Children's Lessons

Important Info

We will no longer offer group and beginner lessons for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. Private Lessons will still be available for intermediate to advanced skiers/riders and can be booked by filling out our lesson request form online.

Mountain Adventure children’s lessons meet as classes geared toward the children’s needs and learning styles, with the 4-Hour Lesson for ages 7-12 geared towards kids who are ready to start exploring the upper mountain with intermediate/advanced terrain.

Check-In:

• The meeting place is in the Mountain Adventure Room, on the 2nd level of the Northwoods Lodge.
  • 2-Hour Morning Lessons (ages 4-12) meet at 9:45 am with on-snow instruction from 10 am-12 pm.
  • 2-Hour Afternoon Lessons (ages 7-12) meet at 12:45pm with on-snow instruction from 1 pm – 3 pm.
  • 4-Hour Lessons (ages 7-12) meet at 9:45 am with on-snow instruction from 10 am – 2 pm.
• If you are renting equipment plan to arrive at least 1 hour prior to your check-in time to be fitted. Plan more time during weekend/holiday periods for potential traffic coming in.
• Helmets are required for ages 17 & under to participate in lessons. Helmets are available to rent individually and are included with the full gear rental package.

Lesson Info:

• Mountain Adventure class lessons are offered:
  • Saturday and Sunday.
  • Daily during our holiday periods.**
• First-time to intermediate abilities are welcome, kids are grouped with others of similar age and ability (see our chart to determine your child’s ability level).*
• Gear rentals include boots, helmet, skis or snowboard, and poles for skiers.
• Lower Mountain Tickets include access to our lower mountain lifts: The Snow Train Conveyor, Greenway Conveyor, The J-Bar, The Bear Cub Quad, and The Sunway Chair. Upper Mountain Tickets include access to all lifts and peaks.
• Advanced reservations are recommended. Book online or call (518) 251-4804.

*We recommend Daily Private Lessons for other ages and ability levels:
– For ages 3+ of all ability levels and both disciplines with advanced reservations.
– Snowboard students of any ability levels ages 3-6, or intermediate ages 7-12.
– Skiers or snowboarders looking to learn, explore, or tune up their technique in a specific area such as terrain park, bumps, steeps, or glades.

**Holiday Periods 2024/25
Wednesday 12/25/24 – Wednesday 1/1/25
Saturday 1/18/25 – Monday 1/20/25
Saturday 2/15/25 – Sunday 2/23/25

See Reservation Policy

New Beginner Lift

We’re upgrading our single Bear Cub Poma Lift to a conveyor-load quad! More than doubling the length of its predecessor, the Bear Cub Quad will reach 1912′ in length and unload onto our Lower Sunway trail, a green circle easiest trail. We will also open up the top of Bear Cub Run to allow direct access to the lift for another run! This quad will make loading easier for first-timers and is ideal for progressing from Bear Cub Run to the Sunway Chair and beyond. On Bear Cub Run, our beginner area, we have two conveyor surface lifts as a great first step! This new lift is the next step for those first learning how to get on a lift. The conveyor load helps new skiers, and riders time their loading correctly.

That’s not our only improvement for the season, come see the other improvements for 2023-24 and more upcoming projects here!

Reservation Policy

For Day Lessons/Programs (Youth Lessons):

• All purchases are final. Reservations are non-refundable if canceled within 72 hours of the start date.
• Reservation cancellations made more than 72 hours before the scheduled start date will incur a cancellation fee: $15 for adult/youth group lessons and $45 for private lessons. The remaining balance will be refunded to the original form of payment.
• Reservations cancelled within 72 hours of the start date are non-refundable. Instead, you will receive a credit of the full value of your reservation, minus a cancellation fee ($15 for adult/youth group lessons and $45 for private lessons), towards the same Lesson/Program on another day. Credit requests must be submitted by close of business on the day before the scheduled lesson. Credits are valid for one year from the issue date.
• Participant must be within the determined Lesson/Program age range at the start of the Lesson/Program.
• The Lesson/Program will be voided if the participant arrives late for the reserved start time, and a refund or credit will NOT be issued.

All Lesson/Program participants must electronically sign the 2024/25 Day and Multi-Week Lesson/Program Agreement. If purchasing online, you’ll be presented with the 2024/25 Day and Multi-Week Lesson/Program Agreement prior to checkout. If purchasing over the phone, you should receive an email with a link to electronically sign this document.

You will receive the program check-in time and location in your confirmation email. Programs are in session every day the Snow Sports School is open, regardless of weather conditions. During inclement weather, we will take indoor breaks as necessary.

SnowSports Ability Chart

Ability levels are rough approximations of the student’s skills and allow us to group students of a similar level for lessons. When booking your lesson, select the level that best describes your ability level.

SKI

• Level 1, First Time – I’m a first time skier who is brand new to the sport.
• Level 2, Second Time – I’ve skied before, but still learning to make turns.
• Level 3, Novice – I can turn my skis with control in both directions on easy green terrain.
• Level 4, Intermediate – I am developing parallel turns on intermediate blue terrain.
• Level 5, Advanced – I can make controlled parallel turns on expert black diamond terrain.

SNOWBOARD

• Level 1, First Time – I’m a first time snowboarder who is brand new to the sport.
• Level 2, Novice – I can traverse and link turns on easy green terrain.
• Level 3, Intermediate – I can make controlled turns and am switch riding on intermediate blue terrain.
• Level 4, Advanced – I ride expert black diamond terrain in control.