Dear friends,

It’s hard to believe winter is over and summer is already approaching. Each season is a busy time for us, running different kinds of programs to meet the needs of our community.

With over 450 participants, this was another winter for the record books. We were proud to watch our 200+ beginners progress quickly in Snow King lessons and our Ositos Nordic ski program. Our more advanced participants impressed us with their skill and confidence at JHMR and in our second season of Backcountry Ski Club. 

I need to take a moment to thank our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and amazing staff who make all this possible! Our staff works hard to open the doors to the magic of winter for more and more kids every year.

Next, we ran our second year of spring break programs for over 50 kids. This year’s offerings included elementary school day camps, middle school Moab adventures, and a high school Bozeman trip featuring a college visit at Montana State University. (We’ll tell you more about spring break in our May newsletter!)

With summer applications rolling in, we’re hard at work tying up all the loose ends of our summer plans for one of our biggest summers yet. We can’t wait for another busy season exploring, biking, climbing, backpacking, paddling, and making memories with our participants.

Your support makes it possible for us to offer this range of programs season after season. Thank you for being part of our Coombs community and helping local kids have meaningful experiences outdoors. 

Happy spring!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

P.S. In case you missed it, we bought a building! This step toward permanence was made possible by our generous Board of Directors and several leadership donors through the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign. If you are interested in a tour of the building or pledging your support, please reach out to me at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org.

Winter Highlights

Winter ACTIVATE: Snow King lessons to Ositos Nordic

Our Activate winter programs were so amazing that it’s hard to see them end! From January to March we had kids out enjoying winter every day of the week. From Rockchuck Racers and Ositos Nordic ski practice with Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club to ski and snowbaord lessons for kids and parents at Snow King, we have so much to be proud of and grateful for. We had our biggest winter in Activate yet, with over 220 participants. We couldn’t have done it without support from the Share Winter Foundation, Skinny Skis, Fischer Nordic, Stio, the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club, and Snow King Mountain. (Photos by Zach Montes.)

• Learn-to-ski and snowboard is a crucial piece of our winter programming. This year more than 200 participants attended weekly lessons at Snow King, including young kids, adult beginners in our Padres program, and our first snowboard lessons for beginners 6th grade and up. Shoutout to Tom and the instructor team at Snow King for our best season of ski school yet!

• In our Ositos Nordic ski program, 33 participants practiced cross country skiing weekly with coaches from Coombs and the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club. Six Ositos skiers even participated in their first race - the Moose Chase! For the first time this year, we were able to use our very own fleet of classic skis and introduce skate skiing to our participants thanks to a sponsorship from Fischer Nordic Skis and a Micro Grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. 

• Rockchuck Racers, a more advanced alpine ski program with the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club, had 15 Coombs participants this year, training for 5 hours every Saturday at Snow King. Participants progressed and built confidence in many different ways from moguls to jumps and from steep, icy terrain to powder.

Winter ENGAGE: Coombs Club, Afterschool, & Backcountry

Our Engage participants continue to impress us with their skills, bravery, and confidence on the slopes. We have known many of them since they were little kids, and it’s amazing to watch them grow into strong, responsible leaders who try new things and cheer on their peers. This year we had over 160 middle and high schoolers participating in our winter programs, including Coombs Club, Backcountry Club, and afterschool programs. (Engage photos by Coombs staff and Joey Sackett.)

• In Coombs Club, groups of kids joined volunteer mentors to ski and snowboard on weekends, with 110+ participants at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and 50+ at Snow King. Highlights included a big JHMR scavenger hunt, inaugural tram laps, enjoying Snow King’s Sunnyside, wearing glitter, and having fun with their friends and volunteer mentors.

• We also had 20+ middle schoolers in our winter afterschool programs. This included After the Bell Nordic ski practices, in partnership with Teton County School District, and Coombs afterschool Workshops where participants did everything from sledding and snowboarding to ice skating and cooking. 

• Our Backcountry Club reached new heights in its second year with 14 middle and high school participants. The group impressed us with their responsibility and adventurous spirits at Snow King uphill practices, avalanche safety training with the American Avalanche Institute, and guided tours in the backcountry on Teton Pass and in Grand Teton National Park with Exum Mountain Guides and NOLS. This year we added intros to wilderness medicine this year with TSCAR and Wounded Bear Medicine and did major investments into our backcountry ski gear fleet thanks to much in-kind support.

