January-February 2024 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
The snow might have taken its time, but Coombs Outdoors ski and snowboard programs have been going strong all winter along. Our staff is working 7 days a week to make sure that our 6+ winter programs are running smoothly for our 450+ participants.
If you’ve been skiing anywhere in Jackson Hole this season, from JHMR and Snow King to the corduroy at Trail Creek, you’ve probably seen our colorful Stio Coombs jackets whizzing by. We’re proud to see the growing presence of Coombs kids and their families on our slopes and trails - increasing access to joy in our community and in the outdoors is what it’s all about!
We’ve had lots of special moments with participants this winter. So, we want to take a moment to celebrate the iterative nature of our programs and the way kids are able to grow up with Coombs. Our staff members not only witness participants building ski skills and outdoor experience, but are also able to truly get to know each kid and watch them develop important friendships, social-emotional learning, confidence, and leadership skills over time.
For example, we had a boy in our Ositos Nordic ski programs for two years who had trouble speaking up and making friends. Now a 6th grader in our After the Bell Nordic program, he immediately stepped into a leadership role and is excitedly teaching the newer participants how to put on skis and get started gliding. Additionally, our Backcountry Club participants were excited enough to ski last year, but by this season we are seeing them exhibit a new level of responsibility, preparedness, and taking safety seriously. We can’t wait to see our current first graders become backcountry leaders one day.
This is the impact made possible by our awesome community through volunteerism, corporate sponsorships, partnerships, and donations - thank you!
We hope you’ll consider supporting our rapidly growing winter programs by joining us for Skiing with the Stars, our annual winter fundraiser and celebration. We’ll have a fun ski day at JHMR followed by an Après celebration at the Mangy Moose with Hot Pocket playing live music, a robust silent auction, and a program providing updates on Coombs successes and priorities for the year - we’d love to see you at both or just the cocktail party.
See you on the slopes!
Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director
Winter programs are deep! (Even if the snow’s not)
Learn to Ski & Snowboard at Snow King
Each week at Snow King, 165 kids and 22 adults are learning to ski or snowboard. These beginner programs have been a staple of Coombs programming since the start, and we’re proud to have expanded these opportunities for older kids and adults through our Padres Program this year. Participants are progressing quickly, starting to venture off the magic carpet and explore the mountain. They are especially excited to take the gondola all the way to the top and ski Sunny Side!
We’re also excited to have 17 Coombs participants in Rockchuck Racers and the Freeride Program, more challenging Alpine programs with the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club. These partner programs, run by JHSC staff, are for kids who have the skills and interest in a more advanced, competitive ski experience.
“We do flat skiing, too!” - Ositos participant
Our Nordic ski programs are getting more and more dialed each year, with the goal of increasing access to “flat skiing” and providing an exciting afterschool activity for working families. This year 32 Activate elementary schoolers are part of our Ositos program in partnership with the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club. Two groups of beginners practice one day per week and a more experienced group practices twice per week, with leadership from two Coombs Empower interns.
We are also excited to be in the second year of our After the Bell afterschool middle school Nordic program for 10 participants in partnership with Teton County School District. This suite of Nordic programs offers participants a progression with more opportunities to develop their skills, relationships, and confidence year to year.
Shredding with friends at Coombs Club
Our Coombs Club ski mentorship program is another one of our most popular programs, with over 160 middle and high school participants skiing or riding every weekend. We rely on our incredible team of over 70 volunteers to ski with groups of kids at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort or Snow King, building mentor relationships and helping them learn the terrain, practice ski skills, and have a space to have fun with their friends.
Engage Afterschool Workshops
Our middle school participants continue to request additional afterschool programs through our Participant Advisory Council, and our winter afterschool workshops are a hit. This gives 26 middle schoolers a chance to have engaging experiences with their peers after school, doing fun activities like ice skating, night skiing, trying snowboarding, sledding, cooking, and more. These 6-8th graders have been in our programs since they were young, and it’s really special to see them build a strong community, start to take on more leadership roles, and open up to each other and program staff. Ongoing supportive relationships and personal growth are a key goal of our afterschool programs, and we hope to keep offering them to more participants in the future.
Interns Glide through Winter Jobs
This winter’s 8 Empower Interns are having a successful season so far at Snow King Sports School, REI, and as Junior Instructors for our Ositos program. Interns are not only learning outdoor skills, but also gaining experience in communication, professionalism, and leadership. It’s especially fun to see Empower interns teaching younger Coombs kids at Snow King (pictured) and Ositos.
Coombs in the Backcountry
This is our second year running the Coombs Backcountry Club, with 14 adventurous participants including 10 high schoolers and 2 middle schoolers. This program introduces Coombs participants to backcountry skiing through weekly uphill practices, guided weekend excursions, and level 1 avalanche courses. So far this season, Backcountry Club has been to top of Snow King several times, skiing on the pass, and skiing in GTNP with Coombs staff, NOLS instructors, and Exum Mountain Guides. We are so impressed by the excitement, dedication, and responsibility these participants show toward learning a tough new sport and taking safety seriously.
Join us for Skiing with the Stars!
Backcountry Partner & Sponsor Spotlights
Exum Mountain Guides make awesome backcountry experiences possible for our participants. From summer climbing days to guided ski adventures this winter with our Coombs Backcountry Club, we’re grateful for Exum’s generous support!
Arc’teryx has been crucial in getting our fledgling backcountry ski program off the ground, providing high quality gear and financial support.
“Getting youth into the outdoors in safe spaces is an important first step in encouraging lifelong, safe backcountry recreation. Coombs Outdoors is an incredible organization that supports youth to get on skis and snowboards and into the mountains, and Arc’teryx is honored to work with their whole team to support the program.” - Arc’teryx staff
Backcountry Access (BCA) provided essential gear for our backcountry club participants. Our program is much stronger with their generous in-kind support!
