Moderators: SkiDork, spanky, Bubba
Wow... Friendly Penguin Daycare went up to $130 for the day. If I remember correctly, it was $75 last year.spanky wrote: For $130, Vail offers a full day lesson, lunch and lift ticket.
Okemo offers daycare for $78 compared to $130 for Killington
K-mart Sucks
To: Families of Frequent Visitors less than 18 yrs old
From: Joe Wood, Killington Ski & Snowboard School Director
Subject: Navigating Ski School Options
Dear Parents,
With the new season fast approaching, I felt it was important to take the opportunity to introduce myself and welcome you to Killington’s new Ski & Snowboard School. As a longtime Killington employee and a Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) examiner and course conductor since 1975, I have been actively involved in the field of ski and snowboard education for over 30 years. In my position as Killington’s new Ski School Director, I look forward to sharing my experience and vision with you.
Over the years, I have learned a lot about teaching method, but have also learned something about the different ways families enjoy skiing and riding together. The best ski or snowboard program for one child may be different for the next, and often depends on the personality of the individual child and the family dynamic—siblings, resort proximity, interests, goals, costs, etc. I encourage you to consider the following when choosing the right Killington Ski & Snowboard School program for your child.
Kids develop at different paces and may reach thresholds for the cognitive, affective and physical components of the sport at varying ages. Some may understand instruction conceptually, but not have the musculature yet to execute it. Others may be able to balance and perform complex sporting tasks but not be fully aware that a mistake can be painful physically (Rocks and trees are hard!). Many youngsters have challenges with the social interaction involved (It’s all about me, I’m not aware of how that feels to you). You may even know adults who still fit into these categories…
As a parent, you should also factor in your desired level of involvement. We all share the dream of skiing or boarding as a family well into old age. That’s one of the beauties of the lifetime sport and the outdoor lifestyle. In order to accomplish this, parents may need to be very involved. That can mean cheering on and encouraging Olympic competitive goals. It may mean quiet afternoon runs down easiest terrain playing cat and mouse at Pico. Maybe it’s sharing sunrises or sunsets, the shape of an individual snowflake, or spring sugar on snow. Or, most likely—it’s a little bit of each, in the unique mix that’s right for your child.
It sounds like a lot to think about, but we’re here to help. We at Killington are parents, too, and we’ve earnestly tried to create Ski & Snowboard school options that address the individual needs of your child, while giving choices to families at several price points. I’ve attached this season’s product offerings below. Feel free to contact us at (800) 923-9444 with any questions or if you need assistance finding the right program for you.
Joe Wood
Killington Ski & Snowboard School Director
Killington Ski and Snowboard School Programs
Friendly Penguin Daycare - Ages 12 wks-6 yrs. Full day licensed daycare program offered daily. Per day rate $100 midweek/ $130 weekends and holidays.
First Tracks –Ages 2-4 yrs. Includes Friendly Penguin daycare and ski lessons offered daily. Per day rate $130 midweek/$180 weekends and holidays. We guarantee a ratio of 1 instructor per every 3 children during the First Tracks Lesson.
Ministars – Ages 4-6 yrs. Full day ski lesson program offered daily. Per day rate $130 midweek/$180 weekends and holidays.
Lowriders – Ages 4-6 yrs. Per day rate $180. Full day snowboard lesson program offered weekends and holidays.
We guarantee a ratio of 1 instructor per every 5 children in the Ministar & Lowrider programs.
Our new Frequent Kids Discount Card is designed to replace the season passes that have been available in past years for the Friendly Penguin, First Tracks, Ministar and Lowrider programs. It is for families with multi day seasonal ambitions and those who want to build or continue long term relationships. There are two discount levels available:
- 20% discount card available with a $1500 minimum purchase. It provides a retail value of $1875.
- 35% discount available with a $3000 minimum purchase. It provides a retail value of $4616.
