A Healthy Winter Activity for Families to Enjoy Together White Haven, PA – September 2014 – Fourth and fifth graders who want to

ski or snowboard are fortunate especially if they live in or near Pennsylvania.

For the eleventh year, the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (PSAA) is making skiing or snowboarding free through their Snowpass program for youths inthose two grade levels.

Skiing and snowboarding offers families the opportunity to exercise outside together during the winter months. A ninety pound youth can burn between two and three hundred calories per hour skiing and/or snowboarding depending on their activity level. Skiing and snowboarding are listed among the activities included in the President’s Challenge organized by the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Children and adults can earn points toward a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award by skiing an snowboarding. All nineteen ski/snowboard resorts across Pennsylvania belong to the Snowpass program.

In the Snowpass booklet, each resort makes available coupons for fourth and fifth graders to hit the slope free, up to three times, if accompanied by an adult who purchases a lift ticket. An additional coupon at each resort makes it possible for fourth and fifth graders to take advantage of a beginner lift, lesson, and rental Package free and 50% off a beginner lift, lesson and rental packagefor the participating adult. “We think it is a great program,” said parent Glenn Kirby. “Without the Snowpass, we wouldn’t have gone snowboarding at all

this winter. Now we are hooked. We are already looking forward to next year a well as when my first grader is in fourth grade.”

“We have found that fourth and fifth graders are at the ideal age to learn a new sport with ease and to excel rapidly,” said PSAA Executive Director Linda Irvin. “Through the Snowpass program and on-mountain experience, students can see the lessons of their fourth and fifth grade science studies in action (such as water resources at work, animal predator/prey relationships, geology structure, and the physics of lift mechanics).”

The Snowpass booklet is not restricted to residents of Pennsylvania. Any fourth or fifth grade student ca participate by completing a simple application and providing a report card or other document verifying they are currently in the fourth or fifth grade. Photos for students also are required. The application can be found on the Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association’s Web site at www. skipa.com.

There is a nominal administration/processing fee of $30 for the Snowpass. There are some basic rules that apply as well as some black-out dates typically around busy holidays. The details also are posted at www.skipa.com. The site lists all participating resorts in Pennsylvania and answers most frequently asked questions. Check the web site for further information, blackout dates and paid adult lift restrictions or call the Pennsylvania

Ski Areas Association at 570-443-0963 then ski or ride to your heart’s content at any or all of the following resorts. No matter where you

live in Pennsylvania or a neighboring state; you’ll be within minutes to two hours from a world of fun on the slopes.

Participating Ski Areas to Date are:

Alpine Mountain Analomink, PA

Bear Creek Mountain Resort Macungie, PA

Big Boulder Blakeslee, PA

Blue Knob Ski Area Claysburg, PA

Blue Mountain Ski Resort Palmerton, PA

Camelback Ski Area Tannersville, PA

Elk Mountain Union Dale, PA

Hidden Valley Resort Hidden Valley, PA

Jack Frost Mountain Blakeslee, PA

Liberty Mountain Resort Carroll Valley, PA

Montage Mountain Scranton, PA

Mystic Mountain at Nemacolin Farmington, PA

Roundtop Mountain Resort Lewisbury, PA

Seven Springs Mountain Resort Champion, PA

Shawnee Mountain Shawnee-on-Del, PA

Ski Big Bear Lackawaxen, PA

Ski Sawmill Family Resort Morris, PA

Tussey Mountain All Seasons Boalsburg, PA

Whitetail Resort Mercersburg, PA