Winter EMPOWER: Internships & Workshops 

Our 8 Empower interns had great experiences in their winter roles. These high schoolers gained experience in leadership, education, communication, skiing, and more. The interns in instructor roles were perfect mentors and teachers to inspire our younger Coombs participants. (Empower photos by Zach Montes.)

• 8 interns were part of the Empower program this winter including 4 Snow King Mountain Sports School Apprentice Instructors, 2 Coombs Outdoors Ositos Nordic Ski Instructors, and 2 REI Sales Specialists. 6 interns received Jr. PSIA Instructor training this winter, allowing them to grow their ski and education experience.

• We held 3 professional and personal development workshops this winter based on feedback from our high school participants about their interests. These included career mapping with Central Wyoming College, writing resumes and cover letters, and taxes and personal finances with Deliberate Dollars.

THANK YOU!

Our winter sponsors and partners make our ski, snowboard, and winter afterschool programs possible.

And thanks again to our amazing winter volunteer team!

Biggest Skiing with the Stars ever!

Not only did we have a blast at Skiing with the Stars last month, but we raised record funds - over $200k! - for our programs. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed!

Save the Date: Coombs Cup 2024

Mark your calendars now to join us on August 14 for Coombs Cup Golf Tournament! Support our programs and participate in a fun day of golf, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, live music, and celebration.

We're so excited to announce that Coombs Outdoors has purchased a unicorn of a space that magically fills all our needs to run our programs into the future. We're calling it the Coombs Clubhouse - a permanent place for all of our participants to feel welcome, inspired, and empowered in the heart of Jackson Hole. 

Located at the corner of Snow King and Glenwood, the new Coombs Clubhouse has room for all our organizational needs which are currently spread across 4 different temporary, leased locations: offices, program space, gear storage, and van parking. 

We are so grateful for the leap of faith taken by the Coombs Board, our generous donors, and the seller of the building. This is an exciting opportunity for us to permanently plant roots in Jackson, allowing us to continue to grow and make a difference in our community.

Learn more in this article from the Jackson Hole News & Guide.

“Despite not having had a permanent residence, Coombs Outdoors has become a staple within this outdoor community, as its message of inclusivity has spread through many different groups of people in Jackson. But now that it has a ‘forever home,’ as Wolfrom Holladay described it, Coombs is poised to reach even more.”

With financial support from 100% of the Coombs Board of Directors and leadership gifts from several generous donors, we were able to fund a sizable downpayment that made the initial purchase of the building possible. However, we need additional funding to get it over the finish line. We invite friends and community members to support this momentous effort through the Coombs Clubhouse Campaign. If you are interested in a tour of the building or pledging your support, please reach out to jenny@coombsoutdoors.org.

Thanks for being part of Skiing with the Stars!

This year’s Skiing with the Stars event was beyond special. The energy, enthusiasm, and support for Coombs Outdoors and our mission is inspiring and validating. It is hard to put into words how grateful we are to all the people who joined us to celebrate and support what we do. You’re all stars in our book!

From the slopes to the dance floor, it was our largest and most successful event ever. Dollars raised through Skiing with the Stars will help fund our year-round programs for kids in grades K-12 which include skiing programs, swimming lessons, spring break trips, college visits, internships, professional development workshops, summer camps, afterschool workshops, and so much more. Your generosity will help more than 450 local kids like Aldric and Edwin, who you heard from at the event, grow up with the power and influence of outdoor recreation through Coombs programs. 

THANK YOU!

And thanks for celebrating a successful winter at Coombs Fest!

We had so much fun in the sun at Coombs Fest on Sunday! Thanks to everyone who came out to Snow King to celebrate a successful winter season with our participants, families, volunteers, and friends. How fitting that the event was on St. Patrick’s Day - we’re feeling so lucky for our incredible Coombs community! 

We need to give a big shoutout to Snow King, their amazing Ski School instructors, and all our incredible volunteers for a successful season. 

