet Fluoro Take-Back Program
• Lake Washington Regional Park (Mankato): grooming equipment – roller, trail groomer, track setter
• Lake of the Woods School ISD 390: equipment for the Nordic Rocks program for 120 youth
•North Superior Ski and Running: ski equipment for youth & high school
•Nordic Ski Club of Central MN: Grooming equipment or ski equipment (allowing club to choose)
2022 Grants: 2020 Grant Project Report
We awarded $29,000 to eight organizations to enhance cross-country skiing in Minnesota.
• Bemidji Area XC Ski Club to help replace an aging snowmobile used for grooming 95K of trails.
• Brainerd Nordic Ski Club to help buy a grooming snowmobile. The county no longer grooms trails.
• Norpine Trail Association in Lutsen to join with others to cover cost of a used piston bully.
• Cloquet Nordic Ski Club to help buy 20 sets of youth ski equipment, lessons for 160 young skiers.
• Lake Country Nordic Ski Club in Hackensack for a weed and brush mower to widen the trails.
• Coon Rapids Nordic Ski Boosters Club to build more trails for grade school and H.S. teams.
• Northern Lights Nordic Ski Club in Grand Rapids for partial funding of trail grooming equipment.
• Bloomington Nordic Ski Team for ski equipment for new members of the high school ski team.
> For more info: 2022 Media Release
2021 Awards
In 2021 we provided $25,000 for these projects:
• Ottertail Nordic Ski Assoc.-skis for youth program
• Medicine Lake Ski Club–grooming equipment
• Loppet Foundation–lighting at Theo. Wirth Park
• Mt. Ashwabay–construction equipment for trails
• North Superior Ski Club–ski equipment & course markers
• Washington Co. Ski Club–ski equipment
2020 Awards
In 2020 this program provided $25,000 in funding for the following projects.
• MN Youth Ski League
• Bemidji Area Cross Country Ski Club
• Sugarbush Trail Assoc.
• Rochester Active Sports Club (RASA)
• Banadad Trail Assoc.
• Itasca Ski and Outing Club
• Agassiz Environmental Learning Ctr.
> FFI on 2020 projects: Link.