FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Information:
Karl Stone: 800-887-5464 x202
Alice Pearce: 800-887-5464 x203
Email: media@SkiNH.com
Download Release: www.SkiNH.com
4th AND 5th GRADERS
NORTH WOODSTOCK, NH, OCTOBER 2009 - Ski NH, the statewide association representing 36 alpine and cross country resorts throughout the state, invites fourth and fifth grade students to participate in its annual Earn Your Turns program and Snowsports Passport program. The programs make it easier for children and their families to enjoy snowsports more frequently, and introduce skiing and snowboarding to kids who haven't tried them yet.
The fourth grade Earn Your Turns program provides fun incentives for kids to develop and reinforce basic skills such as research, reading and writing by doing a project on the history of skiing in New Hampshire. Once the project is complete, students submit their project to their fourth grade teacher. The teacher reviews each project and, if it is satisfactory, submits the student's name to Ski NH. Ski NH then sends the qualified fourth grade student an Earn Your Turns passbook filled with a voucher for a free lift ticket and cross country trail pass for each of the 36 member resorts of Ski NH as well as savings on lift tickets and trail passes for parents and siblings, rental packages, lessons and more.
The fifth grade Snowsports Passport program offers a book of lift ticket vouchers for the 5th grader and other savings for family members. The 5th grade book costs $20 (to support administrative costs), with $5 donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire. The book consists of one, two, or three lift tickets or trail passes for each of the 36 member resorts of Ski NH, as well as savings on lift tickets and trail passes for parents and siblings, rental packages, lessons and more. To receive a 5th grade passport, families simply complete an application available on SkiNH.com and forward it along with a copy of their fifth grader's report card.
While the 4th grade program was created 13 years ago with the goal of helping kids to achieve at a higher standard academically, the 5th grade program was conceived four years ago to encourage kids and their families to become more active during the winter months. "According to federal research, only 7.9% of kids are physically active three or more hours per day during the winter (as compared to 64.4% of kids during the summer). In a state blessed with so much snow and winter fun, Ski NH resorts want to make it as easy and affordable as possible for kids and their families to get outdoors, get active and have fun," explained Kim Pickering, Ski NH's program director. More than 2,000 5th graders participated in the program last year.
According to Pickering, more than 4,200 students participated in the 4th grade Earn Your Turns program. "The schools are excited about the program because it correlates to the New Hampshire history curriculum for fourth grade, and it creates a real incentive for students to use their imagination and creativity in each project," said Pickering. "Parents enjoy the program because it enables families to enjoy outdoor activities at quite a savings at New Hampshire's winter resorts."
The 2009/10 Earn Your Turns and Snowsports Passport programs are made possible by the support of the NH Department of Travel and Tourism Development, Mountain Dew, WMUR-TV and Ski NH's member resorts.
Ski NH is the statewide association representing 36 alpine and cross country resorts and more than 200 lodging and guest service properties in New Hampshire. For more information on ski areas, lodging packages, and updated winter events at Ski NH resorts, call Ski NH at (800) 88-SKI-NH (800-887-5464) or visit the Ski NH website at www.SkiNH.com. For statewide media relations assistance, visit the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism's media room at http://visitnh.gov/media/ or contact Mr. Tai Freligh at 603-271-2343, option #2.