We would also like to thank everyone who sponsored the awesome Coombs Fest raffle: Snow King Mountain, Stio, Teton Village Sports, Dynastar Skis, Teton Tiger, REI, Kuhl, Faction Skis, Skida, Pearl Street Bagels, Black Diamond, Patagonia, Astoria Hot Springs Conservancy, WorldCast Anglers, Local, and Arc'teryx.

Skiing with the Stars: Thursday March 14

Join us for a day of skiing and celebration to support Coombs Outdoors at our 7th Annual Skiing with the Stars Event on Thursday, March 14! Click here for list of this year’s Stars, more details about the event, and a link to register.

The skiing portion of the event is now sold out, but we invite you to join us for our Après Party at the Mangy Moose 4-7 PM. Celebrate with us over drinks and appetizers, live music from Hot Pocket, a robust silent auction, and a brief program about Coombs Outdoors' recent successes and priorities.

Our Skiing with the Stars Silent Auction is live! Thanks to generous donations from our community, we have a very exciting collection of items and packages to offer from fishing trips and ski gear to custom hats and staycations. Win unique gear, gifts, and experiences while supporting Coombs Outdoors! You do not need to attend the event to bid in the auction. Auction is live online now through 7pm on March 14.

Coombs Fest: Sunday March 17

Join us at Coombs Fest this Sunday March 17! Help us celebrate the end of our winter season with skiing and a party for our participants, their families, volunteers, and community.

This is a fun annual event for all, with free gondola rides to the Panorama House where we have free food, drinks, music and a fun raffle! Families, volunteers and partners receive free lift tickets to ski at the King and community members are invited to ski for a suggested donation of $20. Lift tickets are generously donated by Snow King so all proceeds go to Coombs Outdoors. Our program staff has put together a really exciting raffle this year with prizes ranging from backpacks and restaurant gift cards to ski tunes and snowboards. 

We hope to see you there!

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!

Dear Friends,

Jackson Hole is a magical place year-round, but the holiday season brings out a special sort of sparkle in our little town. Some may say it’s the twinkling lights scattered around town like stars in the sky, while others love the excitement of the start of winter- snow glittering though the air as we reunite with friends we missed all summer and take those first exhilarating runs on skis. For me, the magic of Christmas in Jackson is conjured by generous community members who spread good cheer and support one another through the holiday season and beyond. 

This year marks the fourth annual Teton Pines Giving Tree for Coombs kids. Members generously helped outfit more than 50 families with all of the gear that will keep them warm and safe in Coombs programs this winter, while simultaneously making sure they have an exciting present under the tree on Christmas morning. Earlier this month we hosted our first gear drive where friends came out with bags of helmets, goggles, base layers, and gloves for Coombs kids in exchange for pizza and beer generously provided by Yeah Buddy Pizza. The Coombs phone seems to be ringing off the hook with inquiries about how folks can support programs. From gear donations, to volunteering, to generous contributions, Coombs Outdoors is feeling the love this holiday season.

Our winter programs officially started last week with 450 participants enrolled this season. This year you’ll find more smiling faces in Coombs jackets than ever before out enjoying our local ski hills. Your ongoing support makes it possible for Coombs to spread the magic of outdoor recreation year-round to as many local kids as possible.

We hope you’ll join us for another year chock full of adventure by making a year-end contribution today. Thank you for helping to make Jackson magical for everyone!

Happy Holidays!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director 

Looking Back at 2023

2023 was a huge year for Coombs Outdoors. We launched new programs such as our backcountry ski club, after school programs for middle schoolers, and spring break programs and trips for students in grades K-12. We grew our amazing and talented staff and Board and enrolled more participants than ever before. Our focus continues to be on creating quality experiences that provide our participants with the many benefits of outdoor recreation, build community connections and inclusivity, increase access to nature, and serve as a resource to the hard working families who make up the Coombs community.

We are proud to share this snapshot of the impact Coombs had on our community this year.

2023 was another year of growth and success thanks to friends like you. We hope you’ll join us for another year of adventures and community building by making an end-of-year gift.

Get your tickets for Skiing with the Stars!

Support Coombs Outdoors and join us for a day of skiing with X Gamers, US Ski Team members, World Tour competitors, Olympic Champions, winter film stars, and local legends at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for our Annual Skiing with the Stars event. 

This year’s event will be Thursday, March 14, with skiing 12:30-4pm followed by an Après party at the Mangy Moose. Click here for list of this year’s Stars, more details about the event, and a link to register.

