WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity. We create opportunities for children to be active, vibrant and healthy in the outdoors.
WinterKids is the only nonprofit in Maine dedicated exclusively to increasing outdoor physical activity in children and families during our longest, most sedentary season.
The shorter, darker, and colder days of winter and the increasing allure of screen time make it all too easy for kids and families to “hibernate.” At WinterKids, we make it our business to provide kids, parents, and teachers with the right option: to get outside, get active, and have fun in the winter – and year-round.
Schools & Teachers
Our school programs target high need, rural counties in Maine and New Hampshire (WinterKids Challenge, WinterKids Elementary & Preschool Guides to Outdoor Active Learning (GOAL), WinterKids Winter Games).
Kids & Families
Our family programs target high demand areas in Maine and New Hampshire close proximity to winter sports areas (WinterKids App, WinterKids Nordic Program, and WinterKids Family Days).
Community Events
Our community events target high population areas in Maine & New Hampshire with the greatest opportunity for broad messaging and impact on local outdoor activity.
Our Story
WinterKids began in 1997 as part of the Ski Maine Association with a Learn to Ski program for fifth graders. With the increasing rates of childhood obesity and the downward trend in physical fitness in Maine and across the country, there was an opportunity to help children and families enjoy healthy and fun outdoor winter lifestyles while nurturing a connection to the natural environment, at home, at school, and in the communities in which they live.
In 2000, WinterKids became an independent non-profit and continues to develop and expand innovative health education programs for kids in the winter, and year-round.
Our Impact
8th Annual WinterKids Downhill 24 At Sugarloaf Mountain: Photos & Results
An epic WinterKids Downhill 24 at Sugarloaf Mountain is now on the books, shattering all previous fundraising records for this, our 8th year of the event, and 5th year at Sugarloaf Mountain!
WinterKids gives $25,000 to Sugarloaf Ski Club
Skiers and snowboarders raised $562,000 at the WinterKids Downhill 24 and the organization chose to support the local kids in Franklin and Somerset counties by giving $25,000 to the Sugarloaf Ski Club’s King’s Kids Fund.
The Impact of WinterKids Winter Games, According to the Top 3 Winning Schools in 2020
We wanted to learn more about the impact the WinterKids Winter Games made this season, so we reached out to our top three winning schools, Prescott Memorial, Jonesport Elementary, and Dr. Levesque Elementary to share their experiences. Here’s what they had to say…
WinterKids Winter Games 2020 Wrap Up Report
The WinterKids Winter Games 2020 got 32 Maine schools (2 in every county in Maine), including 7,332 kids and 1087 teachers and support staff to take their classrooms outside this winter, learning, playing, and taking advantage of the magic that is Winter in Maine! Here’s a play by play rundown…
WinterKids Downhill 24: A Brief History & What’s New for 2020
The WinterKids Downhill 24 has become one of our most anticipated events of the year, not just because of the fun we have, but also because of the important role it plays in raising funds for WinterKids programs. Learn how it grew to be our biggest fundraiser, and what’s new…
Winter Games 2020 Opening Ceremony & Press Conference at Waterboro Elementary
The WinterKids Winter Games 2020 has officially begun! Follow along, as two elementary schools in each of Maine’s 16 counties will go for the gold by competing in a four-week outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenge during the month of January for cash prizes, equipment and more!⠀Many thanks to the…
Third Annual WinterKids Winter Games Kicking Off in Maine Schools Statewide on January 6th
On January 6, students and staff at 32 elementary schools around the state will participate in WinterKids’ third annual WinterKids Winter Games. This outdoor physical activity and nutrition competition encourages young children to develop healthy habits over the course of the four-week program. Each school will try to earn as…
WinterKids Welcome to Winter: A Brief History What’s New for 2020
With humble beginnings, the WinterKids Welcome to Winter Festival is a celebration of winter in Maine that has now grown into an event for thousands of families in and around Portland Maine to enjoy annually, completely free of charge. Here’s a brief history and a sneak peek at what’s to…
Winter Games 2020 Toolkit Dropoff Week
Toolkits have been delivered to our 32 participating Winter Games Schools, and now the count down is officially on to January 6th for the kickoff of the WinterKids Winter Games, when 2 Schools from every county in Maine will compete for $20K in cash and prizes! … LEARN MORE ABOUT…
License to Chill 2019 Photos & Recap
Our 8th annual WinterKids License to Chill is on the books, and we smashed our fundraising goal of $30K by raising a whopping $37,914!
Here are just a few photos, courtesy of Whitney J. Fox Photography. Be sure to bookmark this & check back, as there are even more…
WinterKids Annual Report 2018-2019
Fiscal Year 2019 WinterKids helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun outdoor winter activity Your support helps to… Make a statewide impactWith programs in all 16 counties of Maine, we will reach 29,000 kids this year with innovative, outdoor initiatives for families, schools, and communities.Make winter more…
2019 Season Wrap Up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KnzfJgOIJg Because of you… More kids are on snow in backyards, on playgrounds, and at mountains. More families are finding the joy in outdoor winter activity and healthy behaviors. More communities are nurturing the next generation of active, outdoor citizens. WinterKids is vibrant, healthy and growing – much like the…