As a tween, I spent every winter Friday on the ski bus to Pat’s Peak in New Hampshire and I dreamed of being an art teacher. Today, I get to bring those passions together — creativity, community and winter recreation in a way I never imagined by leading WinterKids into our 25th anniversary season.

If you haven’t heard of WinterKids, we’re a nonprofit helping children across the entire state get outside and get active during the months they need it most. What began as a passport program in 1997 has grown into a statewide movement, reaching over 16,000 Maine kids each year with programs that engage more than 50,000 Mainers in active, joyful outdoor movement and learning.

When I tell people I work at WinterKids, I’m met with stories of learning to ski, of kids using the Passport, or of D24. What most people
don’t know is our education programs reach kids in every county in Maine and we reach over 10,000 elementary-aged kids through the Winter Games alone. And at the heart of those programs are educators.

We know what today’s teachers are facing — fewer resources and bigger needs. It’s harder than ever to create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences, especially in winter and especially in under-resourced communities. That’s where WinterKids comes in.

We offer standards-aligned outdoor learning guides and support for programs like the Winter Games, a four-week series of outdoor educational challenges that get entire schools moving, learning and exploring outside, together, having fun in the cold temperatures. Our goal is to help educators bring learning to life outside the four walls of a classroom and get kids to embrace winter.

Whether it’s measuring snowmelt, playing math games in snowshoes or hosting a school-wide winter celebration, our resources are designed to make it easy, and fun, for teachers to engage their students in active, outdoor learning. This isn’t about just getting outside for the sake of it. It’s about what happens because we do.

When kids move their bodies and feel a sense of belonging in nature, they show up more confidently in the classroom. They become curious learners, team players and resilient problem-solvers. They build connections to their peers, their teachers and their communities. And they carry those lessons forward for a lifetime.

As a former art educator and ski coach, I know what it’s like to search for creative ways to reach your students. I also know how transformative it can be when participate in active learning. Outdoor learning isn’t a luxury, it’s essential.

As we celebrate 25 years, we’re not just looking back — we’re doubling down. We’re expanding access, building deeper partnerships with schools and developing new resources to meet this moment. We’re helping teachers feel equipped, encouraged and energized to do what they do best.

Because when we invest in educators, we invest in kids. And when we invest in kids, we invest in Maine’s future. Whether you’re a parent, a school leader, a policymaker or someone who remembers their first pair of snow boots, I hope you’ll join us. Let’s build the next 25 years of outdoor learning together. Let’s support the teachers who show up for our kids every day. And let’s give Maine children the tools to thrive.