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School-Aged Children Can Ski/Ride for Free
by Mitch Kaplan
They’re spreading like wildfire - more and more ski states and resorts are offering elementary school students, and in some cases middle schoolers, too, the chance to ski free. It’s a great deal - for the kids and for parents. Here’s what’s out there for 2008-09.
National Passport Information - usskiandridepassports.com
www.usskiandridepassports.com
A web page that links to all the state passport programs in the U.S.
Ski Maine 5th Grade Program - Plus 6th & 7th Grade, Too!
www.winterkids.org/passport
Info: info@winterkids.org; 207-871-5700.
Maine's program, "5th, 6th, and 7th Grade Passport", reaches well into middle school. Maine school kids get free cross-country, alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and tobogganing at Maine ski areas. Here’s the breakdown: the 5th Grade Passport offers three days of skiing at each of 16 alpine and 21 Nordic ski areas, a total of 159 days of free skiing; the 6th Grade Passport offers two days at each area, 106 days total; and the 7th Grade Passport offers one day at each area, totaling 53 days. Individual ski areas offer additional incentives to kids and families, including free and discounted lessons, rentals, lift tickets for parents and siblings, and hot chocolate.
The Passport is also good at 12 ice skating arenas, three sledding/tubing hills and a dog sledding venue.
Children must be accompanied by a paying adult with a maximum of two Passport holders per adult. Every 5th, 6th, and 7th grader - including comparably aged home-schoolers) in the state is eligible. Applications are distributed through schools, L.L. Bean, Hannaford Supermarkets, TD BankNOrth branches, Time Warner Cable and on the Web site.
Ski New Hampshire 4th & 5th Grade Programs
http://www.skinh.com/Kids_Ski_Free.cfm
Info: 800-887-5464
The "Fourth Grade Earn Your Turns" program encourages fourth graders to discover New Hampshire's skiing history and earn a passbook with free lift tickets and cross country trail passes at Ski NH resorts.
To earn a passbook, fourth graders must satisfactorily complete a research project on the history of skiing in New Hampshire and have their name submitted by their teacher to Ski NH. Ski NH sends all participating fourth graders an Earn Your Turns passbook.
Some 38 Ski NH member alpine and Nordic resorts participate. Coupons are good for free lift tickets and trail passes, plus learn to ski and snowboard lessons, and other snowsports benefits. Also included are savings on lift tickets and lessons for parents and siblings.
The Fifth Grade Snowsports Passport offers vouchers for one, two or three free lift tickets and cross country trail passes at 38 Ski NH member resorts, valid any day of the season. There are also savings on lift tickets and trail passes for parents and siblings, rental packages, lessons and more.
The Passport is obtained through a mail-in application, a copy of the fifth grader’s report card and a $20 handling fee. Passbooks are available in mid-December. Ski NH donates $5 from each Passport to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire.
Ski New York 4th Grade Program
www.44free.com
Info: passport@44free.com; 315-396-6550
$19 processing fee
New York’s 4th Graders Ski & Ride Passport Program is open to all students from any state currently in the fourth grade. Applications are distributed through each school district's PTA, and are available online. Submit the application and with a copy of a report card or similar school grading report for the 2007-08 school year to confirm eligibility. The Passport book contains coupons that entitle the student to three lift passes for free skiing and/or snowboarding at 30 participating ski areas in New York State.
Nearly 100 days of free skiing is included. No more than two Passport holders are permitted per adult per day. And, some ski areas impose blackout dates on the Passport’s use.
Maryland "Ski Free with a B" Program
http://www.wispresort.com/wisp/info/w.season-passes.aspx
Info: 301-387-4911
$25 processing fee
Open to 4th graders everywhere who maintain a B average, the program provides a free 2008-09 season pass to Wisp resort in Maryland. Students bring their original report card (no copies) to the resort’s Guest Services desk to receive their season pass.
Ski Utah 5th & 6th Grade Programs
www.skiutah.com/grade_school/fifth
http://www.skiutah.com/grade_school/sixth
Info: 801-534-1779
5th grade—$15 processing fee; $25 after Jan. 31, 2009
6th grade—$10 processing fee; $20 after Jan. 31, 2009
The 5th Grade Passport allows free skiing or snowboarding at each of Utah’s 13 participating resorts, a total of 39 days of free skiing and snowboarding. The Passport also includes special deals on equipment rentals, lessons and other activities for you and other members of your family. Some blackout dates apply.
The 6th Grade Passport is the same, but it allows one day free at each of Utah’s 13 participating resorts.
Colorado 5th Grade Passport Program
www.coloradoski.com/Passes/5thGradePassport
Info: 303-866-9707
Good at 21 resorts, with restrictions on use varying by resort, this program is not restricted to Colorado residents. Any kid from any state or country who is in 5th grade can get one. Nor is an adult lift ticket purchase required, although all children must have adult supervision during their visit to member resorts. Applications are available on-line.
The Passport may be used to obtain no more than three complimentary one-day child lift tickets at each participating resort. Any blackout dates are indicated on the back of the coupon. The 2008-09 Passports are not valid at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge or Keystone.
The $99 6th Grade Graduate Pass http://www.coloradoski.com/Passes/6thGradeGraduatePass is available to 2007-08 fifth grade passport holders. Sixth graders pay $99 and get four days of skiing/riding at participating resorts, as well as all the benefits of the 5th grade pass.
