About WinterKids

WinterKids is an industry leader dedicated exclusively to inspiring and increasing outdoor physical activity for children and families in Maine, turning our longest season into a time of adventure, health, and connection.

Our Story

WinterKids began in 1997 as a single learn-to-ski program through the Ski Maine Association. By 2000, we became an independent nonprofit, driven by our vision of a Maine where regardless of background, every child grows up with access to outdoor winter play and education, fostering lifelong learning, health, resilience, and a deep connection to nature, outdoor recreation, and the state of Maine.

We’ve evolved into a comprehensive public health organization, offering not only skiing, but a full range of winter sports and school-based programs. Today, WinterKids is the go-to organization in Maine for empowering children to stay active and connected to the outdoors in the winter. We’re proud to be a part of each child’s journey to a healthier, more active future.

Helping children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun outdoor winter activities.

Participants reached through WinterKids programs since 2010!

Our History

Our Mission

To help children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun outdoor winter activity.

Our Vision

A Maine where regardless of background, every child grows up with access to outdoor winter play and education, fostering lifelong learning, health, resilience, and a deep connection to nature, outdoor recreation, and the state.

Our Purpose:

To facilitate meaningful opportunities for Maine children, regardless of background, to develop healthy lifestyles through inclusive and high-quality outdoor winter education and recreation. By focusing on depth of engagement with each child and family, our programs integrate movement and learning to build confidence, support well-being, and lay strong educational foundations. We prioritize accessibility by addressing physical, financial, and geographic barriers, ensuring that all children have the chance to thrive.

Our Values:

Our work is grounded in fostering vibrant, healthy communities where children thrive during winter’s transformative months. Our values reflect a deep commitment to nurturing joy, belonging, and opportunity through outdoor winter activities:

Children’s Health & Wellness

Outdoor play enhances physical, mental, and emotional health. Through engaging programs, we inspire children to embrace the benefits of winter activity, cultivating healthy habits for life.

Active Education

Learning should be as lively and invigorating as the outdoors. Our programs blend fun with education, engaging children through hands-on, experiential activities that spark curiosity and instill a love for winter’s natural classroom.

Inclusivity

WinterKids is dedicated to ensuring every child and family, regardless of socioeconomic or cultural background, has access to the joy of winter. By removing barriers and building personal connections, we support welcoming spaces where everyone belongs.

We are committed to celebrating diversity, respecting differences, and promoting fairness in all we do. By standing against discrimination, we ensure that our programs reflect a spirit of equity, inspiring communities where every child feels seen, heard, and valued.

These values define who we are and how we bring to life our vision of winters filled with discovery, health, and the joy of outdoor adventure. WinterKids embraces Maine’s longest season as a time for connection, growth, and the celebration of winter’s unique opportunities. Together, we empower children and families to make winter their playground.

Our Beliefs:

Our work is driven by a set of core beliefs that guide our mission to help children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity by facilitating active, joyful, and inclusive outdoor experiences for children and families:

Winter is for Everyone

We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to embrace the unique magic of winter. Outdoor activity during this season is not just a luxury—it is essential for children’s health, happiness, and development. We are committed to making winter accessible for all, removing barriers so every child can thrive in the snow.

Fairness and Integrity in Play

We believe that the joy of winter play is rooted in creativity, inclusivity, and fairness. Through our programs, we cultivate an environment where every child feels seen, valued, and celebrated. By prioritizing equity and integrity, we ensure that winter’s playground is open and welcoming to all.

Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Outdoors

We believe that the outdoors is a powerful equalizer and that all children, regardless of background or circumstance, should have the opportunity to experience the wonder of winter. Playing outside in winter is a birthright, fostering resilience, curiosity, and connection.

Maine’s Winters Are Unique Classrooms

We believe that the distinctive beauty and adventure of Maine winters offer unparalleled opportunities for learning. Winter provides a dynamic setting for children to grow, explore, and discover the boundless possibilities of their natural world and their unlimited potential within it.

These beliefs are the foundation of our mission to help children develop healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity. By celebrating winter as a season for everyone, we inspire vibrant, healthy communities and we create a brighter, more connected future for children and families across Maine.

Belonging and Inclusion

At WinterKids, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy, health, and confidence that comes from exploring the outdoors. We are committed to creating fun, engaging programs that combine physical activity with learning, helping kids of all backgrounds build resilience and foster a lifelong love for winter recreation.

We work to ensure that children from diverse and under-resourced communities have access to outdoor winter activities, regardless of zip code, income, or previous experience. By partnering with schools, childcare centers, and community organizations across Maine and beyond, we provide meaningful opportunities for kids from preschool to high school to move, learn, and explore in the winter landscape.

In the spirit of fairness, inclusion, and equality, we promise to uphold the values of creativity, integrity, and non-discrimination. Together, we stand in solidarity to ensure that the outdoors is a welcoming space for all, promoting well-being and a better future for our communities.

Land Acknowledgment Statement

We recognize that the work of WinterKids takes place on the unceded lands of the Wabanaki Confederacy, including the Abenaki, Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot peoples. We honor their enduring relationship with this land and their stewardship of Maine’s natural environment. We commit to fostering connections that respect and celebrate Indigenous communities and their contributions to outdoor education and recreation.