Cover photo courtesy of Silver Mountain

Sunny spring conditions and frequent March and April storms often deliver some of the best days of the season, so don’t put your gear in storage just yet. End your season in celebratory fashion with a fun spring event or two and plenty of good mountain vibes. Find details and operation schedule updates online. 

49° North Mountain Resort (Chewelah, Wash.) 

• March 6: One complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver for Toyota Free Ski Friday plus party on the deck.  

• March 8: Chewelah Peak Challenge Fat Tire Bike Race, in partnership with North Division Bicycle, includes demo bike (with registration fee) and 7 k race, conditions permitting. 

• March 14: Seafood Boil family-style lunch.  

• March 21: Annual Hawaiian Daze features a full day of competitions including snow golf, scavenger hunt, poker run, costume contest, Slush Cup and more. Proceeds benefit 49’s volunteer ski patrol and mountain host programs. 
  
  

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park (Spokane, Wash.) 

• March 7: Getting Down to Vizziness, a terrain park two-hour jam session with host and judge Pro Rider Austin Visintainer.  

• March 14: Final night ski includes Wild Mike’s Rail Jam event—a collaboration with Wild Mike’s Pizza, providing $10 off night-ski pizza-box coupons—and Après After Dark Party. 

• March 20: Toyota Free Ski Friday—one complimentary lift ticket for each Toyota vehicle driver; must arrive before 1 p.m. to receive lift ticket from Toyota reps in parking lot of Lodge 2.  

• April 8-12: Youth ages 17 and younger ski free during spring break.  

Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Sandpoint, Idaho) 

• March 21: Celebrate the first-ever Pride On the Mountain event, in partnership with Sandpoint Alliance for Equality (SAFE). Schedule includes Rainbow Ridge Ski Parade and evening drag show. 

• March 27: Discounted lift tickets for annual Community Day. 

• March 28-29: Snow Ghost Banked Slalom competition, in collab with 7B Boardshop. Fundraiser for Bonner County Skatepark Association. 

• April 4: Hillside Hustle rider-choice grassroots events.  

• April 12: Closing day—details TBA online. 
  
  

Silver Mountain Resort (Kellogg, Idaho) 

• March 7: Doug E. Fresh Banked Slalom for snowboarders—11^th annual fundraiser for the Doug Johnson Memorial Fund. Stick around for Ski Bum Prom (costumes encouraged) with night skiing til 6 p.m. and party at Moguls. 

• March 13: Toyota Free Ski Friday.  

• March 14 and April 18: Hang out with Silver Mountain ski patrollers and their avy dogs during Jackass Apres Club nights, 6:30-9:30 p.m., at The Beanery (446 Railroad Ave), less than a mile from base village. 

• March 21: Marchi Gras (not a typo) is like Mardi Gras but at Silver Mountain—bead necklaces provided at the gondola base and New Orleans-inspired food atop the mountain.  

• March 28-29: Silver Cup Ski Race—register online. 

• April 4: Jackass Rain Jam with free day-of registration at Chair 2 Terrain Park (starting at 11:45 a.m.).  

• April 11: Who doesn’t love a Pond Skim?! Silver’s first and only previous event was in 2019, so this is kinda a big deal. No fee to participate. 

• April 18: Leadman Triathlon, presented by Dave Smith GMC, is the annual charity fundraiser adventure tri—ski, bike, run—for teams and individual racers.  

Lookout Pass Ski Area (Mullan, Idaho) 

• March 7: Season Pass Holder Appreciation Day with a parking lot party, 4-6 p.m. 

• March 27: Toyota drivers ski or ride free for Toyota Free Ski Friday. 

• March 29: Lookout’s annual freestyle Rail Jam (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) includes divisions for all ages and skill levels plus prizes. Great spectator event! 

• April 4: Bring your own club to play nine holes on America’s only snow golf course! Free to play for all ages; course open noon-3 p.m. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt while you ride the slopes—all ages with one-egg limit per person. All eggs include candy and prize-winning number opportunity. 

• April 10: Ski/ride free at Lookout Pass for Parker Subaru Experience the Outdoors Day with a free voucher provided in person at Parker Subaru in Coeur d’Alene (limited availability). Bring voucher to the mountain ticket booth to redeem for a free lift ticket valid only for April 10.  

• April 12: Dress festive for Lookout’s annual Hawaiian Luau day, which includes a Cardboard Box Derby where participants use sleds made entirely of cardboard and duct tape.  
  
  

Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish, Mont.) 

• March 14-15: Two-day event and one of the longest-running of its kind in North America, the 27^th annual Nate Chute Banked Slalom & Boardercross Competition raises funds for the Nate Chute Foundation dedicated to youth suicide prevention. 

• March 21: DREAM Adaptive Shred Fest for all abilities includes vertical or adventure challenge event and fundraiser to support adaptive recreation opportunities in Flathead Valley. 

• March 28: Corn Cup Slopestyle—skier and snowboarder freestyle competition.  

• March 28: Sample regional brews at Spring Brewfest and enjoy music and food trucks in the resort village. 

• March 29: Women-only event for all skill levels (includes trans women and non-binary riders) for the Lady Power Park Hour, noncompetitive slopestyle event to build terrain park confidence and community.  

• April 4: Classic Pond Skim competition with cash prize.  

Big White Ski Resort (Kelowna, BC) 

• Tuesdays through March 17: Ski BINGO—Pick up a bingo card from the village and mark off while hitting the slopes, noon-3:30 p.m.  

• Thursdays through March 19: Twinkling Trail in Happy Valley—group walk after paper lantern craft activity.  

• March 21-22: Loose Moose Challenge inspires terrain coverage to find hidden letters to reveal a mystery word for a prize.  

• Fridays through March 27: Tube & Groove at the snow-tubing park and dance party with resort mascot Loose Moose.  

• Saturday nights: Carnivals at Village Centre through March 28 and weekly fireworks shows through April 4. 

