Local ice rink helps youth beat the summer heat

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Outside, with Tuesday’s temperatures nudging toward 100, it was almost hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk.

But inside the Northwest Ice Rink on Cottonwood Avenue near Mount Washington, the oppressive humidity — and a drenching early afternoon thunderstorm — were no problem.

In fact, some people were even wearing jackets, others gloves.

At Northwest, it’s winter all year long, and for area children who are spending their summer at one of the rink’s many ice-skating camps, or just skating to stay cool, there’s no talk of heat advisories or running out of Gatorade.

Campers here stay cool all day long and enjoy every minute of it.

“It makes sense to come here, doesn’t it?,” said Adrianna Morgan, 13, of Pikesville, a camp counselor at Northwest. “It’s so hot out there. This is a nice place to cool off.”

Rachel Kabik, of Baltimore, said she has been the object of jealousy among her friends working in construction after she landed a camp counseling job.

While she enjoys the arctic feel of the rink, sometimes she and her campers test the outside heat for lunch and a game of volleyball.

“Still, most people don’t want to be out in weather like this,” she said.

There are seven “Skate Northwest” camps, according to its Web site, which are held through the end of August.

Among other activities, there’s ice hockey, figure skating and speed skating. The students also participate in camp-like activities such as art projects and tie-dye, camp director Lisa Lalor said.

Sometimes, the rink is almost too cold, said Jenna Breider, 18, who teaches private lessons. When she comes to the rink at 7:45 a.m., “it’s freezing.”

But, she added, “I’m reminded how lucky we have it when we eat lunch outside. It’s easy to take the rink for granted.”

The only drawback to working at the rink? No tan, Breider said.

But even that has its benefits.

“See how pale I am?” Breider asked, laughing. “At least I don’t have to worry about skin cancer.”

kseith@baltimoreexaminer.com

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