Since August of 2000, WinterKids has helped children and families build healthy habits through joyful outdoor experiences. This milestone year, we will celebrate 25 years of connecting kids with Maine’s great outdoors and winter’s natural classroom, and look ahead to a future filled with adventure, movement, and learning.
Throughout the upcoming season, WinterKids will offer inclusive events and engaging school programs. Every initiative is designed to bring more families and classrooms outdoors, highlighting the power of movement, nature, and play.
A Journey Through 25 Years:
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 for grades K-8.
In honor of our 25th anniversary, we’ve created this family-friendly challenge to get your family outside moving, learning, exploring, and falling in love with Maine’s great outdoors. Register by Wednesday, August 13, for a chance to win prizes!
“As part of the GEO team, Get Everyone Outside, participating with Winter Kids helps tremendously with having fun activities to do with the younger students. I look forward to making the sun catchers with our class every year! They enjoy collecting items, creating masterpieces, and then predicting if it will freeze or not with the temperatures we are having. So fun!”
-Nichole Bryant, Get Everyone Outside
The WinterKids Guide to Outdoor Active Learning has brought so much to our school, not just in ways that keep the children physically active but also in ways to keep them engaged socially and emotionally. Many of the activities are geared to get the children working together and becoming a team, no winners, no losers...just kids having fun.
We were able to ski affordably and wouldn't have gotten to do this without the app. We also tried ice skating for the first time.
It has been inspirational to watch our community unite around a common purpose of healthy, active kids.
Assistant Principal / Waldo T. Skillen School
