2020 By The Numbers
If 2020 showed us anything, it’s the power that outdoor recreation can have on a child’s life.
For many kids, Coombs Summer Camp was the only opportunity they had to get outside, see their friends, try new activities, and escape the stress of daily life. Whether it was taking inflatable kayaks down the Snake River, rafting with Solitude in Grand Teton National Park, completing the Snow King rope course, hikes with a Wilderness Ranger, paddle boarding at R Park, or learning to rock climb with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides, we saw firsthand how impactful time outdoors can be in a time of crisis.
Despite the challenges we faced due to COVID-19, 2020 was a record-breaking year at Coombs Outdoors. Our restructured programs, additional staff, and incredible partnerships allowed us to serve more kids than ever before, as well as catalyzed an extension of activities into the spring and fall to truly provide a full year of thoughtful and supportive outdoor programs for kids who need it most.
Looking Ahead to 2021
Despite the obstacles 2020 presented, Coombs Outdoors is heading into 2021 in a position to provide year-round outdoor programming to more kids than ever before.
Winter
With 300 kids enrolled in winter programs at Snow King and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Winter 2021 is off to a great start. There truly is something for everyone during the winter at Coombs. Between our Learn to Ski programs at Snow King, Powder Pals at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Coombs Club at Snow King which both provide mentoring and ski days to middle and high schoolers, a new Nordic ski program for elementary students in partnership with JH Ski Club and 22Nordic, snowboarding lessons with Carving the Future, and 50 parents skiing in our Padres program, Coombs is providing access to outdoor winter recreation in as many ways as possible.
Summer
This summer, we’re looking forward to expanding our summer programs to provide multiple weeks of camp for kids K-12, with opportunities for middle and high school students to dive deeper into activities like climbing, mountain biking, and backpacking.
Study Hall
Study hall sessions will become available to Coombs families throughout the year, at the request of kids, parents, and teachers, all of whom have reported an increase in preparedness for class and completion of homework. The new Coombs Room provides a safe and productive workspace for students to participate in study halls, with tutoring and mentor services from Coombs program staff.
High School Internships
We’re also excited to dive deeper into the EMPOWER component of our program model, working with our older kids to harness the confidence they have built through Coombs Activate and Engage programming. Coombs is developing a plan to launch an internship program which will rely on partnerships with local businesses and organizations to provide our high school participants with career opportunities in the outdoor recreation industry. In addition to expanded professional experience, a goal of the EMPOWER program is to provide participants with access to professional skill development workshops and college preparation activities.