• April 5: Easter Egg Hunt throughout the Village on Easter Sunday, 9-10 a.m., with a designated area for kids age 5 and younger. Bigger kids can search for hidden “chicks” to claim for treats.  
  
  

RED Mountain Resort (Rossland, BC) 

• March 14-15: Rattlecat Cup is a two-day banked slalom race, all ages and skill levels. 

• March 22: Park Project Rail Jam is a low-pressure session for all abilities (ages 7+) with a supportive community to promote skill progression. Open to skiers, snowboarders and snowskaters.  

• March 28: Bring your dog to the slopes for the 5^th annual Wiener Take All, a canine race event with prizes. 

• April 4: Slush Cup to go big and win prizes. 

Whitewater Mountain Resort (Nelson, BC) 

• March (every weekend): Spring Music Series—live music performances at the resort village throughout March.  

• March 21-22: Blast Beerfest—celebrate local breweries and cideries with samples in Whitewater’s on-the-snow beer garden; enjoy live music and scenic views of Ymir Peak.  

Former junior high Ski Club member Amy McCaffree now stays on the groomers but still downhill skis with her husband and their two kids, now teenagers, who ski much faster than she ever will again—and she’s okay with that. 

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Choosing the best fit for your child foremost depends on your family’s schedule availability and transportation means as well as your child’s age and skill or experience level.

Next, decide if your child would do best in a group setting or would learn better with more one-on-one instruction (which would mean private/semi-private lessons should be considered).

This guide to lesson and learn-to-ski options for Winter 2022-23 at the four Ski the NW Rockies resorts—49 Degrees North, Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park, Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area, and Silver Mountain Resort—serves as a quick overview to what’s available that will best meet your family’s needs. Even if you already have a “home mountain” because you’re a season pass guest or know that you’ll just visit the same mountain as your friends or family do, this guide will be useful.

If you want to enroll children in a multi-week group lesson, register online ASAP, as these fill quickly. If a session is full, get on the program wait-list—there are always cancellations by the time January comes.

For single-lesson programs, advanced registration online is recommended; however, some ski schools allow walk-ins for day-of registration, no later than 30 minutes prior to lesson start time.

Age Level

Each mountain structures their instructional program a bit differently, with minimum age requirements and age-range groupings. Families with children in different age groups will want to choose a mountain destination accordingly so every child who needs lessons can be included.

Another important detail for parents to keep in mind is the required time commitment. For example, is the lesson only a morning or afternoon session, or is it all day and includes a supervised lunch break? What are the specific drop-off and pick-up times? Will instructors help young children put on their gear?

If you’re not sure about lessons, because of cost or time, consider this: enrolling kids in lessons is a great way for parents to have “free ski time” on the mountain. You can find powder stashes in the trees and shred black diamonds all you want, knowing your children are being taken care of and progressing their skills. And then when you’re all together on the slopes, your kids can show off what they learned.

• Age 2+: 49 Degrees North’s Li’l Club Lesson & Day Care (ages 2-6). Most all ski schools can provide private and semi-private lessons for children age 2+.
• Ages 4-7: Mt. Spokane’s popular multi-week group ski lessons during weekends are the Mini Mites (ages 4-6, morning and full-day options) and Mighty Mites (ages 5-7, full-day). The little rippers can also join Mt. Spokane’s Club Shred (ages 4-10) and winter break camps. Lookout Pass has its Mini Moose program for this age group (Sundays only). For the EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3 programs, minimum age is 7; however, 49 Degrees North allows kids ages 6 and older to participate.
• Ages 6-13: There are a lot of multi-week group programs and single-lesson packages for this age group. At Silver Mountain, the Silver Kids program (ages 7-12) only offers lessons for level I-II skiers. Lookout Pass has weekly ski and snowboard group sessions for all abilities and levels. At Mt. Spokane, skiers/snowboarders can enroll in Kids Club (ages 7-15). 49 Degrees North has an Adventurers program (ages 6-13) for multi-week sessions, while the single-lesson options are Trailblazers (ages 6-12) and Above & Beyond (ages 12+, beginners only). 
• Ages 9-17: Mt. Spokane has two instructional programs for advanced skiers/snowboarders, Park Club (Saturdays) and Mountain Adventure Club (Sundays)—only during February 2023. 49 Degrees North hosts a one-day Intro to Freestyle and Park Skills “day camp” for skiers and snowboarders (ages 10-15) in December.

Parent-Child Lessons at 49 Degrees North

Mommy/Daddy & Me is a 1-hour lesson for one parent and one child (ages 2-13, beginner). Program goal is for parents to learn teaching tools to help their child further develop ski or snowboard skills.

First Time on Skis or Snowboard

• EZ Ski 1-2-3 (ski/ride): This is a popular program offered at all four resorts includes three days with 2-hour group lessons, rental gear, and lift ticket and allows for progressive skill building. (Does not have to be booked for consecutive days.) Minimum age restrictions vary. At Silver Mountain, only for ages 13+ and not available on Saturdays or holiday periods.
• Never-Ever/First-Timer: One-day lesson packages, ages 6/7+, typically include a 2-hour group lesson, rental equipment, and bunny-hill lift ticket—ideal for those wanting to try skiing or snowboarding with minimal financial and time commitment. (49 Degrees North calls its program “Learn 2 Package.”) Reservations recommended, but walk-ins are welcome on a space-available basis the day-of (registration cut-off is typically 30 minutes prior to lesson start time).

Snowboard Group Lessons

Each mountain offers EZ Ride 1-2-3 and first-time/never-ever lessons for children, teens, and adults, plus some unique programs tailored to snowboarders (reservations required).

