Smugglers' Notch Vermont - Press Releases
Toddlers Learn Skiing Fundamentals at Smugglers' Notch Resort
-Little children as young as 2 1/2 develop beginning skills
-A fun session matches up with toddler attention span and physical capabilities
-Home base is cozy TREASURES child care center
-Program includes introductory session, equipment and helmet rental, snack and lunch (the Resort's FamilyFest and Summit vacation packages offer a 25 percent discount on the Little Rascals on Snow program)
The scoop:
Toddlers enjoy their first exposure to skiing in Smugglers’ Notch Resort’s unique Little Rascals on Snow program. Experienced staff from the Resort’s renowned child care facility TREASURES introduce children as young as 2 1/2 to skiing with games and instruction.
The program allows children to accustom themselves to skiing in short increments, as they have fun on the snow one-on-one with an instructor and get the feel of skis and ski equipment without taking on the challenge of a full day on-snow program. Their day is flexible, with ski instruction taking place when the child is interested in heading out on the snow. Before going outside, children have fun playing "dress up" in their ski equipment. Skis, boots and helmets are kept right at TREASURES to ensure convenience for parents - no trip to the rental shop needed.
On the snow at TREASURES, a child's first on-hill experience incorporates the use of a gently moving 20-foot conveyor lift, conveniently located at the child care center for dedicated use by the Little Rascals on Snow program. In a one-on-one session, a child and their instructor practice gliding and ski positioning in a session designed to leave the child wanting more.
TREASURES hosts a weekly Cookie Race on Thursdays for the little skiers to demonstrate their newly developed skills to their families, followed by hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies.
Families on the Club Smugglers' FamilyFest or Summit vacation packages can enroll their child in Little Rascals on Snow at a 25 percent discount (regular price per day per child for Little Rascals is $129).
The buzz:
-"Children younger than three often cannot enroll in a ski camp because they are not potty-trained or not developmentally ready for a camp situation. In Little Rascals, they benefit from rest and play time in the cozy atmosphere of TREASURES in addition to the expertise and caring of the center’s caregivers and SSU children's instructors." — Shelly Schaffer, director of TREASURES
-"Our goal with this program is to instill enthusiasm for the sport that the kids will carry with them as they grow older." — Harley Johnson, director of Snow Sport University
