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Smart, Simple Steps for an Affordable Winter Season
Downhill Saddleback Sarah Szczesniak 89169

Smart, Simple Steps for an Affordable Winter Season

Winter is around the corner! Josh Harrington, WinterKids Family Programs & Outreach Manager, shares simple, affordable tips to get your family’s gear ready before the first flakes fall. From checking equipment to finding great deals at swaps and sales, you’ll be set for a fun, stress-free season outdoors.

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WinterKids Adventure Fund Will Help 1,300 Maine Kids Thrive Outdoors This Winter
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WinterKids Adventure Fund Will Help 1,300 Maine Kids Thrive Outdoors This Winter

Winter in Maine is more than a season; it’s a playground, a classroom, and a chance to grow. This year, thanks to the WinterKids Adventure Fund, more than 1,300 children across the state will have new opportunities to discover the joy of winter through skiing, snowboarding, and cross-country adventures.

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Create Your Own Backyard Family Field Day
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Create Your Own Backyard Family Field Day

Designed by Joan Kaijala of Running Peas, this free printable guide is packed with playful, easy-to-set-up games that spark movement, laughter, and a little friendly competition.

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Why outdoor learning matters for Maine kids
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Why outdoor learning matters for Maine kids

At WinterKids, we’ve always believed that Maine’s winters offer something powerful for children: a place to move, learn, and grow. In this guest opinion column for the Portland Press Herald, our Executive Director, Courtney Holub, shares why outdoor learning isn’t just a bonus, it’s essential. From snowy trails to school playgrounds, discover how Maine’s longest season can help unlock kids’ potential and build lifelong healthy habits.

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Upcoming Ski Swaps in Maine for Families and Winter Fun
Bethel Outing Club Ski Sale at Gould Field House

Upcoming Ski Swaps in Maine for Families and Winter Fun

At these events, you can find great deals on quality gear for kids (and the whole family) and discover fun ways to try something new this winter.

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Family Friendly Trails in Southern Maine
Saco Health Preserve Outdoor Movement Project

Family Friendly Trails in Southern Maine

Discover 12+ family-friendly trails in Southern Maine, handpicked by a local mom who turned pandemic hikes with her kids into a joyful mission to explore and share nature. These trails offer year-round adventure, creativity, and connection, perfect for families of all ages and abilities.

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The Great Backyard Bucket List
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The Great Backyard Bucket List

Looking for fun and easy ways to get outside with your kids this summer? We’ve gathered dozens of low-cost, high-smiles ideas. Perfect for porches, parks, and backyards, no special equipment required!

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A Season of Firsts, Fresh Tracks, and Community Strength: 2024/25 Wrap Up
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A Season of Firsts, Fresh Tracks, and Community Strength: 2024/25 Wrap Up

Our 2024/25 season wrap up celebrates a season of transitions and creating positive changes in the lives of Maine Children!

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Your Guide to Maine’s Outdoor Gear Libraries & Consignment
Gear Libraries and Consignment Shops

Your Guide to Maine’s Outdoor Gear Libraries & Consignment

Gearing up to try new outdoor activities is becoming increasingly accessible to Maine families, thanks to this growing network of outdoor gear libraries and consignment shops.

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Winter Outside: How Maine Families Used the WinterKids App during the 2024/25 season
XC Skiing Rangeley Lakes Trail Center-Hannah McCaskey-Feb 23 2025

Winter Outside: How Maine Families Used the WinterKids App during the 2024/25 season

The 2024/25 winter season has ended, and WinterKids is thrilled to announce the winners of our WinterKids App Photo Contest. We asked families to share their winter adventures through the WinterKids App, and we had a blast seeing so many smiles on trails and slopes across Maine!

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Celebrating Our WinterKids Volunteers: National Volunteer Week 2025
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Celebrating Our WinterKids Volunteers: National Volunteer Week 2025

At WinterKids, our volunteers are the heart of everything we do. Their time, energy, and love for the outdoors help create joyful, active winter experiences for children and families across Maine. In honor of National Volunteer Week 2025, we’re proud to spotlight a few of the incredible people who make our work possible. From longtime supporters to new faces, each brings something unique to our community—and we’re so grateful for their dedication.

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24 Hours. One Mountain. Huge Results! Your 2025 Downhill 24 Recap
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24 Hours. One Mountain. Huge Results! Your 2025 Downhill 24 Recap

The 13th Annual Downhill 24 at Sugarloaf Mountain was one for the books! From impressive fundraising totals to non-stop skiing and snowboarding under the lights, this 24-hour challenge brought together an incredible community of winter athletes, fundraisers, and supporters. Check out the final results, top fundraisers, and an exclusive photo gallery celebrating the biggest winter fundraiser in Maine. Whether you skied, donated, or cheered from the sidelines—this event proved that when we come together, we make a difference for kids across Maine!

