Free skiing for 4th,5th,& 6th graders

[Lilgeorg]

I know just enough about this topic to get you started.

We had friends who came to ski in Vermont with us this weekend. They explained that Vermont has a program where you show a photo and a report card of your 5th grader and the kid gets a booklet in the mail for free skiing at loads of ski areas in Vermont. He told me that Pennsylvania has a similar program for 4th graders and that Colorado has a program for 6th graders. In all cases you do not have to be a resident of the state to qualify. There may be a $10 fee for the booklet and a parent must buy a lft ticket, but that's it. The student does not have to have all A's or anything special.

Perhaps somebody on this forum has more info thean I do. Unfortunately, since we have no kids, I did not get all the details and only thought about sharing the info when THE DIVA suggested it today.

 

[Jilly]

Ontario has a similar program for grade 5. It includes lift, lesson and rentals for a small price. The idea is to get the kids skiing and maybe the parents will bring them out more. Not sure how the program works as I'm in the same boat as lilgeorg - no kids.

 

[Skimom]

Colorado has a program for 5th graders. They get to ski free three times at each resort in Colorado. It comes with a few coupons (they aren't that great) for lessons or bring a parent. In 6th grade you can get the same deal for $59. It's been worth it for us! That's why we generally to 4 packs to different resorts when our kids are in those grades. Otherwise I like to do a season pass.

 

[jnmcarroll]

Washington and Idaho also have a 5th grade ski free pass. My daughter used it last year and I am excited for my oldest son to get it next year. They get three free ski days at each of the area resorts. It makes it a little cheaper for a family to follow the freshies!

 

[Lilgeorg]

Web site

Well, my friend just gave me the web site for the Vermont program.
https://www.skivermont.com/kidzone/passport.php

I hope this helps somebody.

 

[ski chick]

The New York State program is
www.44free.com/

There is a $20 or $25 processing fee. We used it last year for my daughter.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Maine has a real nice program that was recently expanded:

Ski Maine 5th Grade Program - Plus 6th & 7th Grade, Too!
www.winterkids.org/passport
Info: [email protected]; 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 19 Nordic ski areas, a total of 150 days of free skiing; the 6th Grade Passport offers two days at each area, 100 days total; and the 7th Grade Passport offers one day at each area, totaling 50 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 11 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, Peoples Bank branches, L.L. Bean, Hannaford Supermarkets, TD BankNOrth branches and on the web site.