Winter Park for Kids

At Winter Park Resort, the specialty is kids. The ski area is home to one of the top programs in the nation for teaching children to ski. With a 32,000-square-foot Children's Center located at the base area, the program concentrates on teaching skiing in a fun environment.

The center is a self-contained operation complete with meeting rooms, kitchen and rental shop. Children ages 3-12 are assigned to groups based on their age and grade in school as well as their ability.

The Ute program is for youngsters ages 3 and 4. A typical first day in the program is spent becoming familiar with equipment and alternating structured indoor play with ski and snow play sessions.

Five-year-olds and kindergartners become members of the Cheyennes program. After demonstrating they can wedge to a stop on Mt. Maury, these youngsters earn their first ride on the chairlift. This group spends most of their day practicing in Discovery Park, a learn-to-ski park with nearly 25 acres of beginner trails, skill building stations and adventure trails.

The addition of a rustic log cabin in the woods near Moose Wallow trail will serve as a rest stop and warming hut.

First, second and third graders join the Navajos and are placed in a class with children of similar skiing ability. They practice on trails such as Marmot Flats, Black Bear and Gnome Forest with lots of exciting banked turns and "whoopee-tee-doo's."

The Navajos move on to the upper mountain as their skills improve to explore the trails leading to Rendezvous Flats, a tepee village hidden in the woods next to Mock Turtle trail.

Fourth graders and children up to age 12 are placed in the Arapaho Program. Like the Navajos, they are grouped into classes according to ability. In addition to skiing a variety of runs, advanced classes often ski at Mary Jane. Snowboarding lessons for the Arapaho Program are also available.

To make it easy on parents, rental equipment is available on-site in the Children's Center. Equipment can be adjusted or exchanged during the day if needed and conveniently stored overnight.

Daycare is also available in the Children's Center for children 2 months to 5 years. This non-ski program includes all-day supervision with structured play. Reservations are required throughout the season.

For more information about family ski vacations at Winter Park, contact the travel professionals from Carlson Wagonlit Travel.