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.
Our History
2000
August
WinterKids Becomes Independent Nonprofit
WinterKids becomes a fully independent 501 c 3 non-profit, founded by Carla Marcus.
Ski Passport Officially Recognized as the WinterKids Passport
Initially a SkiMaine initiative, WinterKids takes on management of the Ski Passport program, officially renaming it the WinterKids Passport. The program offers free lift tickets to 5th graders across Maine.
September
First Outdoor Learning Curriculum
WinterKids’ first Outdoor Learning Curriculum is launched.
2001
WinterKids Passport Expands to Include XC Skiing
With the new expansion, the Passport now offers free passes with 16 downhill and 13 cross country area partners.
2002
National Outdoor Learning Curriculum Developed
Aligned with National Education Standards
Passport Expands to Include More Ages
WinterKids Passport expands to include 5th, 6th, and 7th grades, with 31 downhill and cross country area partners participating.
2003
January
Active Academic Workshops Begin
WinterKids Active Academic Workshops travel statewide to students, teachers, and after-school programs, with 302 kids participating. These dynamic workshops provide teachers with the tools they need to get their students outside and active during the winter. They are based on the 140-page Winter Outdoor Fitness Curriculum Guide (aligned with State of Maine Learning Results and National Education Standards).
World Class Athlete Tour Launches
World Class Athlete Tour reaches over 2,100 children across Maine over the course of three years (2003-2005).
2004
WinterKids Programs included in CDC Database
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes WinterKids Outdoor Learning Curriculum and Passport in its Health Promotion and Education Database.
University of Maine partners with WinterKids World Class Athlete Tour
2005
July
Marion Doyle Joins Team WinterKids
Marion Doyle joined the WinterKids team in 2005 and continues to serve today as Education Director.
WinterKids Launches Three New Programs
WinterKids Live!, WinterKids SnowSchool are launched, and Welcome to Winter is developed, an outreach program designed to introduce immigrant, refugee, and low-income families to winter.
2006
Passport Expands to Include Skating, Tubing, and More.
The WinterKids Passport expands to include 50 statewide partners: 16 downhill, 19 cross-country, 11 ice arenas, 3 tubing and sledding parks, and 1 dog sled center.
Active Academic Workshops Double in Participation
Active Academics Workshops reach 883 kids at 18 schools across Maine, a 100% growth over the prior year (473 in 2005). First workshop is conducted for non-English speaking children.
2007
Outdoor Learning Curriculum Expands Across the Country
New Balance Foundation Partners with WinterKids
The New Balance Foundation begins a partnership with WinterKids to offer programs to children in the New Balance factory towns of Skowhegan, Norridgewock, and Norway.
2008
Carla Marcus Steps Down, and Julie Mulkern joins Team WinterKids
Founder, Carla Marcus, steps down from the Executive Director position, after serving for 8 years. Julie Mulkern joins WinterKids as Development Director and will eventually lead as Executive Director until 2024.
WinterKids Introduces the FunPass
WinterKids introduces the FunPass for children in pre-school through grade 4 to enjoy snowshoeing and cross country skiing at over 20 Maine locations for free.
2009
June
First Fundraising Event
WinterKids holds its first annual fundraising event, An Evening with Olympic Gold Medalist, Seth Wescott, and receives the organization’s largest ever individual gift from Steve Campbell, in memory of his son, Cooper.
December
First Cooper Campbell Day
at Shawnee Peak
WinterKids kicks off the season with the first-ever Cooper Campbell Day, a learn to ski or snowboard event for 75 children and adults at Shawnee Peak.
2010
Continued Growth With Active Academics Workshops
Active Academics Workshops continue steady growth, seeing 1,587 kids in 25 schools across Maine in 2009, and 2,363 kids in 26 schools in 2010.
Jack Mannheimer Fund Established
A new fund in honor of long time board member, Jack Mannheimer, is established.
WinterKids Unveils Plans for the WinterKids Challenge
The new WinterKids Challenge will be developed for Maine teachers to participate in active outdoor lessons at least 3 times during winter.
WinterKids Board of Directors Expands to 15 Members
2011
January
Snowshoe and StoryWalk© Loan Program Launches
2012
June
Inaugural License to Chill
at Bubba’s Sulky Lounge
The first ever License to Chill, held at Bubba’s Sulky Lounge in Portland, brought together 275 WinterKids supporters for a night of laughter, music and fun, raising nearly $20,000.
2013
March
Inaugural Downhill Derby
at Mt Abram
December
Peisner Nordic Fund (2013-2024) & George K Scholarship Fund (2013-2018) established
2014
March
Downhill Derby becomes Downhill 24
at Mt. Abram
2016
March
Downhill 24 Moves to Sugarloaf Mountain
2018
August
WinterKids is Beneficiary of the TD Beach to Beacon
January
Inaugural WinterKids Winter Games
Ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics, one elementary school in each of Maine’s 16 counties competed in a four-week outdoor physical activity and nutrition challenge, competing for cash prizes and equipment for their schools. In all, over 4,500 students and 230 teachers across the state participated.
2019
November
WinterKids Passport Goes Mobile
2020
October
Ski Michigan Licenses the WinterKids App Technology for their program.
2021
January
Winter Games Adapt to first “Play Along“ format due to Covid
2022
October
Ski New Hampshire Licenses the WinterKids App Technology for their program.
January
Winter Games officially launches two distinct tracks: Play Along and Competitive
2023
August
Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund Established (2022-2024)
2024
Julie Mulkern Steps Down, and Courtney Holub joins Team WinterKids as Executive Director
August
Learn to Ski Days Re-Introduced
2025
WinterKids Outdoor Experience Fund Announced
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