Cards may be purchased at any time during the season at any value starting with the $1,500 minimum. The card may be used for up to two children per day in any of the above listed programs. It may also be used for the Pico Ministar and Lowrider programs. Unused dollars may be rolled over to the next season!! The idea is to plan your family needs and buy in at the level best suited to those needs.
Superstars – Ages 6-12 yrs. Full day or ½ day ski or snowboard lesson program. Full day offered daily. Per day rate $130 midweek/$180 weekends and holidays. AM ½ day program offered daily except during holiday periods. Per day rate $95 midweeks/$135 weekends.
Camp Freeride – Ages 6-18 yrs. Full day or ½ day ski or snowboard parks program. Full day offered daily. Per day rate $130 midweek/$180 weekends and holidays. AM ½ day program offered daily except during holiday periods. Per day rate $95 midweeks/$135 weekends.
Snowzone – Ages 13-18 yrs. Full day or ½ day ski or snowboard lesson program. Full day offered daily. Per day rate $130 midweek/$180 weekends and holidays. AM ½ day program offered daily except during holiday periods. Per day rate $95 midweeks/$135 weekends.
We guarantee a ratio of 1 instructor per every 5 children in the Superstar, Camp Freeride and Snowzone programs.
*Kids in the full day programs above will be served a lunch of their choice from one of our on mountain restaurants.
Hopefuls - Ages 5 to 12 yrs. Full day ski or snowboard lesson program offered every Saturday & Sunday & select holidays for 18 weeks. Price for Saturday only program (23 days total) is $799. Price for Sat. & Sun. program (40 days total) is $1,199. This program is for intermediate or stronger skiers & riders. Program does not include lunch.
Junior Program – Vermont school kids program for grades Kindergarten thru 12th. This program meets for one 2-hour lesson each week for 10 weeks.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE KILLINGTON SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL AT 1-800-923-9444
Pico Ski and Snowboard School Programs
Ministars – Ages 4-6 yrs. Full and ½ day ski lesson program offered weekends and holidays. Full day rate $130. ½ day AM or PM rate $95.
Lowriders – Ages 4-6 yrs. Full and ½ day snowboard lesson program offered weekends and holidays. Full day rate $130. Half day AM or PM rate $95.
Superstars – Ages 6-12 yrs. Full and ½ day ski or snowboard lesson program offered weekends and holidays. Full day rate $130. Half day AM or PM rate $95.
Junior Program – Vermont school kids program for grades Kindergarten thru 12th. This program meets for one 2-hour lesson each week for 10 weeks.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE PICO SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL AT 1-800-923-9444
Killington Mountain School & Killington Ski Club Programs
Weekend training programs with competitive focus for ages 8-18. Ski racing, freestyle and snowboarding programs available from $800 to $2,500 per season.
For more information go to www.killingtonskiclub.com or contact the Killington Mountain School at 802-422-5671.
Pico Ski Club Programs
Weekend training programs with ski racing focus available for ages 6-18 from $500 to $900 for the season plus volunteer deposit.
WTF no 40% discount with a $20,000 min purchase option?HelmetCam wrote:Long email from the Killington Ski School:To: Families of Frequent Visitors less than 18 yrs old
From: Joe Wood, Killington Ski & Snowboard School Director
Subject: Navigating Ski School Options
...
Killington Ski and Snowboard School Programs
Our new Frequent Kids Discount Card is designed to replace the season passes that have been available in past years for the Friendly Penguin, First Tracks, Ministar and Lowrider programs. It is for families with multi day seasonal ambitions and those who want to build or continue long term relationships. There are two discount levels available:
- 20% discount card available with a $1500 minimum purchase. It provides a retail value of $1875.
- 35% discount available with a $3000 minimum purchase. It provides a retail value of $4616.
Cards may be purchased at any time during the season at any value starting with the $1,500 minimum. The card may be used for up to two children per day in any of the above listed programs. It may also be used for the Pico Ministar and Lowrider programs. Unused dollars may be rolled over to the next season!! The idea is to plan your family needs and buy in at the level best suited to those needs.
