Pico Mountain’s School Program Gives the Gift of Skiing to Children in Vermont

KILLINGTON, Vt. (January 31, 2021) – Vermont’s Pico Mountain, part of the POWDR adventure lifestyle company, to host six local schools this winter for children in kindergarten to 8th grade to experience skiing and snowboarding.

  After a year and half hiatus due to Covid-19, the Pico Mountain School Program welcomes back students for a 6-week ski/snowboard program. Lessons are 90 minutes long, held once a week, and available on Mondays, Thursdays or Fridays. The cost for each student is only $99 and includes six weeks of instruction, lift access and rentals - that is covered by the schools.

“We’ve known for many, many years that this is not a money maker for us,” Andy Haskell, Pico Ski and Snowboard Manager said, “but exposing local children to what we do here, that may not normally get that opportunity, is so important. Statistics show that when you start children skiing when they’re in kindergarten, the likelihood of them sticking with it is so much higher than even if you start kids in 7th or 8th grade.” 

Of the six schools and over 250 students participating in the program this season, none has embraced it quite as wholeheartedly as Orwell Village School. Orwell Program Director and school board member Peter Stone said, “the program is a hit with nearly everyone. Out of the whole school, there might have been 15 kids that could go skiing, and because of the program now you have all these other kids that can go. We had a family of four students that didn’t ski because their parents didn’t ski, but now that the kids started skiing, their parents have figured it out so they can take their kids other days.” He added, “If we had 8 kids that didn’t want to ski, that was a lot!” 

The program kicks off every season in January. Schools that are interested in next year can sign up for the Pico School Program by emailing mbiasuzzi@killington.com.  

 The Vermont Student Pass is also available, exclusively to all Vermont students in grades K-12 for just $119. This pass offers unlimited access to Pico Mountain all season long. Proof of eligibility is required. Vermont Student Pass perks include 20% off group lessons and additional family perks. The Vermont Student Pass is available for purchase at picomountain.com.