Ski Retreat
Winter Park, CO

Bunny hills or double diamonds? 

All abilities and skill levels are welcome to ski and snowboard with us for a weekend hitting the slopes! We offer two separate annual ski retreats: one for middle schoolers (grades 7-8, in February) and one for high schoolers (grades 9-12, in January). All students are welcome, regardless of what church or school you attend, so invite your friends to join us for one of our most popular annual trips.

Both trips take place over a holiday weekend (MLK weekend for high school and President’s Weekend for middle school). We’ll drive to Colorado on Day 1, ski or snowboard on Days 2 and 3, and ski in the morning and leave for KC in the late afternoon on Day 4. We’ll drive overnight and arrive back home in the early morning on Day 5 with enough time to make it to school! During nights 2 and 3 on the trip we will meet as a large group for programming, including worship time, games and a message from the youth staff or one of our guest speakers. It’s a time of growth, relaxation, and bonding with your friends (and hopefully, with the outdoors!).

I’ve never been skiing or snowboarding. Can I still go?

Yes, of course! As always, beginners are welcome on the ski trip. We require students who have never skied to take a lesson on the first day we’re in Winter Park. You can also choose to take a lesson even if you do have experience—it’s up to you! Both ski and snowboard lessons are available.

Something’s come up and I need to cancel. Can I get a refund?

If you need to drop out of either trip for any reason, we offer full refunds before December 1, 2024 (High School) and January 2, 2025 (Middle School). After those deadlines, we cannot refund you in full unless another student fills your spot. If the vacated spot is not filled after the deadline, we will refund your final payment, but the deposit will be non-refundable. If you do need to cancel, it’s very important that you email or call us as soon as you can so we can offer your place to another student on the waiting list.

See below for full cancellation policy, including the rental equipment and ski lesson cancellation policy.

Can I room with my friends?

Yes, you can request roommates! We can only guarantee that you’ll get one of your roommate requests, but we do all we can to accommodate the people you requested. As we get closer to the trip, we’ll send you a link for roommate requests. Roommate decisions are final and cannot be changed once we’re on the trip.

What if the trip fills up?

If you register for the trip but it’s already full, we will put you on the waitlist and notify you immediately if a spot opens up. Our goal is to be able to take everyone who wants to go. In the past the waitlist has been completely cleared by the time the trip arrives, so definitely don’t give up if the trip is full! We’ll try our best to make it happen.

If you find yourself in the position where you’ve made alternate plans and no longer wish to remain on the wait list, please email or call us to let us know as soon as possible. That way, we’re able to offer the spot to the next student on the waiting list. Thank you!

Trip cost

• $725 total

  • $350 deposit (due at registration)

  • $375 remainder (due Dec 1, 2024 for high school, Jan 2, 2025 for middle school)

Trip fee includes lodging, all breakfasts and dinners, lift tickets on the slopes, transportation, and a trip t-shirt (the best part). This amount does not include rental equipment or optional first-day lesson. Students will be responsible for purchasing food while traveling (4 meals total), as well as lunch while on the mountain during the ski days (3 meals total) and any souvenirs they might want.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Please note that if you cancel after the above final payment deadline, your $350 trip deposit is non-refundable. Cancellations prior to those deadlines will receive a full refund. We will offer full refunds after above deadlines only if another student takes the vacated spot.

Lessons

• $125 lesson fee

Lesson fee is the same for ski and snowboard.

If your student has never skied or boarded before, they are required to take a lesson on the first day. Even if they do have some experience, sometimes it’s helpful to get a refresher course! Lessons are optional if it’s not their first time. Winter Park will automatically group students according to their age (you cannot request that a certain student be in the same lesson as another student, for example).

CANCELLATION/ADDITION POLICY: Please note that we cannot guarantee a group lesson for your student if you purchase a lesson less than 2 weeks before the date of the trip. We also cannot refund lessons that are cancelled less than 2 weeks before the date of the trip. If you would like to add a lesson for your student with less than 2 weeks notice before the date of the trip, you must visit the Winter Park Resort website and book it online separately.

Equipment rentals

• Sport package: $192 (covers all 3 days)

• High Performance package: $219 (covers all 3 days)

Rental costs are the same for ski and snowboard.

Students will have the option to either rent equipment from Winter Park or bring their own. If you are renting equipment, the rental fee will be added to your total trip cost when you pay online. Village Youth will coordinate payment with Winter Park directly—all you have to do is give us your measurements and what package you want and we will take care of the rest (this information will be gathered at registration)! We will do a group equipment fitting on the morning of the first day of skiing so you’re all set to hit the slopes.

If renting, you’ll choose a rental package option. The Sport package is functional and safe for all levels, while the High Performance package is better suited for more skilled skiers who are comfortable at faster speeds.

Rental fee includes skis & poles or snowboard, boots, and helmet for three days. Students provide their own goggles.

CANCELLATION/ADDITION POLICY: Please note that we cannot guarantee a rental equipment order less than 2 weeks before the date of the trip. If you would like to add rental equipment for your student less than 2 weeks before the date of the trip, you must visit the Winter Park Resort website to book your own rental equipment package separately. Additionally, we cannot refund rentals that are cancelled within 7 days of the trip.