HelmetCam wrote: Killington Ski and Snowboard School Programs
.
Hopefuls - Ages 5 to 12 yrs. Full day ski or snowboard lesson program offered every Saturday & Sunday & select holidays for 18 weeks. Price for Saturday only program (23 days total) is $799. Price for Sat. & Sun. program (40 days total) is $1,199. This program is for intermediate or stronger skiers & riders. Program does not include lunch.
Junior Program – Vermont school kids program for grades Kindergarten thru 12th. This program meets for one 2-hour lesson each week for 10 weeks.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL THE KILLINGTON SKI & SNOWBOARD SCHOOL AT 1-800-923-9444
Killington Mountain School & Killington Ski Club Programs
Weekend training programs with competitive focus for ages 8-18. Ski racing, freestyle and snowboarding programs available from $800 to $2,500 per season.
For more information go to www.killingtonskiclub.com or contact the Killington Mountain School at 802-422-5671.
9/21/2007: Program Info up to the minute
to simplify totally, there will now be a thicker line between the recreational/ all round skills focus vs the competitive focus(in all 3 disciplines). from a participant perspective, things don't change hugely.
having said that, the ski and snowboard school will administer the hopefuls age recreational focus, kms/KSC the competitive training programs ages 8-18. this creates a lot of questions. let me take a stab at some of those, subject to change:
-how will it be organized? hopefuls rec/all round supervised by steve finneron (with brenda welch on paper chase)
kms/KSC will have a separate path to organize, register/sign up
-how will groups be classified? there will be two hopefuls products: saturday and select holidays (23 days) $799
saturday, sunday and select holidays (40) $1199
these will be grouped by ability,interest, committment etc as in the past. same schedule too.
the kms offerings are j-6, 4&5 (ski), similar for freestyle, and snowboard etc for this age group.
$800 to $1050 +/_
We are getting screwed from KSC too now . So my kids' programs will now cost 1199 + tax for Iceman and 799 + tax for the Snow Princess. That does not include any lunch and we've already bought the passes. I don't remember it being that expensive the last years we've been with the club. POWDR must have a hand in this. I bet we still have to pay membership fees too.Ski-N-Sail wrote:Just found this on the KSC website. This explains why my phone calls and emails to KSC have gone unanswered.
9/21/2007: Program Info up to the minute
to simplify totally, there will now be a thicker line between the recreational/ all round skills focus vs the competitive focus(in all 3 disciplines). from a participant perspective, things don't change hugely.
having said that, the ski and snowboard school will administer the hopefuls age recreational focus, kms/KSC the competitive training programs ages 8-18. this creates a lot of questions. let me take a stab at some of those, subject to change:
-how will it be organized? hopefuls rec/all round supervised by steve finneron (with brenda welch on paper chase)
kms/KSC will have a separate path to organize, register/sign up
-how will groups be classified? there will be two hopefuls products: saturday and select holidays (23 days) $799
saturday, sunday and select holidays (40) $1199
these will be grouped by ability,interest, committment etc as in the past. same schedule too.
the kms offerings are j-6, 4&5 (ski), similar for freestyle, and snowboard etc for this age group.
$800 to $1050 +/_
tyrolean_skier wrote:We are getting screwed from KSC too now . So my kids' programs will now cost 1199 + tax for Iceman and 799 + tax for the Snow Princess. That does not include any lunch and we've already bought the passes. I don't remember it being that expensive the last years we've been with the club. POWDR must have a hand in this. I bet we still have to pay membership fees too.Ski-N-Sail wrote:Just found this on the KSC website. This explains why my phone calls and emails to KSC have gone unanswered.
