By Shannon Lukens.

 

Second graders in Routt County are learning to ski. Some know, but some don’t. That bothered Lori Keefe so she started the Ski Town USA Initiative in 2017. 

“It just keeps growing and its magic.”

Second graders from the Steamboat schools and North Routt get to ski two days at Howelsen Hill. The program runs for four weeks each winter. Week three starts this week.

 

Here’s Keegan. He’s a second grader at Strawberry Park Elementary.

“It’s my second time and I like doing both. I snowboard, too.”

 

Donoban is also a second grader at Strawberry Park Elementary.

“It’s fast and it’s really fun.”

 

Shannon Keesee is one of the 2nd grade teachers at Strawberry Park Elementary.

“It gives the kids the opportunity to all be able to ski on the mountain they’ve never skied before. Or a lot of them look at it and ski it and see it but they never get to participate. It puts them all on the same page of having the ski knowledge.”

 

Lori Keefe gets Winter Sports Club kids to help with the coaching, or her friends, or volunteers from the community.

“I have people who volunteer just to come put boots on or to organize skis.”

Others help with the Ski Town USA Initiative. Mountain Valley Bank is a premier sponsor. Christy Sports donates all of the gear for the kids. The City of Steamboat Springs donates the ski passes at Howelsen Hill. SmartWool donates socks for the kids, and the school district donates the buses to get the kids from school to the slopes.

“Everybody should have this opportunity. Everybody in this town should learn how to ski. That’s my mission.”