• Mt. Spokane: Holiday camps; Kids Club, ages 7-15 (Saturdays only, January-March); Club Shred, ages 4-10 (Friday nights, Jan.-March); Park Club, ages 9-17, for advanced/Level 4+ skiers and snowboarders who want to improve Terrain Park skills (Saturdays in February); Mountain Adventure Club, ages 9-17, for advanced snowboarders/skiers who want to explore and improve skills on treed and side-country terrain (Sundays in February).
• Lookout Pass: Free Ski School for snowboarders ages 7-17; Lookout Pass full or half-day group lessons for ages 7-12.
• 49 Degrees North: Multi-week group lessons, ages 6-13 (private lessons available for younger kids), include Discovery Club; Above & Beyond half-day group lesson for beginners (ages 12-adult)—advanced registration recommended but walk-ins can register day-of at least 30 minutes prior to lesson start time; and a one-day Intro to Freestyle and Park Skills “day camp” (ages 10-15, Dec. 23) for snowboarders and skiers.
• Silver Mountain: Flexible 5, semi-private group lessons (ages 7 and up).

Free Ski School at Lookout Pass

A popular program that fills quickly is the longtime “Free Ski School,” staffed by volunteer instructors and organized separately from Lookout Pass’ Snowsports School. Registration opens in late Oct./early Nov. and lessons begin in January 2023.

Beginner and intermediate/advanced skill level sessions are offered for skiers (ages 6-17) and snowboarders (ages 7-17). Participants must attend a session during the first three weeks of the program, which is free. Doesn’t include equipment or a lift ticket, although a lift ticket isn’t necessary during the lessons.

Month By Month Schedule

Registration already opened for some local ski schools back in October, and multi-week sessions fill quickly. For some families, a certain month can be the best time for lessons because of commitments to other activities and non-alpine sports.

• December: EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3 and first-timer group lessons, as well as private/semi-private lessons, start now and run throughout the season.Youth specific programs include Mt. SpokaneHoliday Camps (3 days) during winter break, ages 4-15, and 49 Degrees North’s Intro to Freestyle and Park Skills (ages 10-15) afternoon “day camp” on Dec. 23.
• January: Learn to Ski/Snowboard Month! Busy weekends at ski mountains, with newbies of all ages snowplowing down the bunny hills. Multi-week sessions kick off for the 4-15 age group at all the mountains (same lesson start/end time schedule, for four  consecutive Saturdays or Sundays). Silver Mountain’s Flexible 5 program begins Jan. 9, 2023 (must register before this date), and continues through the season.
• February: Multi-week session #2 at all mountains. At Mt. Spokane, two programs commence for older advanced/experienced rippers, ages 9-17—Park Club and Mountain Adventure Club.
• March: Mt. Spokane offers a session #3 for Kids Club & Mini/Mighty Mites (only 3-weeks this month). Still available at all mountains will be EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3, first-timer, and private/semi-private lessons. //

Adaptive Programs

For any children with unique physical or developmental needs, adaptive private lessons are available at 49 Degrees North. At Mt. Spokane, Spokane Parks and Rec’s Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) hosts a ski and snowboard lesson program.

Season Pass Bonus

Ski the NW Rockies mountains offer reduced cost for a season pass, good for the remainder of the current season, after completion of an EZ Ski/Ride 1-2-3 program (available to all ages). Mt. Spokane offers a free season pass after completing two camps/multi-week programs.

At Silver Mountain, Flexible 5 program participants earn a “graduation gift” of a season pass good for the remaining ski season, and then 50 percent off a season pass for the following winter season (must reserve package by January 9, 2023).Flexible 5 lessons are offered only Sunday-Wednesday (one lesson per day max), holiday weekends excluded.

Keep this season-pass perk in mind when choosing a mountain for your children’s lessons—it’s an affordable gateway to becoming annual season passholders.

5th Graders Ski or Ride for Free

The 5^th Grade Ski or Ride Passport allows any 5th grader from any state to ski or snowboard three free days at each of the participating resorts: 49 Degrees North near Chewelah, Wash.; Lookout Pass on the Idaho/Montana stateline, Mt. Spokane, Silver Mountain in Kellogg, Idaho; and Loup Loup near Twisp, Wash.

Ski Idaho runs a similar program that allows 5^th and 6^th graders to ski or snowboard three days for free at each of the 17 participating Idaho resorts.

To participate in the 5^th grade passport program, parents need to submit an application with a one-time $20 processing fee at 5thgradeskipassport.com and then wait for the passport to be emailed to them. A parent or guardian must be present with a participating 5^th grader at the resort ticket office with either a printed copy of the passport or the electronic version on their phone to receive a lift ticket.

There are some blackout dates and dos and don’ts, so be sure to read the rules and regulations online in advance. Some of the participating ski resorts also offer discount rental gear and lessons as part of the 5th grade passport program. More info: Skinwrockies.com (OTO)

Find more stories for outdoor families, about skiing/snowboarding and teaching kids to ski, the annual Family Winter Sports Guide, and more Ski NW Rockies stories in the OTO archives.

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By Robin Redman

Ski for Light Inc., a non-profit founded in 1975 by a group of Norwegian-Americans, promotes skiing for individuals with vision and mobility-impairments.

Five members of Spokane Nordic Ski Association had planned to join skiers from across the globe at the 47th annual Ski for Light international event. However, the event was canceled “due to changing conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the Ski for Light website.

The event was to take place at Snow Mountain Ranch, Colorado, January 30-February 6, 2022. Organized entirely by volunteers, the week-long winter adventure is held in different geographic regions each year.

The word “Light” in the organization’s name reflects the metaphorical human struggle to challenge perceptions of personal capability and achieve the unimaginable through perseverance.

Two cornerstone beliefs led to the creation of Ski for Light. First, is the principle that individuals with vision or mobility impairments can successfully learn to cross-country ski and have fun if they are given proper equipment and are paired with a sighted and experienced Nordic skier to act as instructor and guide.

In addition is the belief that experienced sighted skiers will also find it fun and rewarding to share their love of Nordic skiing by being an instructor and guide for someone who can’t easily experience the sport independently.

Volunteer guides are paired at the start of the week with a participant to assist with activities like skiing, biathlon, sledding, and mechanical bull-riding. This all culminates with a 5 and 10K race celebration at the end of the week.

Guides adapt for the unique needs of their ski partner and, more importantly, can carry the “light” back here to the Inland Northwest by assisting local vision- and mobility-impaired skiers in Spokane’s Nordic community.

