MARS HILL — For many families, being active in the outdoors in the wintertime can be a major investment. For example, purchasing ski equipment, ski lessons and lift tickets can reach into the hundreds of dollars for just one person; for an entire family, the cost can be unbearable.
As winter approaches, Bigrock Ski Area and The Bank of Maine have announced a new partnership aimed at lowering the cost of alpine skiing and getting more students active during the winter months, The Bank of Maine Ski 4 Life Program.
“Ski 4 Life is an afters-chool activity program for students in grades K through 12,” stated Bigrock SnowSchool manager Mark Shea. “It provides an opportunity for kids to develop skiing or snowboarding as a lifetime sport at an affordable rate – just six dollars per visit.”
The program includes a lift ticket, rental equipment, and instruction – a package that normally costs $44 – and provides time for the students to practice newly learned skills and to have some fun on the slopes.
“At The Bank of Maine, we know the value of a healthy and active lifestyle,” said John Everets, chairman and CEO for The Bank of Maine. “Skiing is a great way to stay active in the wintertime. We are honored to be able to help Bigrock make skiing as accessible as possible, and that means reaching out to children and schools with a high quality program at a low cost.”
The Bank of Maine Ski 4 Life Program is a multi-week structured lesson program for all skiing and snowboarding abilities. There are also opportunities to incorporate other educational elements into the program such as environmental education, outdoor leadership, and team building. The Bank of Maine and Bigrock are actively seeking schools and youth groups that are interested in wintertime programming for their students.
“It can be difficult for families to find things to do outside when the weather turns colder,” explained Shea. “Overall, the cost of participating in Ski 4 Life is significantly lower than buying a video game or even going to the movies. The return on investment – developing a healthy and active hobby and learning new skills – is priceless.”
