Family 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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Saco Health Preserve Outdoor Movement Project

July 28, 2025

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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July 20, 2025

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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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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XC Skiing Rangeley Lakes Trail Center-Hannah McCaskey-Feb 23 2025

April 9, 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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Ski Snowboard Mt Abram Jessica Coolidge 123459

April 7, 2024

2023/24 WinterKids App Photo Contest Winners

The 2023/24 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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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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XC Ski Pineland Farms Nicole Connolly 88005

April 20, 2023

2022/23 WinterKids App Photo Contest Winners

The 2022/23 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 were blown away by the creativity, energy, and joy captured in the photos. Clearly, families across the state of Maine embraced the winter season and made the most of their time outside.

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January 31, 2023

WinterKids Welcome to Winter at Lost Valley, December 2022

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June 9, 2022

WinterKids App Families Share their Favorite Winter Moments

This past winter season (2021/2022), we challenged families to enter a photo contest by sharing photos of their favorite moments using the

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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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September 21, 2021

Six Simple Ways to Support Your Children’s Teachers This School Year

We all want to make sure our children are getting the best education possible, but the reality is that many educators are struggling. The educators we all know and love are hardworking and passionate about helping our children to learn and grow, and as a parent or guardian, you have a powerful role to play when it comes to supporting teachers.

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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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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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WinterKids Welcome to Winter 2019 SDP Photo 06

January 22, 2019

Welcome to Winter Festival 2019

On January 19, 2019, we celebrated our annual WinterKids Welcome to Winter event in Portland's

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January 29, 2018

Welcome to Winter Festival, 2018

The Portland Maine Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department. Each year, hundreds of Mainers experience the thrill of sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and much more at our annual Welcome to Winter…

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WinterKids Welcome to Winter 2016 SDP037

January 25, 2016

Welcome to Winter Festival, 2016

Welcome to Winter 2016 was a huge success! We had a record crowd of 800 participants! Thanks again to all of our supporters, volunteers, and participants! Location: Payson Park, Portland…

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WinterKids Welcome to Winter 2015 SDP026

January 17, 2015

Welcome to Winter Festival, 2015

400 people came out to enjoy sledding, ice skating, snowshoeing, and much more at the 11th Annual WinterKids Welcome to Winter Festival! Location: Payson Park, Portland ME

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January 25, 2014

Welcome to Winter Festival, 2014

Lots of smiles on this beautiful winter day in Maine! Thank you to our photographers: Gines Satchi + Shannon Bryan Location: Payson Park, Portland ME

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