Ready, Set, Snow! Welcoming Winter at Coombs

A Message from our Executive Director

Greetings Friends, 

Exactly one year ago I started my new role as Executive Director here at Coombs Outdoors. I thought that I knew what the organization was all about- getting kids outside. I’ve learned an indescribable amount in my first year here, but the most important lesson has been that while getting kids outside is the foundation of our work, the impact and scope of our programs goes so much deeper. The relationships and community that the Coombs staff works hard to build and maintain with our families and participants has created an opportunity for us to learn and grow together. We are deeply in tune with the challenges and barriers that many of our families face and are creating year-round programming that directly responds to the needs of our community. We have expanded our programs to support high schoolers at a time in their lives when they need it most, to provide after-school recreation and engagement opportunities for youth, keeping them active and away from screens, and to serve more children with more programs throughout the summer when parents are busy with work and childcare is both challenging to find and financially out of reach for many local families.  

I learned quickly that Coombs is a community. A community made up of the families and children for whom we work, of a passionate staff and dedicated board who work intentionally and tirelessly to make an impact, of committed partners, sponsors and volunteers who provide services, gear, and time that is critical to creating functional and successful programs, and of enthusiastic donors and supporters who make all we do possible through their generous contributions. Together, through this community, we have provided transformative programs for more than 350 local youth in 2021. 

Our vision here at Coombs is a community in which youth feel supported, connected, and inspired. We are so grateful that you have been a part of this community as we grew and flourished in 2021 and we hope that you’re as excited as we are for what’s to come in 2022. Thank you for all you do for Coombs Outdoors.

See you on the slopes!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director 

To sum up our year

Coombs Outdoors has grown significantly over the past few years all with the goal of leveraging outdoor programming to help our local youth build a sense of community and belonging, develop confidence and a sense of self-worth, and increase mental health and emotional intelligence. Some of our proudest moments and biggest highlights of the past year include:

  • Serving more than 350 local youth in year-round programs

  • Providing 50+ kids with a safe, screen-free space for after school study halls and mentoring during virtual learning

  • Launching the EMPOWER Internship program, providing 14 high schoolers with job prep and professional training and placed in summer internships at local businesses and nonprofits

  • Expanding the EMPOWER program into winter with 15 additional internship placements and ongoing professional and personal development workshops.

  • Programming and coordinating three weeks of summer camp each for 160+ middle and elementary schoolers

  • Teaching 200+ kids to ski and snowboard at Snow King

  • Mentoring 70 middle and high schoolers in the PowderPal ski program at JHMR and 30 through the launch of the new Coombs Club program at Snow King

  • Hiring 3 former Coombs participants as Camp Instructors for our ACTIVATE summer camps

  • Recruiting 1 new Executive Director and securing a year-round program staff of 6

  • Raising $1 Million in Annual Revenue for the first time in the organization’s history

  • Sharing countless laughs, encouragement, proud moments, and adventures

Looking Ahead to Winter 2022


Winter 2022 will be our biggest winter yet with the largest number of Coombs kids ever enrolled in programs. Winter can be long and cold, but we will be helping local youth find joy and adventure in the coming months. Look for us at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Snow King!

Our Activate Program is hosting:

  • 170 kids in ski school K-5 Snow King Mountain Ski School

  • 30 kids in our nordic Ositos program with the Ski Club

  • 12 kids in Rockchuck Racers with the Ski Club

  • 7 kids in nordic programs with Teton Valley Ski Education Foundation

  • 30 adults in our Padres learn to ski program

Our Engage Program is hosting:

  • 86 kids in Powder Pals

  • 34 kids in Coombs Club

  • 10+ kids in an after-school climbing club and weekend climbing outings

  • 20 kids in learn-to snowboard programs in partnership with Carving the Future

Our Empower Program is hosting 15 winter interns:

  • 2 ski technicians at Black Tie Gear Rentals

  • 9 ski/snowboard shadow instructors at Snow King

  • 2 assistant nordic coaches with Ski Club

  • 1 Community Coordinator for the no-cost grocery program at Hole Food Rescue

  • 1 assistant after school instructor at Teton Literacy Center

  • Monthly workshops for professional skill development, leadership training, and team building

Ryan Stolp