Vote For Saddleback Community Corps WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund

WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund To Award $25,000 To Local Nonprofits – Cast Your Vote For Saddleback Maine Community Corps!

(Rangeley, Maine – July 10, 2024) – If you’ve been up to Saddleback, you’ve probably been greeted by a host in a yellow jacket. The hosts have become a beloved sight, helping new guests navigate their first visit, and welcoming the returning Saddleback faithful. The hosts have organized a nonprofit organization, Saddleback Maine Community Corps, a 501(c)(3), and are now on a mission to continue the local Ski Tuesday program at Saddleback Mountain.

This ski and ride program is open to more than 120 students from grades 1-8 within the Rangeley Lakes Regional School District. The program allows students to spend a half day at Saddleback for 8-10 consecutive Tuesdays in the winter, including transportation, discounted skiing and riding, free rentals and instruction.

Saddleback Maine Community Corps needs your help! Cast your vote to help fund Ski Tuesday in 2025 in the WinterKids Downhill 24 Outdoor Fund, a grant program aimed at funding initiatives that will help get children in Maine’s communities outside, active, and having fun. Now through the end of July, you can vote via the WinterKids website. $25,000 will be distributed amongst winning organizations!

• Anyone can vote from Monday, July 1 – July 31, 2024, regardless of their affiliation with Saddleback or the school.
• Scroll down under the map on the page to find the ballot. You must cast a vote for 1 of each of 3 groups: schools, recreation departments, and nonprofits.
• The Ski Tuesday project is under “Nonprofits” – “Franklin County” – “Saddleback Maine Community Corps”

Why take the time to vote?

WinterKids is divvying out $25,000 in grants to 3 Maine Public Schools, 3 Maine nonprofit organizations, and 3 Maine Parks & Rec programs, based on a Community Vote! These funds are aimed at addressing the barriers to healthy outdoor activity, including but not limited to equipment, clothing, and transportation.

VOTE NOW!

Voting Schedule:
July 1-31, 2024: Community Vote
August 7, 2024: Winners Announced

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About Saddleback Maine Community Corps: In conjunction with Saddleback Mountain, Saddleback Maine Community Corps, a 501(c)(3), has fundraised and facilitated the weekly Ski Tuesday program. This ski and ride program is open to more than 120 students from grades 1-8 within the Rangeley Lakes Regional School District. The program allows students to spend a half day at Saddleback for 8-10 consecutive Tuesdays in the winter.

Saddleback Maine Community Corps has engaged the public, inviting local community members to participate in bimonthly Ski Tuesday planning meetings from November 1, 2024, through the end of the program in mid-March. Included in these meetings are Saddleback’s General Manager; Business Manager; Ski School Manager; Ski School Head of Instructors; Special Ed Teacher; School Principal; retired Teachers; retired Social Worker; Downhill Racing Coach; Nordic Center Representative. Rental professionals go to the school in December and record the height/weight/shoe size of the children as determined by the School Nurse. Equipment will be purchased based on these sizes. Parents will attend an orientation session. 20 plus ski/ride professional instructors will then lead 8-10 weekly 3-hour lessons for the kids on their equipment. The children will be divided into groups based on their skills evaluation. 40 plus Saddleback Maine Community Corps volunteers will accompany the children from bus drop off until the children are returned to their parents. Instructors will provide each child with a Tuesday report card. Data can be collected from the ticket office showing the trails that children skied/rode in the beginning of the program versus the trails skied/rode by the end of the program. Children/parents can participate in exit interviews rating our program.

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About Saddleback Mountain: Located in the beautiful High Peaks and lakes district of western Maine, Saddleback Mountain was founded in 1960 and has grown its reputation for exceptional snow, some of the best terrain in the East, and a friendly, laid-back culture. At 4,120 feet of elevation and2,000 feet of vertical, and 600+ acres, Saddleback is Maine’s third-largest mountain and the largest independently owned ski resort in the East. In 2020, Saddleback was purchased as a fund managed by Massachusetts-based Arctaris Impact Investors, a leader in opportunity-zone investments.