Little Shredders, Big Smiles
Our family (but really, my husband) lives for the winter season. And that’s a good thing, since we usually have more than six months of it here in the Tetons. Naturally, as soon as our kids were big enough and showed interest, we started bringing them up to the mountain.
Teaching our girls to ski and snowboard has been incredibly rewarding. As parents, we get to witness their hard work and persistence lead to growth in a sport we all love.
While my husband (a snowboarder) and I (a skier) are proficient at our snow sport of choice, we realized we’d reached a point with our oldest daughter where some peer camaraderie and outside instruction would serve her well. Teton Valley kiddos have access to some of the country’s most renowned ski terrain just a short drive from their houses. Grand Targhee Resort, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and Snow King Mountain Resort all offer excellent programs for children who are three and over and potty-trained.
Watching your kid take off on snow is unbelievably exciting. Not to mention, seeing them head up the Dreamcatcher lift for the first time, and taking turns with them at the end of the day, are testaments to the value of getting your kiddos in ski school. No matter the route, it is money and time well spent!
Here is a summary of the offerings found on both sides of Teton Pass:
Grand Targhee Resort
ALTA, WYOMING
Lil’ Gremlins
AGES 3-6
Half days are from 9:45am to 12:15pm or 1pm to 3:30pm. Skiers and snowboarders can sign up for Fridays, Saturdays, or
Sundays. This lesson package is offered
as a full twelve-week session ($900) or
as a six-week session ($450). You can
choose either the first or second half-session.
Gremlin Squad
AGES 6-12
Full days are from 9:45am to 3:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. Lessons are offered as a full twelve-week session ($1,300) or as a six-week session ($650). You can choose either the first or second half-session.
Tiny Turns
PRIVATE LESSONS FOR AGES 3-5
90-minute personal instruction for all levels. Lessons can be added to a full day of daycare at the resort’s Huckleberry Patch or booked on their own.
Huckleberry Patch Daycare
AGES 1-5
Grand Targhee’s licensed childcare center includes a full day of tailored, age-appropriate programming with both indoor and outdoor activities.
Youth Season Leases
AGES 12 AND UNDER
Swap gear at any time for the right fit and top-quality equipment all season long. Save $50 when paired with a season-
long program.
Grand Targhee has spent the past two years working to complete a buildout of the Gheeville Adventure Zone, a robust kid-friendly area located near the Shoshone Lift and launching this winter. Gheeville is complete with “characters,” bus stops, and buildings where kids and beginners can learn and have fun.
“We did this because our learning area is special at Grand Targhee,” says Jill Gaylord, director of brand, strategy, and guest experience at the resort. “It’s rare that a beginner zone is so dedicated to learning and not an area where [skier] traffic filters out to the base.”
The Ski School uses each element as a teaching opportunity. Young skiers and boarders try to spot the eyes in the Eyeball Forest to learn to navigate trees. “Other elements are just for fun to keep people engaged,” Jill says. Learn more: grandtarghee.com.
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
TETON VILLAGE, WYOMING
Scouts Ski & Snowboard
AGES 3-4
Full day (9am to 3pm). Offered as three-week ($525) and nine-week ($1,500) sessions available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, or Sundays.
Rangers Ski & Snowboard
AGES 5-7
Full day (9am to 3pm). Offered as a nine-week program ($1,500) on Fridays (ski only), Saturdays, or Sundays.
December Youth Kick Off Camps
AGES 5-14
Full day (9am to 3pm). Offered as a three-week program ($525) held Saturdays or Sundays. This program is a great way to reacquaint kids to the snow at the beginning of the season.
Teton Village Racers & Riders
AGES 8-14
Full day (9am to 3pm). Offered as a nine-week program ($1,500) on Fridays (ski only), Saturdays, or Sundays.