Colorado 5th & 6th Grade School of Shred
www.snow.com
Colorado 5th & 6th graders get 4 FREE days at each of the following resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Breckenridge.
Days are unrestricted - no blackouts.
Students must prove eligibility by showing a 5th or 6th grade report card for Fall 2008.
Documents will need to be presented at any resort season pass office or any Front Range pass sales location during fall pass sales.
Passes are non-transferrable. Students will be required to get their photo taken and will then receive a School of Shred Pass with days loaded onto the pass. 6th grade passes are non-refundable.
All passes will be enabled with RF Technology allowing upgraded scanners to read RF-enabled passes at short range through jackets and clothing for convenience and ease of use.
Canada Grade 5 Snowpass
www.snowpass.org
Info: snowpass@skicanada.org
$15 administration fee (includes GST)
Open to children in grades four and five or who are nine or 10 years old (born in 1997 or 1998), the "SnowPass" includes three free lift/trail tickets at each of the participating resorts. Plus, SnowPass Holders receive discounted and/or free lessons and rentals at many ski hills.
The program is for Canadian residents, and allows one SnowPass per child, available on a first-come first serve basis while supplies last. You get three coupons for complimentary lift ticket for each participating ski resort. SnowPass books come in a "Canada East" version, good in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and Ontario; and a "Canada West" version, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Books are distributed according to the province in which the child lives. A paying adult is required to accompany the child at about half the ski areas, and other restrictions may apply.
Ski Vermont 5th Grade Program
www.skivermont.com/kidzone/passport.php
Info: 802-223-2439 x301
$10 processing fee
The Vermont 5th Grade Passport allows skiing or riding three times each of Vermont’s 18 participating alpine ski areas and 24 Nordic ski areas, plus there are coupons for free skiing in NH, NY, ME and PA.
Passport holders get a booklet containing three coupons for a complimentary alpine lift ticket or cross country trail pass at each participating area. Passport holders must be accompanied by a paying adult. Each adult may bring up to two Passport holders. Some restrictions and blackout dates may apply.
INSA 5th Grade Passport
http://www.ski-inlandnorthwest.com/content.php?id=170
$10 processing fee
The 5th Grade Free Passport Program offers free skiing and/or snowboarding to every 5th grader in the Inland Northwest at the organization’s resorts in Washington and Idaho. Participating sites also offer free or discounted lessons and rentals for 5th graders, and some provide parents and siblings with discounted lessons. Resorts include: 49 Degrees North, Lookout Pass, Mt. Spokane, Schweitzer and Silver - Bogus Basin, Bald Mt, Grand Targhee, Kelly Canyon, Lost Trail, Magic Mountain, Pebble Creek, Brundage Mt, Mission Ridge, Sun Valley, Tamarack.
Fifth graders receive three free tickets at each of the participating mountains. The passport must be presented by the fifth grader to obtain a free one-day lift ticket, and each child or group of students must have adult supervision while at the ski area. The supervising adult is not required to ski. Groups larger than four must contact each individual mountain before arriving.
Applications are available in schools, on the Web site or by mail: Inland Northwest Ski Association, PO Box 28291, Spokane, WA 99228-8291.
The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association "Cold is Cool" 4th Grade Ski and Snowboard Passport
http://goskimichigan.com/cold-is-cool.html
Info: 248-620-4448; msiaski@aol.com
$15 processing fee
The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) has established a state-wide program which provides every fourth grader in Michigan the opportunity to ski for free. Fourth graders can apply for a "Cold is Cool" Ski and Snowboard Passport that gives them up to three free lift tickets or trail passes at each of the 22 participating alpine and Nordic ski areas. Application forms were sent to Michigan elementary school principals to distribute to fourth graders. Kids can also pick up "Cold is Cool" Ski and Snowboard Passport applications at participating MSIA ski shops, online or by calling 248-620-4448.
In order for fourth graders to use the free lift or trail pass coupons, a paying adult must accompany them. With the Passport, up to two fourth graders can ski free with each paying adult. The Cold is Cool Fourth Grade Ski & Snowboard Passport is not valid during some vacations periods at certain participating resorts, as noted for individual ski areas on the application.
Ski Pennsylvania 4th & 5th Grade Snowpass www.skipa.com/4thgrademain.htm
Info:570-443-0963
$15 processing fee
The Pennsylvania 4th & 5th Grade Snowpass booklet offers free skiing and boarding 21 Pennsylvania Ski Resorts, more than 63 days of skiing and boarding. Applicants send an application with a photo, with a copy of a report card or school ID.
Passes are valid from December 1, 2008 through ski season’s end, excluding the Program’s Blackout Dates, which vary by ski resort. Some resorts require a paying adult accompanying passport participants. A maximum of two 4th & 5th Grade Snowpass holders per paying adult may obtain a complimentary one-day lift ticket using their Snowpass. Kids do not have to live in Pennsylvania to qualify; 4th & 5th graders from any state are eligible.
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...... Mitch Kaplan
is the author of The Unofficial Guide to the Mid-Atlantic with Kids, The Cheapskate’s Guide to Myrtle Beach and The Golf Book of Lists. He is a contributor to The Unofficial Guide to New England & New York with Kids and to the annual guide Ski America & Canada.
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