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Celebrating the 2025 Winter Games: Week 4 Highlights & Final Results!
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Celebrating the 2025 Winter Games: Week 4 Highlights & Final Results!

The final week of the WinterKids Winter Games brought plenty of excitement, creativity, and a whole lot of learning! With a focus on clouds, students explored the sky while continuing to build teamwork, school spirit, and outdoor winter enthusiasm.

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Honoring Leadership, Dedication, and the Joy of Winter!
Courtney Holub 20 Outstanding Women

Honoring Leadership, Dedication, and the Joy of Winter!

We are beyond proud to share that our incredible Executive Director, Courtney Holub, has been named one of Coast 93.1’s 20 Outstanding Women of 2025! Courtney’s leadership at WinterKids is inspiring children and families across the state to embrace the magic of winter through outdoor adventure, learning, and play.

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Stories from Week 3 of the WinterKids Winter Games
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Stories from Week 3 of the WinterKids Winter Games

Week 3 of the WinterKids Winter Games was filled with outdoor challenges focusing on WIND. Each day, students headed outdoors to make weather observations.

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Embracing Winter: A Look into the 2025 Winter Games Week 2 
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Embracing Winter: A Look into the 2025 Winter Games Week 2 

Week 2 of the WinterKids Winter Games focused on the theme of precipitation. In spite of some of the lowest temps of the season, students bundled up and headed outdoors to gather data for their weather charts. This week’s activities focused on taking accurate measurements – be it temperatures, snowfall amounts, or the size of a snow angel!

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WinterKids’ Snow Day Playbook | Portland City Lifestyle
Portland City Lifestyle

WinterKids’ Snow Day Playbook | Portland City Lifestyle

Greater Portland offers countless ways to rediscover the season’s charm. From snowshoeing through quiet trails to crafting with the kids in the backyard or even dancing in the snow, Maine winters remain as enchanting as ever.

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2025 WinterKids Winter Games Week 1 Wrap Up 
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2025 WinterKids Winter Games Week 1 Wrap Up 

This year’s program is buzzing with energy as schools across Maine participate in winter-themed activities designed to promote outdoor activity and community spirit. Over the next few weeks, we’ll share stories and images from these schools as they embrace outdoor education and learn how individual and collective actions impact our climate.

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Relive the Fun: Welcome to Winter 2024
December 19, 2024, Stephen Davis Phillips Photography for WinterKids

Relive the Fun: Welcome to Winter 2024

Our Welcome to Winter celebration at Lost Valley on December 19th brought together families from across the community for an unforgettable evening of winter fun. From snowshoeing and skiing to snow sculpting and cozying up with hot chocolate and s’mores, hundreds of kids and families embraced the joys of Maine’s winter season.

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Building Lifelong Wellness: How WinterKids Inspires Healthy Habits Through Outdoor Fun
Saco River Media Group

Building Lifelong Wellness: How WinterKids Inspires Healthy Habits Through Outdoor Fun

In the winter, it’s easy to fall into comfortable indoor habits, and WinterKids is a great starting point and access point for kids to get outdoors. When you’re outside and engaging in physical movement, all of that greatly benefits your mental well-being, physical health, ability to stay focused, and overall wellness.

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13th Annual WinterKids License to Chill Results & Photos
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13th Annual WinterKids License to Chill Results & Photos

We had an incredible time with everyone at our 13th Annual WinterKids License to Chill on Thursday, November 7th, 2024! This year’s event helped raise over $30,000 to support WinterKids programs.

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Newsradio WGAN Features WinterKids’ Upcoming Season on Maine Points
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Newsradio WGAN Features WinterKids’ Upcoming Season on Maine Points

It was a pleasure to share the WinterKids mission and chat about our exciting winter calendar of events with Danny Martignetti for Newsradio WGAN!

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Welcome Courtney Holub: WinterKids’ New Executive Director!
Courtney Holub at Hedgehog Mountain

Welcome Courtney Holub: WinterKids’ New Executive Director!

We are elated to announce the appointment of Courtney Holub as the new WinterKids Executive Director. Courtney brings over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, with a focus on creating opportunities for diverse populations. Her extensive career has encompassed philanthropy, program development, leadership, and impactful board positions.

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