Even if unseen, the transformational experience of gliding through forests and meadows can still be fully appreciated—in a totally unique way—through smell, hearing, touch, and taste.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Washington State Parks, City of Spokane Parks and Recreation, Spokane Nordic Ski Association, and community volunteers, user-friendly trail systems are easily accessible at both Mount Spokane State Park and Dwight Merkel Athletic Complex each winter.

For information on how to support, participate, or volunteer, visit Spokanenordic.org/adaptive or email info@spokanenordic.org.

Originally published in the January-February 2022 issue before this event was canceled.

Find more stories about Nordic skiing or local adaptive skiing and snowboarding programs in the Inland Northwest in the OTO archives.

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Warren Miller is excited to bring its audience back into theaters for the 72nd feature film, “Winter Starts Now,” which lands in Spokane on October 30. There will be two showings at The Bing Crosby Theater, at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and tickets go on sale starting Sept. 15. (See below for dates and theater locations for shows in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and elsewhere in Washington.)

The movie is a love letter to that special place on the calendar. It’s a call to action—get stoked, be prepared, because the season so many skiers and snowboarders live for is here. This year, the line takes on a whole new meaning because it’s not just any winter. It’s one of renewal and gratitude, with a froth factor that could exceed any since record keeping began.

Enter to Win Free Tickets!

You could score one of 6 pairs of tickets to the Spokane showing of “Winter Starts Now” or a Helly Hansen Powder Queen 3.0 Jacket (W Med). Enter here to win by midnight October 21, 2021. 

Follow along as the film visits friends old and new in the places that keep spirits high no matter what life throws at us. From Alaska’s Prince William Sound, where the only tracks you’ll encounter belong to bears, to Maine’s community of craftsmen and women devoted to sliding on snow. From kids with huge Olympic dreams to adaptive shredders who leave the most able among us in the dust. Road trip with big mountain skiers Marcus Caston and Connery Lundin as they chase winter all the way to Alaska. Catch up with speed-riding legend JT Holmes and meet new friends like Madison Rose and Vasu Sojitra.

“Winter Starts Now” takes viewers on a journey to the highest peak in America, to the great groomers at your favorite resorts, and to the mom and pop’s that have stood their ground throughout the everchanging ski world. “Winter Starts Now” is a homage to every skier who lives for the thrill and finds solace on the chairlift.

Warren Miller Entertainment is now a part of Outside, Inc. the world’s leading creator of active lifestyle content. The company offers an all-access membership program, Outside+, where subscribers receive two tickets to a national tour show of their choice, plus 20% off additional tickets, early entry and best seats in select venues, exclusive access to the virtual release and more Warren Miller content.

As part of the $99 annual membership, subscribers receive over $599 in additional benefits from annual magazine subscriptions to events, courses, training plans, and more.

Learn more about Outside+ and get your tickets to the Spokane show set for October 30, at the Bing Crosby Theater.

For more stories about skiing and snowboarding, visit the OTO archives.

To find other film events and locations throughout the Pacific and Inland Northwest, visit warrenmiller.com/events.

Idaho

Montana

Oregon

Washington

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Editor’s Note: Check each camp’s website for coronavirus-related date changes, precautions, and cancellations. 

2020 Guide Summertime is for kids to experience outdoor adventure—the hands-in-dirt, skinned knees, messy-hair-don’t-care type of adventure. And while that type of rugged fun can be done with family and friends at local parks and trails and during camping trips, day-long and overnight summer camp programs enhance those types of adventures. Camps add structure and routine to a summer calendar while providing in-depth hands-on learning, character building lessons, peer-socializing and teamwork opportunities, and time away from home for children and teens to learn greater personal responsibility and independence.  

Here’s our annual list of regional summer camps and nature-based schools that provide unique opportunities for learning about nature, science, and outdoor skills—with something for every child, any age, and every family.  

Between the Rivers Gathering 

Weeklong annual gathering in northeast Washington for individuals and families that’s an ancestral living skills mega-workshop—May 25-May 30 this year—to learn primitive skills for self-sufficiency and sustainable living, and to enjoy community and connection. Event takes place at Grouse Creek Farm in Valley, Wash., north of Deer Park. Registration includes primitive camping sites and two daily meals (daily registration also available); children under age 8 are free, when families register for the full event.  CANCELLED THIS YEAR.

Big Lake Youth Camp 

“RAD” Adventure Camp for teens, ages 13-17, include 8-9 day camp sessions that focus solely on one recreation sport—fly fishing (float down the Deschutes River, Ore.), mountain biking, surfing (Oregon Coast), whitewater rafting, backcountry adventure, wakesports, and rock climbing. Based in Central Oregon’s Willamette National Forest, near Sisters, there are also regular (“REG”) camp sessions for ages 7-12 and Adventure Camp for ages 7-9, with activities like sailing, hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Big Lake also offers Family Camps. Big Lake Youth Camp is operated by the Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 

Dart-Lo Day Camp – Camp Fire Inland Northwest 

Located along the Little Spokane River, at Dart-Lo Day Camp children age 3-18 enjoy outdoor activities like games, pool swimming, and a low ropes course—program offered by Camp Fire Inland Northwest. 

Camp Ashwell Day Camp – Girl Scouts  

The regional program center for Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and North Idaho, located near downtown Spokane (1404 N. Ash Street), hosts themed day camp sessions (weekdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) for girls entering grades K-8. Activities include STEM experiences, arts and crafts, cooking, drama, swimming, and other skill-building fun. At Camp Ashwell Day Camp, morning/afternoon snacks are included and lunch is provided by Summer Meals Program. 

Camp Easton – Boy Scouts 

This Boy Scouts of America property located on the east side of Lake Coeur d’Alene, at Gotham Bay, offers an advanced aquatics program, shooting sports, and nature and scout-craft activities during 6-night camp sessions. 

