2026 Snow Club Season Launches with Record Participation
74 DC Youth Hit the Slopes as Program Continues Breaking Barriers in Winter Sports
City Kids Wilderness Project kicks off its transformative 2025 Snow Club season with another year of increased participation, welcoming 74 Washington, DC, youth to the slopes, more than half of all City Kids participants. The milestone reflects the program’s growing impact in tackling the long-standing diversity gap in winter sports.
Beginning in 2021, City Kids was selected as one of the first 11 organizations nationwide to join Vail Resorts’ Epic for Everyone initiative, launching the first Snow Club season with just 22 participants. Five years later, participation has more than tripled, demonstrating the program’s expanding reach and impact.
Snow Club features four exciting trips to Whitetail Resort from January through March, offering City Kids participants spanning grades 6 through 12 the chance to learn and grow on the slopes. Each participant receives tailored instruction in skiing and snowboarding designed to match their individual comfort levels and skill progression, while also gaining exposure to diverse career opportunities within the winter sports industry.
The program’s impact continues to shine: Last season, 83.5% of youth agreed they feel more confident in their skiing and snowboarding abilities due to the skills they’ve developed at Snow Club, a testament to the power of consistent access and quality instruction.
Building Lifelong Connections
In a first for the program, City Kids is launching an alumni Snow Club trip, inviting up to 30 former participants to return to the slopes and continue their winter sports journey.
“Seeing our alumni come back for Snow Club is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of this program,” says Montae Franklin, Camp Director and City Kids Alumnus. “They discovered something on the mountain that stayed with them, and now they’re choosing to deepen that relationship with the outdoors, with the community, and with City Kids. That’s the goal: building skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging that doesn’t end when they graduate from the program.”
In an era where a day at a ski resort, including equipment rentals and lessons, can exceed $1,000, City Kids’ Snow Club transforms winter sports from an exclusive luxury into an accessible avenue for personal growth, leadership development, and community building.
Each journey to Whitetail Mountain Resort becomes a masterclass in resilience, teamwork, and self-discovery. Under the guidance of dedicated instructors and mentors, participants progress from tentative first steps on bunny slopes to confident runs down challenging terrain, mirroring their journey of personal growth.
This season builds on City Kids’ 30-year legacy of empowering D.C. youth through outdoor experiences. The organization’s commitment to long-term engagement ensures that Snow Club isn’t just an introduction to winter sports; it’s a stepping stone toward lifelong outdoor engagement and leadership.
Powered by Community Support
This season’s success is made possible through an expanding network of committed partners. Funding partners include Vail Resorts’ Epic for Everyone Youth Access Program, the Katz Amsterdam Foundation, the Share Winter Foundation, and individual supporters who rallied during Giving Tuesday. In-kind partners Seirus and Turtle Fur provided essential cold-weather gear, while Greystar supported equipment organization and Snow Club preparation. Corporate and community partners like Artemis and individual supporters are hosting breakfasts to fuel youth for their days on the slopes.
