Science and Skating: Building a Lake Rink
Winter has transformed the Maine woods around the family cabin into a magical playground. The nearby lake is now home to our very own skating rink. It’s been an exciting blend of physical activity, hands-on science lessons, and plenty of family fun. From clearing snow to perfecting spins and jumps, every day brings a new adventure and a chance to learn something unexpected.
Building the rink has been a family project. The kids jump at the chance to clear snow (even at negative temps), carting snow shovels down to the lake. Once the surface is cleared, we use a garden hose to flood the ice, smoothing it out as best we can. With the rink stretching 50+ feet onto the lake and over 100 feet long, the hose must be snaked through the woods to reach all the edges. While dragging 250 feet of hose through the snowy woods is a bit of an effort, the kids beg to get it out each day.
Of course, things never quite go as planned. The daily temperatures leave the hose frozen solid if it’s left outside, even when we took it to the garage! After a night in the (heated) workshop to thaw it out, we were back to flooding the rink, marveling at just how much water it takes to fill in what seem like only small variations in the surface. Despite our efforts, the lake’s natural unevenness leaves bumps and seams, adding a layer of unpredictability—and excitement—to our skating.
The rink has also been the source of new science discoveries. We’ve observed how the ice thickens and shifts, creating fascinating formations. After a particularly windy day and night, we came down to find a three-foot-tall wall of ice and snow where sheets had collided and buckled together. Beneath the snow, slush revealed where warmer water had seeped up from below.
We’re also learning the physics of ice skating. Each child has their own goals: Carolina is practicing her jumps, Adeline is perfecting her turns, Jack is smacking everything he can find with a hockey stick, and Lorelei is focused on her arabesque. James prefers a steadier approach, using a PVC pusher we built to help him stay upright. Poky might be the rink’s biggest fan. He skids and slides as his 20 tiny claws try to find purchase, taking off while barking furiously at passing snowmobiles.
Every day on the rink brings a new story, whether it’s discovering how the ice has shifted overnight, celebrating a new skating milestone or seeing Poky steal Jack’s hat. The rink is more than just skating; it’s about having an excuse to get outside in freezing temperatures, working together with a shared goal and experiencing this big wonderful world together.