Camp Four Echoes – Girl Scouts 

Located along 2 miles of Lake Coeur d’Alene shoreline, at Windy Bay, near Worley, Idaho, girls sleep in whimsical-named camping units, like Teepees in Sky Meadows and Treehouses in Smugglers Cove. The regional Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho offers a full summer of programs at Camp Four Echoes for girls entering 1^st-12^th grade; troop membership is not required for participation. Themed camp sessions include activities such as waterfront recreation (kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and windsurfing); nature exploration, hiking, biking, and outdoor skill-building; and STEM activities. Adventure-based sessions for girls in grade 7-10 include themes like Idaho Adventures—which includes ziplining, lake canoeing, and biking the Hiawatha Trail—and Canoe North Idaho, a multi-day canoe trip. Other sessions for grades 6-12 focus on off-site excursions, such as a roadtrip to Mt. Rainier or Glacier National Park or a horse-packing trip (grades 6-12).  

Camp Gifford – Salvation Army 

This Salvation Army youth camp at Deer Lake offers zip-lining, climbing, archery, swimming, paddling, fishing, ropes course and team building games, and hiking recreation. Sessions include Discovery Camp (ages 7-12) located at the main camp area and Camp Cougar (ages 13-17), a teen wilderness camp in a more secluded, primitive area that’s only a 15-minute walk away from main camp and aims to help teens connect with nature.  

Camp MiVoden 

Located in the forest along the northern shore of Hayden Lake, Idaho, Camp MiVoden offers overnight camps for age 8-16. Ultimate sessions with specialized recreation include equestrian and horsepack camps; wakeboard camp; and “Extreme Teen Camp” sessions that include whitewater rafting and survival skills. Traditional sessions include adventure, junior, and teen camps. Camp MiVoden is a ministry of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. 

Camp Spalding 

Located at Davis Lake near Newport, Wash., Camp Spalding offers a unique Pioneer Camp, where kids sleep in authentic 18’ Sioux teepees, cook meals over a campfire, and hike to an overnight campsite. Sessions are offered for different grade-based age groups. Spalding, a Presbyterian-affiliated Christian camp, hosts traditional sessions for campers entering grades 2-12, where kids stay in cabins and eat in the dining hall. All campers enjoy nature and waterfront activities, such as canoeing, along with other recreation options such as horseback riding, rock climb rappelling, archery, and more. Family sessions include a “Mom, Dad, & Me Overnight” in June (for children entering grades K-2) and Family Camp in August.  

Camp Sweyolakan

Located on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and only accessible by boat, Camp Sweyolakan (pronounced: Swe-o-la-kan) has overnight camp sessions for boys and girls age 6-18, and camps for families and adults, offered by Camp Fire Inland Northwest. 

High Cascade Summer Snowboard Camp 

Sessions for youth, adults, and families at Oregon’s Mt. Hood. Eight-day youth sessions provide coaching for all skill levels, including a Soft Start option for first-time snowboarders. Specialized sessions including Snowboardcross and terrain park access, which includes a 22-foot Olympics Superpipe. 

KEENs Pond to Pines – Outdoor Nature Day Camps 

Based in Ellensburg, Wash., the Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN) offers a variety of summer day camps for youth children and teens, pre-K through middle school, at Helen McCabe State Park. Weekly themes are tailored to specific age groups, such as Animal Tracks for grades 1-3 and Dirty Jobs/Adventure Camp for middle-schoolers.  

Ligety Weibrecht Ski Camp 

Founded by World Cup and Olympic skiers Ted Ligety and Andrew Weibrecht, they personally coach campers ages 10 through Masters/adults (must be at least intermediate ability). Camp takes place at Timberline Ski Area at Mt. Hood in Oregon. 

Lutherhaven   

A variety of programs are offered among its three properties in North Idaho, which includes its main camp at Lake Coeur d’Alene, Shoshone Creek Ranch Camp, and Shoshone Mountain Retreat. Lutherhaven was founded by regional Lutheran churches over 70 years ago. 

Outward Bound 

Offering programs for teens and adults around the nation, sessions in the Pacific Northwest include canoeing and rock climbing based out of Spokane; rafting and backpacking out of Redmond, Oregon; and sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound. 

Peak 7 Adventures 

Adventure Leadership Training for 11^th-12^th grade students is a two-week session that provides technical skills for whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountaineering, and wilderness first-aid. For teens (ages 15-19) wanting a more hardcore challenge, there’s the Bower Adventure Course (BAC), a 50+ day outdoor expedition leadership program. Peak 7 also offers guided backpacking and Ascent mountaineering trips. Headquartered in Spokane, this faith-based outdoor adventure organization has branches in Seattle and Oregon. Families, youth groups, and organization groups can plan personalized adventure trips with Peak 7’s trip program, guided by its experienced staff. Trip options includes stand-up paddleboarding, rafting, rock climbing, canoeing, and camping—plus winter recreation options.  

Saint George’s School – Summer Day Camps   

Week-long sessions are offered for all grade levels at the school campus located in north Spokane. Options include Outdoor Adventure Camp (grades 3-6) with hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, and fort building; Harry Potter Camp (grades 1-5) with outdoor Quidditch games and scavenger hunts; and Rocket Camp (grades 5-8). Outdoors Sports Camps like Running Camp (grades 1-12), Soccer Camps (grades K-6, 6-12), Tennis & Ice Cream Camp (grades 2-6), and Racket Sports Camp (grades 7-12).   

S.O.L.E. – Selkirk Outdoor Leadership & Education 

This Sandpoint, Idaho-based non-profit organization provides summer day-camps and multi-day expeditions for youth ages 4-17 throughout the Inland Northwest and beyond. Programs include SOLE’s popular Junior Naturalist Experience day camps (ages 4-9); Leader of the Day Experience day camps (ages 10-12); and Teen Trek Experiences (ages 13-17).  

