Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena

In 1996 the goal was simple: prevent the National Park Service’s scheduled closing of the only public indoor ice arena in DC. Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena succeeded – not only in saving the rink, but also in creating a vibrant community resource in Ward 7. Today, FFDIA reaches more than 2,100 youth, many of whom receive free or subsidized skating lessons through its Kids on Ice program. And the myriad benefits of skating extend far beyond the ice: group classes teach students respect, responsibility, and the value of practice and perseverance; hockey teams build sportsmanship and collaboration; and advanced figure skating lessons help young people to grow in fitness, technique, and confidence. Schools Skate for Fitness enables 35 DC schools to integrate skating into their physical education curriculum; summer camps ensure that DC children have an engaging (and cool) destination outside of school; and speed and synchronized skating offer unique opportunities to compete and perform. Please become a “friend,” and learn what a difference a little ice can make!