Parents faced with choosing a winter vacation getaway must consider a
laundry list of criteria; everything from price and location, to
amenities and activities. Should education be part of the
consideration? A handful of ski resorts are recognizing the need to
provide some sort of curriculum, to entice parents to visit during
times other than popular weekends and holidays, which means kids will
miss some school. Resorts are incorporating topics such as
environmental awareness in to your child’s day on the slopes. Here are
a few family-friendly resorts that will feature more than the standard
“learn to ski” programs, teaching children new skills, offering
outdoor adventures and the opportunity to make new friends.
Kids will love Okemo Vermont’s “Snow Tracks”, a nature program
designed to increase awareness of the animals that share this mountain
environment. As part of Okemo’s children's ski and snowboard lessons,
kids tour the “Snow Tracks” stations, and discover how animals survive
the long, snowy Vermont winters. Youngsters will come upon a
Woodpecker tree, Bear Claw marks, a Snowshoe hare habitat and Deer
rubbings. The chance to explore this “hands on” natural preserve on
skis or snowboards is fun and exciting. The “Nature Zones” are
accessible to everyone, a nature trail map is provided as a guide so
you don’t miss any of the fascinating stops along the way. Okemo is
educating not just children but “grown-ups” too on the efforts of ski
areas to work in harmony with the environment to preserve it for
generations. The family service spirit and gentle terrain of Okemo
Mountain Resort makes it an easy choice as a family destination.
Smugglers’ Notch Family Resort has long been an industry leader of
exceptional family programming. This year Smugglers’ debuts “The
Science of Nature”, as part of the core curriculum of the “Snow Sports
University”, an all-day ski and snowboard program. Kids ages 3-12 year
olds will learn about weather and how Mother Nature makes snow at
“Snowflake Bentley’s Weather Center”. Then in a step-by-step tour led
by “Frostie the Snowmaker”, kids are taught how snow is manufactured.
An interactive Nature Trail teaches kids about the forest animals and
their habitats as they ski through life-like Bear caves. And as a
sweet conclusion, kids get a taste of the century old tradition of
maple sugaring. When the skis come off, the learning doesn’t stop.
Smugglers’ hosts a weekly après ski Science Show featuring “Professor
Alpine and Winter Wizard”. This wacky duo demonstrates how science and
nature work together, and the kids laugh while they learn. Smugglers’
also offers a teacher-supervised Study Hall so kids can keep up with
any schoolwork while vacationing. This year they are experimenting
with utilizing e-mail so kids can turn in homework on time, or receive
assignments from their teachers. In the evening, a
Family Snowshoe
Dinner means kids can join their parents for an adventure of snow
shoeing to a woodland destination where a hearty dinner awaits them in
the new Morse Highland Lodge.
Youngsters that love the cast of animal characters at Sugarloaf can
visit their alpine home, called “Moose Alley”. The secret kids-only
entrance to this on mountain playground leads them to the home of
Sugarloaf’s famed mascot, Amos the Moose. Kids can go inside Amos’
Cabin and read all about Moose habits and hibernation plans, then put
their skis back on for a fun path of twists and turns called the Yard
and the Rapids. Each turn is full of surprises, even animal sightings
for the very observant skiers and riders. Families also enjoy the
convenience and charm of the slopeside village at Sugarloaf.
The National Ski Area Association (NSAA) is getting into the act of
educating young skiers and riders on how to enhance their experience,
and make it as safe and fun as possible with a new ambassador,
“Snowball” the snow tiger. A cast of costumed forest mascots called
“Snow Monsters” team up with Olympic champion Picabo Street and Aretha
Franklin (in the role of Mother Nature) in a highly entertaining video
about safety, courtesy and the seven item skiers’ Responsibility Code.
“Snowball” and his friends can be seen parading the slopes at American
Skiing Company resorts like Sunday River, spreading the message that
“Safety is No Accident”. Robert Linde, NSAA’s Director of Marketing
says, “We hope these Snow Monster characters become as well known to
American children as Smokey the Bear and Mickey Mouse”.
These are just a few of the on mountain programs being offered at
nearby ski resorts. The name “ski school” is truer today than ever
before. Enjoying the great outdoors, while respecting and preserving
our environment, is just one of the lessons being introduced in a
friendly, fresh-air classroom. If nothing else it may help assuage
your parental guilt while your kids are absent from a few days of
school.
Parents faced with choosing a winter vacation getaway must consider a
laundry list of criteria; everything from price and location, to
amenities and activities. Should education be part of the
consideration? A handful of ski resorts are recognizing the need to
provide some sort of curriculum, to entice parents to visit during
times other than popular weekends and holidays, which means kids will
miss some school. Resorts are incorporating topics such as
environmental awareness in to your child’s day on the slopes. Here are
a few family-friendly resorts that will feature more than the standard
“learn to ski” programs, teaching children new skills, offering
outdoor adventures and the opportunity to make new friends. 
Kids will love Okemo Vermont’s “Snow Tracks”, a nature program
designed to increase awareness of the animals that share this mountain
environment. As part of Okemo’s children's ski and snowboard lessons,
kids tour the “Snow Tracks” stations, and discover how animals survive
the long, snowy Vermont winters. Youngsters will come upon a
Woodpecker tree, Bear Claw marks, a Snowshoe hare habitat and Deer
rubbings. The chance to explore this “hands on” natural preserve on
skis or snowboards is fun and exciting. The “Nature Zones” are
accessible to everyone, a nature trail map is provided as a guide so
you don’t miss any of the fascinating stops along the way. Okemo is
educating not just children but “grown-ups” too on the efforts of ski
areas to work in harmony with the environment to preserve it for
generations. The family service spirit and gentle terrain of Okemo
Mountain Resort makes it an easy choice as a family destination.
Smugglers’ Notch Family Resort has long been an industry leader of
exceptional family programming. This year Smugglers’ debuts “The
Science of Nature”, as part of the core curriculum of the “Snow Sports
University”, an all-day ski and snowboard program. Kids ages 3-12 year
olds will learn about weather and how Mother Nature makes snow at
“Snowflake Bentley’s Weather Center”. Then in a step-by-step tour led
by “Frostie the Snowmaker”, kids are taught how snow is manufactured.
An interactive Nature Trail teaches kids about the forest animals and
their habitats as they ski through life-like Bear caves. And as a
sweet conclusion, kids get a taste of the century old tradition of
maple sugaring. When the skis come off, the learning doesn’t stop.
Smugglers’ hosts a weekly après ski Science Show featuring “Professor
Alpine and Winter Wizard”. This wacky duo demonstrates how science and
nature work together, and the kids laugh while they learn. Smugglers’
also offers a teacher-supervised Study Hall so kids can keep up with
any schoolwork while vacationing. This year they are experimenting
with utilizing e-mail so kids can turn in homework on time, or receive
assignments from their teachers. In the evening, a
Family Snowshoe
Dinner means kids can join their parents for an adventure of snow
shoeing to a woodland destination where a hearty dinner awaits them in
the new Morse Highland Lodge.