Spokane Parks & Recreation – Youth Outdoor Programs 

Day camps this summer include Outdoor Adventure Day Camps—offering sessions for youth ages 8-11 and teens, ages 12-15—that meet at Riverside State Park Bowl & Pitcher area. Weekly sessions focus on varied recreation options, from rock climbing and rafting to disc golf and paddling. Wilderness Survival for Youth sessions meet at Camp Sekani, with an intro session for ages 6-9 and an advanced one for ages 10-14. Horseback Riding Camps, for ages 8-13, include a week of half-days at Relational Riding Academy in Cheney. Teen Raft Guide and Leadership Training is a day-long intro course for ages 11-18. There’s also a 3-day Adaptive Summer Adventure Camp for youth with physical disabilities, ages 8-15.   

Twin Eagles Wilderness School 

Specializing in helping children connect with the natural world and develop self-awareness through nature-based activities, Twin Eagles summer day and overnight camps provide wilderness and adventure challenges, and survival skill-building, such as foraging, wildlife tracking, and fire and natural shelter-building. There are three different themes for week-long day camps, for ages 6-13: Nature Adventurers, Wilderness Survival, and Nature Ninjas—with sessions meeting in Idaho at Camp Stidwell in Sagle, near Sandpoint, or at Blue Creek Bay in Coeur d’Alene (for Wilderness Survival sessions), and day camps meeting in north Spokane at Riverside State Park 9 Mile Day Use Area’s Spokane House. Overnight camps for ages 10-18 include nighttime scout games, group wilderness survival camp-outs, and action archery games. 

West Valley Outdoor Learning Center 

Located in Spokane Valley, Wash., West Valley Outdoor Learning Center plans to offer two summer day camp sessions for youth ages 7-12—Biodiversity Blast-Off (June 22-25) to learn about planets, rockets, and animal survival in different habitats; and Wilderness Survival (July 6-9) to learn how to build shelters, navigate the woods, and read animal tracks.  

Windells Summer Ski Camp 

All-inclusive, 8-day camp for ages 9+ at Mt. Hood, Oregon, with off-hill activities like a skateboard park, trampolines, mountain biking, river rafting, and more. 

Wild Walls Indoor Climbing Camp  

Youth ages 9-14 will learn top roping, knot tying, belaying, ascending, rappelling, bouldering, slacklining, and crate stacking at week-long day camps (M-F, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.) at Wild Walls Climbing Gym, in downtown Spokane. Four sessions are scheduled, July 6-August 14. 

WSU Cougar Kids Camp   

Themed day camps, June 15-July 31, at Washington State University’s Pullman campus, hosted in partnership with the Outdoors Program. Sessions are tailored for children entering grades K-6, and “Let’s Go on an Adventure Week” is July 13-17, featuring outdoor recreation activities. 

Washington Trails Association (WTA) – Youth Volunteer Vacation 

Trail work crew projects for high school students, ages 14-18, are week-long opportunities to develop outdoor and leadership skills while building and maintaining hiking trails as a team (and camping)—locations include Mount Spokane State Park (June 28-July 3, 2020) and areas of the Cascade Mountains, including Mount Rainier. Service hours can be applied to school requirements, and students earn a Northwest Forest Pass when a project is on National Forest lands and a Discover Pass when on state park land. Options include shared-identity trips organized specifically for all girls, all Latina, or all LGBTQ+ teens. 

Smith Rock Climbing Camp 

Located at Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon, Chockstone Climbing Guides sponsors a program for ages 12-19—the only AMGA Accredited Program multi-day climbing camp in the western U.S. 

Washington Outdoor School Summer Camps 

This non-profit school offers day camp sessions, Monday-Thursday, for ages 2.5-10, in Roslyn, Wash., west of Ellensburg. They also have a marine wildlife-themed San Juan Island Family Camp in August. 

YMCA Camp Reed 

Located on over 500 acres at Fan Lake, north of Spokane, YMCA of the Inland Northwest offer co-ed, overnight camps at Camp Reed with activities like swimming, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, ropes course, and climbing wall. The three-day/two-night mini camp sessions for children entering 1^st-2^nd grades provide an introductory experience, including swimming and traditional camp activities. Older campers, entering 3^rd-9^th grades, enjoy six-night traditional camp sessions with a full line-up of activities, including a campout under the stars and optional horseback trail rides (ages 10+). Certain sessions even offer additional horsemanship classes (for ages 11+).  

Y Day Camps – Spokane 

Programs provided for children entering grades K-8, from June 15 to August 28, at all four YMCA locations around Spokane—Central Y Camp at Emerson Park (1116 W. Alice); North Y Camp (10727 N. Newport Hwy); South Y Camp (new location at Manito United Methodist Church, 3220 S. Grand Blvd); and Valley Y Camp (2421 N. Discovery Place). Day camp runs 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays.  

Outdoorsy Schools & Daycares 

These education and childcare programs provide experiential, play-based outdoor learning opportunities and incorporate environmental curriculum topics.  

Harvard Park Children’s Learning Center North 

Offers preschool (age 2.5+), before/after school care, and summer camps, featuring a hands-on learning environment and park-like playground for daily outside play. Summer Camp (mid-June through August) is also offered, full or part-time for children age 2.5-10 years, with activities like science experiments, weekly field trips, cooking projects, water play time, sports, and games.  

Into the Forest Outdoor Learning Center and Preschool  

Founded in August 2017, this year-round center and private school located east of Spokane, in Veradale, Wash., provides programs for three age-groups: 1-2 years old, 3-5 years (preschool), and age 6+/elementary-school (before/after-school).  

Little Woodland Adventures Forest and Nature School  

Founded last year, this completely nature-immersed forest preschool for ages 2.5-5 years old is located near Dishman Hills Natural Area in Spokane Valley. Classes are held outdoors, year-round, meeting three days a week, for four hours each day. Curriculum includes place-based activities, life skills, and gardening.  

North Wall Schools 

This accredited, private elementary school and child development center serves the needs of gifted and talented learners with classes for K-6 grades, preschool and pre-K, and a program for infants-toddlers. Founded in 1981, the 2.5-acre campus in north Spokane includes six different outdoor areas corresponding to age levels for students to enjoy year-round outdoor playtime and experiential learning. Features include a Nature Trail and two-story tree fort, zipline, organic garden, climbing wall, play structures, and tricycle track.  

