- Quick jump:
- Downhill Ski & Snowboard
- Cross-Country Ski
Applications for the 2024-2025 season are now open!
Operation SnowSports is YES’s flagship program. Every winter season, Boston youth have the opportunity to experience the outdoors, develop confidence on the slopes, and build leadership skills.
How does this application work? Registration for this season of OperationSnowsports will be done in two steps. First, we ask families to create an account on our Operations Snowsports portal linked below, and register the children they would like to participate in the season. This application will close on 11:59pm, Sunday, November 17th, 2024.
Applications are not accepted based on when you apply, rather priority is given to youth from income-eligible families, target neighborhoods, and previous program participation.
On Tuesday, November 19th, 2024, all completed applicants will receive an email from YES giving them an important date: the date they will be allowed to register for trips. Every family who completes an application will receive a window of time to sign up for specific trips with dates in our Operation Snowsports portal. Earlier slots to book trips will be given out using our eligibility criteria, with families most in need receiving earlier time slots to select trip dates. After selecting their trips, families will receive more information regarding orientation and booking an appointment for equipment in our rental shop!
The Downhill Ski & Snowboarding Program
Grades 2-8
The Downhill Ski & Snowboarding Program track gives skiers and snowboarders an opportunity to try something new, or continue practicing their skills on the slopes. This program is ideal for youth that have tried skiing/riding before, as well as youth who are new to the sport entirely. The Operation SnowSports YETTI and YES Kids experience begins with a virtual orientation where youth will learn safety tips for their day(s) on the slopes, followed by a trip to the YES rental shop for youth to be fitted for their gear. On the weekend day trips, youth arrive at YES to meet their instructor and classmates. Transportation is provided to/from the mountain. At the mountain, youth participate in a lesson, break for food, and continue with supervised skiing and snowboarding afterward. Through donations, fundraising events, and partnerships, YES keeps expenses to a minimum and provides programming that is affordable and accessible to everyone. In this way, YES encourages youth to not only learn and experience this new adventure and sport, but also to participate in other YES programs and develop lifelong relationships with mentors and peers.
Pricing: Program fee will be determined on a sliding scale based on household income and number of family dependents. Fees for income-eligible families can range from $15-$175.
YETTI
The YETTI (Youth Excel Through Tailored Instruction) experience offers youth the opportunity to ski or snowboard with the same group of peers for four pre-determined days throughout the season. Youth benefit from the YETTI program model’s personalized instruction and coaching that is tailored to their specific needs. No prior skiing or snowboarding experience is necessary to enroll.
YES Kids
The YES Kids experience is only available to youth who have minimal experience skiing or snowboarding. This option is to offer youth an introduction to the outdoors by spending one day on the slopes. An extra trip day will be offered as space is available.
The Cross-Country Skiing Program
Grades 2-8
The YES Cross-Country Ski Program partners with Weston Ski Track to offer a cross-country ski program- introducing youth to the sport and building their strength and stamina. Youth do not need any prior skiing experience to participate. On trip day, youth may depart from the YES office on a weekday afterschool, participate in equipment fitting, have a ski lesson, break for snack, and have ski unstructured time to practice their skills.
Pricing: Program fee will be determined on a sliding scale according to income eligibility and number of dependents. Fees for income-eligible families can range from $20-$105.
