WinterKids: Building Community Through Maine Winters
Ever since I was a kid, I loved the sound of snow coming down. The quiet softness as a blanket of snow covered the ground, trees, and houses made me feel at home. The anticipation of a snow day from school, time spent playing outside, or skiing fresh powder only grew as the flakes continued to fall. Each of us carries a memory that connects us to the magic of winter and reminds us that, at heart, we are all still kids.
At WinterKids, we believe that all Maine kids and families should have opportunities to get outside and stay active during the winter months. For 25 years, WinterKids has created programming rooted in building healthy lifestyles through education, outdoor activity, and fun. Maine has a long history as a recreation haven, and WinterKids works to strengthen the sense of community that makes winter recreation accessible, welcoming, and shared across generations.
The WinterKids Passport is the flagship program that started it all and embodies that mission. This family-based membership invites families to explore more than 50 locations across Maine, offering free and discounted junior admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Plus, the Passport also promotes dozens of free public access spaces around the state. From downhill skiing and snowboarding mountains to cross-country ski centers, ice skating rinks, and snowshoe facilities, the Passport encourages families to try new activities together and return again and again. Passport Family Days further strengthen those connections, bringing families together at shared locations to meet other WinterKids participants and build relationships rooted in winter play. A full list of offers, locations, and Family Days can be found online.
For many families, the Passport opens doors that might otherwise feel out of reach. WinterKids Passport parent Whitney Blethen shared how the program helped her family build a lasting connection to winter sports:
“I grew up in NH and came from a family who worked at Gunstock. Skiing was part of our life for generations. With cost often being a challenge, we were always fortunate to use staff passes to ski, and I loved working at the mountain in my teens.
Now with my own kids, I knew I wanted to pass along the love of skiing to them, but cost was always a factor for our family. We were able to find some skis on marketplace and a reasonable lease program for my youngest. Thanks to the WinterKids Passport program, my children have been able to experience the love of this sport, grow their skills, and have found great joy in the winter season. Both of my children have benefited from WinterKids tickets at Mt. Abram and Powderhouse Hill. This, along with their after-school ski programs, this winter has been amazing. Thank you and the staff and volunteers of [WinterKids] for your commitment to making winter fun accessible to all kids!” – Whitney Blethen, WinterKids Passport family.
The sense of community extends beyond ski slopes and trails. WinterKids also supports schools through its Learn Outside Guide, an outdoor learning supplement that empowers teachers to incorporate movement and outdoor activity into the school day. Each January, that effort culminates in the WinterKids Winter Games, a four-week statewide challenge that brings schools together around a shared goal of healthy, active living. While the Winter Games include incentives and prizes, schools participate because of the positive outcomes the program has on student engagement, school culture, and community pride. Across Maine, students discover what it means to truly become “WinterKids.”
Community celebration is also at the heart of Welcome to Winter, a free public winter festival hosted each December at Lost Valley in Auburn. Created to introduce new Mainers to the many ways winter can be enjoyed, the event offers youth free opportunities to try skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. WinterKids also provides youth winter clothing to help families feel prepared and confident heading into the season. The result is a welcoming, inclusive celebration that brings people together to embrace Maine winters.
With more than 35,000 square miles of land, Maine can feel vast, but WinterKids works with recreational partners in every corner of the state to ensure kids and families have access to winter activities. These partnerships help strengthen local recreation hubs, expand statewide exposure, and build a sustainable future for Maine’s winter sports industry by engaging young people early.
As Aaron Damon, Assistant General Manager at Big Rock Mountain, shared:
“The WinterKids Passport program was an easy choice for us at Big Rock. Strengthening connections with friends and family outdoors is at the heart of what makes Maine winters so memorable. At Big Rock, we view winter sports as a way to share Maine’s beloved traditions with people from all backgrounds. Initiatives like this not only make these activities more affordable, but also inspire our community to discover new places and celebrate the best of winter together.”
Whether kids are snowshoeing, building snow forts, or sledding down a neighborhood hill, it’s the tired smiles at the end of the day that matter most. WinterKids helps families create those moments that grow into confidence, connection, and a lifelong relationship with winter in Maine.
To learn more about WinterKids programs or to support the mission, consider making a donation online. You can also challenge yourself while supporting youth winter recreation by starting or joining a team at the WinterKids Downhill 24, a 24-hour fundraising event at Sugarloaf and the only opportunity of the season to ski or ride overnight at the Loaf. Learn more at D24.org.
Content and images contributed by Josh Harrington, Family Programs & Outreach, WinterKids