Pioneer School 

A K-5^th grade accredited, non-profit school for gifted, talented, and highly-capable learners. Located in Spokane Valley, it’s known for its high academic standards, small class sizes, and unique, topic-focused experiences that enhance classroom learning—including expeditions, outings, and field-trips for camping, biking, hiking, skiing, and other recreation.  

Plum Tree School 

A private, home-based preschool for ages 3-6 in Spokane that focuses on play-based learning, creative arts, domestic life skills (e.g., cooking, baking), hands-on nature exploration, and mindfulness.   

Saint George’s School 

Located on 120-acres along the Little Spokane River, the campus for this private, independent school (no religious affiliation) is an integral part of the school’s entire K-12 curriculum, providing hands-on experiences to enhance classroom learning related to the sciences, physical education, art, and other courses. An Outdoor Club provides recreation activities and trips for students in grades 8-12.  

Tinkergarten  

A national network of teachers and child-development experts who facilitate play-based learning experiences in their local communities for parents and their children. Classes take place at local parks and other outdoor venues, with classes for toddlers, preschoolers, and young children, as well as classes for babies (6-18 months).  

Twin Eagles Wilderness School  

From October through May, the monthly youth program for ages 6-13https://www.twineagles.org/monthly-youth-programs.html and their families takes place at Indian Springs in Spokane, one Sunday each month (9 a.m.-3 p.m.). Children enjoy nature-connection mentoring and hands-on activities like making fire by friction and building natural shelters, animal tracking, and participating in group challenges.  

West Valley Outdoor Learning Center 

Though affiliated with the West Valley School District in Spokane County, the center is available for use by all students of all ages, to connect them to nature through experiential learning. Programs include wildlife habitat, conservation, birds of prey, water ecosystems, and STEM activities. The center hosts monthly, theme-based public open house events too.  

Windsong School 

This private school inspired by Waldorf Education, located on the Mukogawa Fort Wright Institute campus near Spokane Falls Community College, offers parent-child and nursery/preschool (age 3+) programs, mixed-age kindergarten, and classes for grades 1-6. Students enjoy at least one hour of outdoor time each day.  

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For the past several decades, the Spokane Parks and Recreation Adaptive Ski and Snowboard program has provided equipment and instruction for skiers with physical disabilities that would otherwise prohibit them from traditional stand-up skiing, such as spinal-cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.

“Schweitzer Mountain Resort is starting to establish a program, but we’re the biggest program from Montana to the west side of the state,” says Sara Dunbar, Adaptive Skiing Coordinator. “We’ve had people from as far as western Montana in the program before.”

The program attracts skiers of varying experience, from never-evers to formerly able-bodied skiers. Some come for one day, just to test the waters; most participate in a three-week program of half-day lessons.

“One reason we like them to come up for multiple lessons is so we can tweak the equipment and get them into what they need,” says Dunbar.

Stand-up skiers have access to outriggers—in essence, a combination ski pole and brace with a small ski on the bottom—for increased stability. But most participants make use of a sit-ski: a plastic chair, or “bucket,” mounted in a metal frame atop either one or two skis.

Each participant is paired with his or her own instructor, who assists with getting the sit-ski on the chairlift and, with inexperienced or less mobile skiers, helps steer the skier by means of a hand-held tether.

In nearly all cases, Dunbar starts skiers out on a twin ski; a mono ski requires substantially more balance than its twin-ski kin and is better suited for more independent skiers.

“It’s always our hope that people can progress and be independent,” says Dunbar. But, she acknowledges, “Leisure is different for everybody—for some of them it’s just getting out there and having a new experience.”

For many participants, though, adaptive skiing allows them to participate in a cherished family activity. “I love seeing the kids get out, but one of the biggest things is when it touches a whole family,” says Dunbar. “For parents, to ski with their son or daughter or family member, it just means the world to them—especially if it’s something they never thought they’d see them do again.”

It’s fitting, then, that Mt. Spokane, with its mission of providing a family-oriented ski experience, has been such an enthusiastic host of the program. The Adaptive Ski and Snowboard program is a non-profit, relying on a crew of dedicated volunteers; even the construction of the chalet was a volunteer effort—the result of a ski patroller’s son’s Eagle Scout project.

Dunbar does as much volunteer recruitment as she can; she herself is a part-timer, with a day-job as a recreational therapist at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute. But volunteers need not have any recreational therapy background.

“We want volunteers, first and foremost, to have some ski experience,” says Dunbar. “But I have volunteers of various backgrounds: people who are in the healthcare field, people in law school needing volunteer hours.”  The program, like its participants, adapts to the circumstances on hand.

Says Dunbar, “Like anything in life, if you try something one way and it doesn’t work, you just try something different.”//

Aaron Theisen has contributed to numerous regional and national sports and lifestyle publications. He wrote about Kimberley Alpine Resort for the January/February issue of Out There.

Originally appeared in the March 2017 print edition of Out There Venture under the title “Yes They Kan: Disabilities Not a Barrier at Mt. Spokane.”

Feature photo: Disabilities not a barrier at Mt. Spokane. // Aaron Theisen

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For those with physical disabilities, adaptive alpine ski lessons provide assistance and adaptive gear, when needed, to “teach people who may not be able to do the conventional stand-up skiing,” says Program Coordinator Alice Busch. “If we have someone who’s hearing-impaired, we pair the skier with an instructor who knows sign language. A blind skier needs a ski guide. For people who have balance issues, we have different pieces of equipment so they can stand up. For people who can’t stand or prefer not to, we have equipment to help them ski in a seated position.”

Participants enter the program with varied degrees of experience, Busch says, from experienced students, who are now learning how to ski or snowboard with an amputation, to children learning for the first time.

“For amputee skiers, we’ll teach them how to ski standing up, sitting down, or laying back using the limbs they have,” Busch says. “We had a guy in his mid-80s – a skier his whole life, and he lost a limb. We taught him how to use a three-track ski, which means you have three points on the ground – one ski and two outriggers on the snow with ski tips on the end. Then he wasn’t standing very well, so we put him in a sit-ski, called a bi-ski, which means there are two skis under the bucket seat.”

