Look out Lookout: Superior kids hit the slopes

SUPERIOR – As winter begins to wind down, fifth and sixth graders from Superior Elementary School got an extra day of fun in the snow as their classes took a field trip to the Lookout Pass Ski Resort, Tuesday, January 21.

According to Trish Donovan, fifth grade teacher at Superior, the trip was great. She recalled the weather as lovely and said the children behaved perfectly.

“They loved skiing,” said Donovan. “They were such good sports. Even when they were frustrated, they kept working hard.”

The group was there for three or four hours. Bailey Milender, a fifth grader, said it was lots of fun. They were able to have lunch at the resort and got good exercise for the day.

The Lookout Pass Ski Resort worked closely with the classes. There were instructors with equipment already waiting for them when the group arrived.

Donovan first made contact with the resort to plan the trip awhile ago. The teachers made arrangements around November of 2013 to schedule the day and organize everything.

When the classes arrived, the resort required everyone to have a skiing lesson before they were allowed on the slopes. After skill levels were determined, the kids who still needed help were given an hour-long lesson.

“Then we adults would take them up, in small groups,” said Donovan. “Once we felt they were ready, we would ski down with them the first time.”

Even the kids who had never gone skiing were on the slopes before long.

Milender only needed a little bit of the lessons but felt they were good for a refresher. Barbara Mitchell, another student, felt the instructors were very encouraging.

This trip was Mitchell’s first time skiing. It was scary the very first time but she quickly got used to it and enjoyed the experience. She was happily surprised how long she was able to stay up without falling.

To help lessen some of the fears there were a number of chaperones on the trip. This way there was always a trusted adult at the bottom of the hill to offer the kids encouragement.

“I can’t tell you how many children said to me ‘thank you for bringing me on this ski trip,’” said Donovan. “I’m sure for some of these children it may be the only time they ever ski.”

To attend the fun day on the slopes, the kids needed to help raise money for the trip. Around Thanksgiving, the students began to sell raffle tickets for a gift basket of Christmas items.

The basket had a number of items, which could have been given as a gift or kept for personal use. Scented candles, coffee cards, stationary, pot holders and other various things were included in the basket. Much of what was in the basket was donated by parents of the class.

The amounts the kids raised varied. With one dollar for each ticket, the kids had to sell at least three books to pay their own way.

“Not everybody got their amount,” said Milender. “But most of us got the money that we needed.”

The community was very supportive of the fundraiser. People were very enthusiastic to buy the raffle tickets and help the kids. If a student was unable to sell enough tickets to cover their cost, the parents were asked to cover the balance.

Donovan felt the day was a load of fun for everyone involved. This has been an annual event for at least 18 years, which the kids look forward to each year.

“The kids really work hard to go and enjoy [the day],” said Donovan.