9/21/2007: Program Info up to the minute
to simplify totally, there will now be a thicker line between the recreational/ all round skills focus vs the competitive focus(in all 3 disciplines). from a participant perspective, things don't change hugely.
having said that, the ski and snowboard school will administer the hopefuls age recreational focus, kms/KSC the competitive training programs ages 8-18. this creates a lot of questions. let me take a stab at some of those, subject to change:
-how will it be organized? hopefuls rec/all round supervised by steve finneron (with brenda welch on paper chase)
kms/KSC will have a separate path to organize, register/sign up
-how will groups be classified? there will be two hopefuls products: saturday and select holidays (23 days) $799
saturday, sunday and select holidays (40) $1199
these will be grouped by ability,interest, committment etc as in the past. same schedule too.
the kms offerings are j-6, 4&5 (ski), similar for freestyle, and snowboard etc for this age group.
$800 to $1050 +/_
Edit: Just looked and sure enough we still have to pay a membership fee.
All,
First, Julie Chadwick, in my experience, is a fine and honorable person. I am certain that she has nothing to do with this new price structure and may be offended as well- although I have not spoken with her. With that said, is anyone as offended as I by this type of price increase? The program may not have been “perfect” but I have taught skiing and snowboarding and my 2 year old was always happy and excited. You can tell when something is not working. Look into your kids eyes and ask them questions. To this day my daughter will tell you that she is the greatest skier in the world and remembers the name of two of her instructors or caregivers! Am I the only one whose kid had a great season?
Not that our opinions matter. It has been confirmed in a conversation that I had with marketing- I’ll paraphrase- that the “New” Killington is looking for a more “exclusive” guest to spend a lot more money less often. As for the people who have been here since the 70’s or other long-time or even new fans of Killington? If we stay, we stay and if we go……well…you know the rest.
Jim Johnson
jim@espnj.com
Previously a First Tracks User (not sure about this year)
Currently a Killington Homeowner (not sure about next year!)
Great summary Jim !! I definitely agree with you 100 %. We love
Killington and thought there couldn't be a better place for a kid to
grow up at, learn and enjoy skiing. We had our share of issues with
the kids program, but everyday our child was excited to show us what
he learned.
For over twenty years, we have always skied Killington. Yes we have
gone to many places out West ....where the mountains are bigger and
more challenging, great snow conditions (ice ...what ice ??) and the
weather is always perfect. But Killington is where we called home. So
now, we are challenged to see if it's time to say good-bye. What a
shame.
Dear Ms. Chadwick and Killington Parents:
I am responding on behalf of my family and many of my friends at Killington. I have to be honest and convey my anger and resentment with new management for its outrageous daycare pricing. Not only is it cost prohibitive, it is an insult to many of us who have been season pass holder for years and have come to look forward to raising our children and teaching them to ski through the Killington programs. I have two boys, ages 3 and 1. Last year, they each enrolled as season pass holder in Killington daycare with close to 40 days each. At this year’s normal pricing, that would be over $12,400.00. You cannot tell me this is not absolutely ridiculous! I do not mind paying a reasonable value for a service (especially if it will help improve Killington and its kids programs), but I refuse to pay an inflated, arbitrary amount that does nothing but exclude just about all families except the most “exclusive guests”. Unfortunately, maybe management failed to recognize that this is not Park City. I understand that management needs to run a profitable organization, and I understood that prices would increase this year, but the decision management has made in regards to kids programs is a major obstacle to families and children who wish to grow up skiing and learning to ski at Killington. In my opinion, when it comes to children, the daycare system should be an incentive to attract more families to Killington who will continue to ski here with their friends and their families for generations to come. Clearly, management missed the boat in this regard.
Furthermore, why did management wait until now to disclose daycare pricing? Many of my friends and their families bought season passes in June. To me, this appears to be just a deceptive marketing scheme by management to wait until now to disclose pricing, long after many families had already bought their passes with the rightful assumption that daycare pricing would still be a reasonable option.
In closing, Killington has always promoted itself as a kid friendly family environment. Obviously, new management has failed to recognize the importance of this philosophy and has decided to target a less loyal customer base. This year, I intend in finding daycare elsewhere. Killington Parents, I urge you to express your feelings to management as well, as all of your opinions are important in making a change.
Very truly yours,
Peter DaMore