Busch continues, “We’re advancing them as far as they can go. We teach other people in their life how to use the equipment, and we give them resources to help them buy their own equipment. This program is ideally helping people to ski or snowboard on their own. We have some brilliant instructors who come up with great ideas to adapt equipment for a student based on specific disabilities,” she says.

For those with developmental disabilities, even children as young as 4 years old, Spokane Parks’ Therapeutic Recreation Services provides both alpine and cross-country ski lessons. Although it aims to enable skiers to compete in Special Olympics, competition is not required, according to Busch. Nordic skiers are referred to as “Blue Waxers” and alpine students are called “Powderhounds.” She says, “The instructor-to-student ratio goal is one-to-one, and never more than three skiers per instructor, as long as the students are independent, experienced skiers and know the mountain.”

Mt. Spokane’s supportive, friendly culture has helped the therapeutic program thrive. “We have an amazing partnership with Mt. Spokane and we adore ski patrol. They are so important to our program,” says Busch.

Spokane mom Amy Beert, whose daughter began therapeutic ski lessons at age 7, says, “The program allowed us to go up to the mountain and have fun as a family. My daughter was able to learn to ski independently and feel successful doing it. It’s a fun, safe environment.”

Every year Busch needs more volunteers – friendly people who are excited to help others. To be an adaptive instructor, one needs intermediate skiing or snowboarding skills. “Adaptive teaching is a little harder on your body. Volunteers are matched with adaptive students according to an instructor’s skills and experience,” she says. “For our other programs, if you’re a beginner, you’re only going to get better.” Volunteers must be able to participate in instructor training, which includes one day of dry land training in early December and a weekend of on-snow training: January 7 and 8, 2017, for Powderhounds and Blue Waxers, and January 13 through 15 for the adaptive program.

For more information about Spokane Parks & Recreation’s Therapeutic Recreation Services, visit www.my.spokanecity.org/recreation/therapeutic or contact Alice Busch at (509) 625-6245 or abusch@spokanecity.org. //

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For over 25 years, St Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute’s most popular and well attended program has allowed many of its participants to get wet, feel the spray on their face and experience the thrill of crossing a speeding boat’s wake.

Ski Fest consists of adaptive (sit) water skiing, tubing and boat/Jet Ski rides. Being pulled around a lake can work up an appetite, so participants are treated to a barbecue lunch. The ultimate goal of the weekend is to get people outside and just have a good time. Secondly, St Luke’s wants to educate the individuals, their families and caregivers on how they can get out on their own and enjoy water sports and recreation. Staff members give tips on what kind of equipment will work best given their function along with some techniques to ensure safety and enjoyment in the water.

The participants come from all over the Inland Northwest. Most have been through the St. Luke’s continuum. There is no limit to the range of individuals who participate, but they all share one characteristic in that they are limited somehow from participating in what most of us would consider just another activity. The diagnosis can range from spinal cord injuries, amputations, congenital conditions (cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down Syndrome), to stroke survivors, head injury survivors, etc. Ski Fest is all-inclusive, which means it is for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Families and caregivers are encouraged to attend as well.

Adaptive equipment allows a skier to participate in a range of water sports from skipping over the lake on an inner tube to competitive skiing. Many leg and arm amputees use the same equipment as able-bodied athletes, but adaptive devices such as sit-skis and shoulder slings accommodate various levels of ability. One adaptive setup includes outriggers on either side of the main ski. This is used when someone is first attempting skiing and for those that have little to no abdominal muscle strength or limited balance. The outriggers help the participant stay upright and provide the experience they need to get them ready for a single ski. For many volunteers, seeing the reaction of a first time skier is one of their greatest rewards.

Several organizations that donate resources or sponsor Ski Fest include the Clear Lake Homeowners Association, Rocky Mountain Medical, Cure Medical, Inland NW Personal Watercraft Club and Spokane Parks and Recreation. According to Candice Belcourt, Recreation Therapist at St Luke’s, it’s the volunteers who make it all happen. Anywhere from 15 to 30 volunteers assist with overall safety on the land and water, driving boats or Jet Skis and setting up and breaking down equipment. Volunteers also help balance skiers so that they can get up and jump into the water to assist once a skier has fallen or let go of the rope. Most of the volunteers are current or previous employees at St. Luke’s.

Ski Fest 2015 is scheduled for the weekend of July 18-19 at Clear Lake near Cheney, Wash. For information about participating or volunteering, contact Candice Belcourt at BelcouCM@st-lukes.org. (Hank Greer) //

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Barreda and Unlimbited are working with Vets-Help to get wounded veterans on the slopes. Her program helps to get these soldiers equipment, training, and lift tickets so they can enjoy life and sport on the mountain. The program helps them have the same realization that she did when first strapped to a mono ski, that she could do something she never thought possible. After much collaboration, they landed on a design that would be capable of handling the most aggressive of mono skiers. This is the first of a new series of products being commissioned with Vets-Help and Unlimbited.

Vets-Help is working with various partners to expand the organization’s adaptive sports programs, enabling traumatically injured veterans and other disabled people to work through their disability to participate in sports supervised by specially trained teachers. The organization fosters industry partnerships to facilitate participation in sports like car racing, golf, winter sports including downhill skiing, and various water sports.

Vets-Help was created by a disabled vet who understands and actively works to meet the transitional needs of post-combat veterans. The group fosters understanding, mentoring, friendship and rehabilitation through competitive sports for active duty members, veterans, and their families.

The Vets Help programs serve as a different type of therapy, where veterans and families can work together to “come home” by dealing with, and moving past, combat stress and injury.

Pictured below:

For more information visit www.snevamfg.com, www.unlimbited.com, and http://www.vets-help.org. For more information, please contact: TJ Sneva/Sneva Mfg. Skis & Snowboards tj@snevamfg.com 317.496.8935

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’

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