JHMR offers a beginner area that includes the Teewinot Lift and Sweetwater Gondola. The Kids’ Adventure Map is designed especially for little ones, outlining a scavenger hunt and highlighting entry-level runs. When kids complete these runs during lessons, they receive a sticker to put on their helmet that sparks extra stoke and encouragement to collect them all. Lunch and snacks are provided for full day lessons. Learn more: jacksonhole.com.
Snow King Mountain Resort
JACKSON,WYOMING
Local Seasonal Programs
Snow King’s ten-week ski and snowboard programs divide students by both age and ability, meaning kids of all experience levels can find a class that goes at their pace.
AGES 4-5
Each ten-week session is offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, from 10am to noon ($695), or as a weekend program on either Saturday or Sunday from 9:30am to noon ($825).
KINDERGARTEN – FIFTH GRADE
Each ten-week session is offered daily from 4pm to 6pm during the school week ($695), or on Saturdays from 9:30am to noon or 1pm to 3:30pm. Sunday sessions are held from 1pm to 3:30pm. (Weekend sessions are $825.) Learn more: snowking.com.
Child skiing in mountains. Active teenage kid with safety helmet, goggles and ski poles running down ski slope. Snowy landscape, sunny day in winter season
Tips and Tricks to Keep Kids (and Parents) Pumped
- Get Familiar with the Gear Keep the gear out. That’s right, don’t put it all away once you get home. What’s an extra snowboard at the front door, really? Our girls get excited just playing with their ski gear: putting the boots on, practicing clipping in and out of their skis, and shuffling around. As silly as it may sound, I have found that the comfort and familiarity they gain with the equipment makes it easier once they’re back on the snow.
- Invest In A Car Potty Okay, hear me out. This was huge, especially at the three-to-five-year-old stage. Head up to the resort, and give your kids a chance to use the potty before getting their snowsuits on. An accident in a one-piece snowsuit is no fun; nor is having to take everything off again once they make it to the base area.
- Buy a Giant Sled Last winter, we bought a large double-wide jet sled that fit both kids and gear. Game changer! No one was complaining about carrying their stuff or needing to be carried themselves. It set the tone for the day—there was way less stress getting everyone to drop-off. Plus, their tired little legs were very happy to hitch a ride back to the car at the end of the
afternoon. - Always Keep Pocket Snacks Every morning before drop-off, I tuck a small bag of gummies or a lollipop or two into my daughter’s ski suit pocket. She loves surprising her friends with a little treat on the lift.
- One-Piece Snowsuits These are superior for kids (and maybe even adults!). There are no forgotten jackets or pants and no snow sneaking down collars or into waistbands. They’re warm, easy, and kids can zip them up and down themselves. I especially love Reima and Burton suits.
- Warm Mittens A must-have! We avoid hand warmers for many reasons—they’re distracting, wasteful, and unnecessary if your gear is warm and dry. I swear by long-cuffed mittens that go over the snowsuit, so no snow sneaks up sleeves.
- Balaclava Essential for keeping your head, ears, and neck covered and warm. Iksplor, a Jackson Hole-based company, makes a merino wool balaclava with a ponytail hole that we love. If your kid is allergic to wool, Skida makes adorable patterned options made of shearling polyester fleece.
- Base layers Moisture-wicking, snug-fitting base layers keep kids comfortable and dry. We love Iksplor’s merino wool layers in lots of vibrant colors. For non-wool choices, Patagonia’s Capilene base layers are excellent.
- Midlayer It gets cold in the Tetons—sometimes sub-zero at ski school drop-off. A wool or synthetic midlayer is the best defense against the winter chill.
- Helmet All three resorts require helmets for kids’ programming. Whether you buy new or used, make sure the helmet fits snugly and doesn’t have dents or cracks. Safety first! Plus, a good fit keeps their heads warmer than a loose one.
No matter the snow sport or winter activity, getting your kids outside during the colder months is a wonderful way to spark a lifelong love for the outdoors and a deeper connection to the place we call home. Whether you’re heading to the resort or simply exploring your own backyard,
every snowy day is a new adventure.