Community Programs & Resources Archives

Bethel Outing Club Ski Sale at Gould Field House

August 11, 2025

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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July 1, 2025

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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January 29, 2025

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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December 19, 2024, Stephen Davis Phillips Photography for WinterKids

December 23, 2024

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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August 6, 2024

Meet the 3rd Annual WinterKids Downhill 24, Outdoor Fund Winners!

Announcing the 2024 WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund Grantees to receive part of $25,000 being distributed across Maine.

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July 7, 2024

Learn How These 2023 grantees used their funds to expand access and engage more children in outdoor activities

In the summer of 2023, these organizations won the WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund community vote, earning grants to promote healthy outdoor activities for children.

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South Portland Middle School Student D24 Outdoor Fund FY24

March 13, 2024

South Portland Middle School Students Learn to XC Ski with Mr. Lunt

South Portland Middle School students have spent the winter learning to XC Ski through an incredible after-school program with Mr. Lunt (@mrluntsclass)!

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Welcome to Winter FY24 Lauryn Hottinger DSCF5377

January 1, 2024

A night to remember at WinterKids Welcome to Winter 2023

A little rain did not stop over 300 smiling faces from coming out to enjoy WinterKids’ Welcome to Winter at Lost Valley on Thursday, December 28, 2023. We were proud and honored to bring this annual, free, and open-to-the-public event to the Lewiston Auburn community!

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July 31, 2023

Meet the 2nd Annual WinterKids Downhill 24, Outdoor Fund Winners!

We are elated to announce the 2023 WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund Grantees!

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May 18, 2023

Empowering Maine’s Nordic Skiing Community: WinterKids Funds Chisholm Nordic Ski Club and Sends Maine Students to XC Ski Junior Nationals

The WinterKids Peisner Nordic Fund is dedicated to supporting Maine’s Nordic skiing community. This year, WinterKids supported the Chisholm Nordic Ski Club with $2,500, which was used to get more…

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324 winter kids welcome to winter 2022 lost valley auburn maine documentary event photographer whitney j fox 3252 w

January 31, 2023

WinterKids Welcome to Winter at Lost Valley, December 2022

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3 1 Photo of the week Cave Hill School WinterKids Winter Games 2022

October 24, 2022

The Snowball Effect: WinterKids in the Community

The Snowball Effect: WinterKids In the Community In addition to reaching over 45,000 kids and teachers each year, WinterKids offers financial support to schools, families, and communities to help them…

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February 21, 2022

Photos: Having fun in the Carnaval Maine + L.L.Bean + WinterKids Fun Zone

Many thanks to everyone who came out to have some fun in the L.L.Bean + WinterKids Fun Zone at

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WinterGames 2019 Ames Elementary Feature Fran Gonzales via Village Soup

January 9, 2022

Dressing for Winter Safety

We all need to think “safety” when it comes to dressing for winter activities – to keep us warm and dry and stay visible when it gets dark since there are fewer hours of daylight. Here are some simple tips to help keep you and your family safe while you’re outside having fun this winter.

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December 18, 2021

How to Combine Different Food Groups to Make a Healthy Snack

Presented by Hannaford Snack Pals. Watch as April Byron, a nutritionist at Hannaford, walks you through how to combine different food groups to make a healthy snack!

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November 10, 2021

Easy Vegetable Soup Recipe Your Kids Can Make!

This easy-to-make Vegetable Soup recipe is ripped straight from the pages of our Guide to Active Outdoor Learning for Pre-K, and is a great way to warm up when the weather is chilly! Let the kids do all the heavy lifting!

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July 20, 2021

Blizzard Snack

This “Blizzard Snack” is ripped straight from the pages of our Guide to Outdoor Active Learning, and is a great way to beat the heat with a healthy treat this summer! Let the kids do all the heavy lifting, and just make sure there’s an adult present to turn on the blender.

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WinterKids Fruit and Veggie Sushi IMG 5266

May 27, 2021

Fruit & Veggie “Sushi”

These fruit & veggie “sushi” roll-ups are fun to make, and even more fun to eat! Whether you have adventurous or picky eaters, this is a great way to get them to try a little something new, along with something already familiar. Making this healthy snack together is fun for the whole family!

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April 20, 2021

3 Ingredient Banana Popsicles

These banana popsicles are easy to make and require just three ingredients. They’re a fun, delicious, and healthy treat that kids of any age can make for themselves!

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June 3, 2020

Think Your Kids Are Too Young to Talk About Race? Think Again.

If you're concerned that your kids are too young to talk about race, you're not alone. It can feel daunting to talk about race, gender, and class with children, but…

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May 26, 2020

How to #RecreateResponsibly during COVID-19

As parks, trails, and beaches begin to reopen, it can be confusing to navigate this “new normal” in terms of how to #RecreateResponsibly. These guidelines give advice on how to get outdoors right now.

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Support Local Business While Social Distancing WinterKids8 1

April 18, 2020

How To Support Local Businesses While Social Distancing

Remember when you asked that small business to support your fundraiser? Now is the time to support them. Here are 5 ways you can help, and a list of businesses who have contributed to WinterKids programs.

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Anthem BCBS WinterKids Partner Feature 01

December 20, 2019

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 come this year!

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August 27, 2019

Proud Beneficiaries of the 2019 Maine Marathon

WinterKids is honored to be this year’s race beneficiary, so by signing up, you’re not just challenging yourself to participate in this event, but you’ll be helping WinterKids continue to expand critical programs that get kids outside and active year-round across Maine and New Hampshire!

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