January Newsletter: 2021 Is Shaping Up To Be Our Biggest Winter Yet!
With nearly 300 kids enrolled in winter programs so far, 2021 is shaping up to be the biggest winter Coombs Outdoors has ever had. Coombs participants will be out on the ski hill either at Snow King or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort every day of the week this winter!
Powder Pals at Teton Village
The Powder Pals program is our middle and high school mentoring program, where Coombs Outdoors participants ski in small groups with volunteer mentors at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. We have a record number of 73 kids signed up so far, skiing every weekend through the end of the season!
Each week, groups practice mountain safety skills to help them become confident and independent skiers. The end goal is to empower our older kids to become comfortable navigating the mountain on their own as they get older, and build friendships that will turn into ski partners along the road.
“Getting back on snow this winter was refreshing and exciting. I can’t wait to continue skiing and getting to know the exciting people in my group!” - Alexis, 10th grade
Coombs Club at Snow King
The Coombs Club is a new addition to winter programs this year, designed for middle school kids who have graduated from lessons at Snow King, and want to continue to ski at the town hill with friends and mentors. We have 17 kids in Coombs Club this year, skiing with volunteer mentors at Snow King every Saturday morning.
“I’m really glad that even with everything going on in the world we have the opportunity to ski safely this season.” - Nayeli, 11th grade
Snow King Lessons
Snow King is where Coombs programs began, and Snow King ski lessons continue to be our most popular program to date. We have over 200 kids in weekly group lessons at Snow King this winter, ranging from true first-timers to those who’ve been on skis for a few seasons now. Some groups meet on weekends, while other kids ski after school on weeknights where their parents can pick them up after work.
Padres Program
The Padres Program grows steadily each year, with more and more parents getting excited to learn to ski once they see their kids experience the joy of sliding on snow. This year, we have over 50 Padres signed up, with weekly lessons on the weekends. The Padres Program helps engage families as a unit, broadening parents' exposure to the outdoor opportunities their children enjoy and building the foundation for more outdoor family-friendly outdoor adventures.
Partner of the Month: Stio
In 2020, we began a new year-round partnership with Stio. Stio is the Official Outerwear Sponsor of Coombs Outdoors, providing winter jackets for all of our participants. With 300 participants on snow this year, that’s no small feat!
In addition to providing gear for programs, Stio employees have volunteered time over the weekends to ski with our middle school mentoring group at Teton Village. We are honored to have such extensive support from such an amazing local brand. This partnership embodies our hope for a stronger and more integrated community, working together to create better access to the outdoors for local kids who otherwise wouldn't have the chance.
Look for our kids in their new Stio jackets this winter at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King Mountain!
Donate to Coombs Outdoors
Letter from the Executive Director
It seems unbelievable that just a month ago I was writing my first letter to you, introducing myself as the new Executive Director of Coombs Outdoors and expressing my excitement to be working for such an incredible organization. In the past month I have learned more than I could have ever imagined - from the very tactical details that go into running winter programs for almost 300 participants to the high-level strategy behind program development and maximizing impact for each child and family that we serve. While I've loved every challenge and experience thus far, it isn't surprising to me that my favorite part of this new gig is meeting the people in the Coombs Outdoors community.
Within my first four weeks, I have had the chance to ski and chat with our Founder Emily Coombs, spent hours learning from the staff, helped Coombs kids and families find their skis and try on their new Stio jackets, been guided by an incredibly engaged Board of Directors, met with our key community partners, and spoken to supporters like you who are committed to the mission of Coombs Outdoors. The common denominator connecting all of these very different groups of people is a passion for the outdoors and a shared understanding that everyone in this community deserves the opportunity to slide down a mountain on two boards (or one!) with a frozen smile plastered to our faces.
Coombs winter programs started in December and have already inspired confidence, created new friendships, and generated dozens of frozen smiles. With COVID-19 continuing to make connecting with each other a challenge in 2021, outdoor winter recreation is providing a safe way for our participants to maintain mental and physical health and establish important relationships with mentors and peers. We hope you enjoyed a little snapshot of the next few months of winter programs and Coombs and hope you'll join us for Skiing with the Stars on March 4, 2021 at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort!
Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director, Coombs Outdoors
January Donor Highlight: Teton Pines
Over the holidays, members of Teton Pines raised money to provide Christmas gifts for 56 Coombs kids. Kids submitted wishlists in early December, all of which were granted within the first hours of fundraising.
From skateboards to dinosaur backpacks, the generosity of Teton Pines was a huge highlight for Coombs this holiday season!