Coombs Outdoors is excited to announce a partnership with Yeah Buddy Pizza to host the first annual “Gear for Beer” holiday gear drive for Coombs Outdoors. The organization will be collecting new and gently used helmets, goggles, gloves and mittens, base and mid layers, and snow pants to provide to the 450 Coombs participants and families in Coombs programs this winter. The gear drive will take place on Wednesday, December 13th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Yeah Buddy Pizza located upstairs at 20 West Broadway in downtown Jackson. 

Coombs Outdoors has experienced a significant increase in demand from local families for placement in the organization’s year-round outdoor recreation programs and workshops. Coombs winter downhill skiing and snowboarding programs provide 450 local youth and families with season-long ski lessons or mentorship programs, season rentals, and lift tickets and season passes. Winter coats for Coombs participants are generously donated by Stio.  

“Coombs relies on generous donations from the community to support our winter programs financially, as well as through donations of gear and winter clothing that are critical to creating safe, high-quality experiences for Coombs participants,” said Jenny Wolfrom Holladay, Executive Director of Coombs Outdoors. “As community demand and our capacity to include more youth in our programs has expanded significantly over the past few years, we have been unable to match the need for cold weather gear such as gloves and mittens, warm socks, quality base layers, googles, and helmets. We are looking to this generous community to sort through their gear closets and donate gently-used items that can help keep Coombs kids warm and safe this winter.”

The ”Gear for Beer” event is being generously hosted by Yeah Buddy Pizza who is providing the location for the gear drive as well as donating beer and offering 2-for-1 pizza deals for everyone who brings usable items. For those who don’t have gear to donate, there will be an opportunity to make a donation towards gear from the Coombs Outdoors holiday gear tree. Coombs Outdoors will not be accepting hard goods such as skis, boots, snowboards, and poles at this event.

Dear Friends,

Coombs participants are back at school and settling into the rhythm of the year. With a quick break in September under our belts, October brought the start of multiple afterschool programs for Coombs Outdoors, made possible with funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. We are specifically excited to be building on our middle school programs in response to feedback from participants, parents, and the Teton County School District that middle schoolers need more resources.

Imagine you’re 12 years old. You’re in seventh grade. It’s tough. You want to be unique, but also fit in. You want to do well in school, but your teachers are hard on you. You’re trying to keep up with the latest fashion, social media trends, and what gossip is going around about you and your friends on or offline. You want your crush to notice you, but you’re also not sure you actually like them that much. Your family is really important to you, but you’re also exhausted by your siblings and worried about disappointing your parents. With all that pressure, it’s hard to relax, be a kid, and have space to simply work on growing up. 

That’s where Coombs comes in. For the first time, we’re running fall Engage afterschool programs for 26 middle schoolers - a program they requested themselves through our Participant Advisory Council. This gives our participants the space to decompress after school, disconnect from electronics, be active and creative, and hang out with their friends and Coombs staff mentors.

In addition, I’m proud to be leading our first ever Coombs Ski Fit for middle and high school participants. It’s inspiring to see them putting in a lot of effort, pushing through challenging work, and having fun together at the same time. 20 Ski Fit participants will be heading into ski season with strong legs and lungs. 

We’re also continuing our fall afterschool programs and swimming lessons for Activate elementary school kids, led by two Empower high school interns as instructors. These programs are always in high demand, and we look forward to filling these community needs as much as our capacity allows. 

We continue to be grateful for our supportive community, including everyone who donated during Old Bill’s this year. You all make our work possible - thanks for being on our team!

Happy Halloween!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director

Engage Afterschool Programs

Thanks to funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, we launched our first ever fall middle school afterschool programs with 26 participants in grades 6 through 8. They meet on Wednesdays, and do activities like hiking, biking, cookie baking, pumpkin carving, scrapbook making, swimming, and more!

We are excited to have started our very own Coombs Ski Fit for middle and high schoolers. 20 participants are gearing up for ski season with strength-building and injury prevention exercises led by Jenny and Ellie at the Jackson Hole Middle School. Even though they feel sore the next day, participants are loving the chance to work out alongside their friends, prepare their legs for skiing and snowboarding, and celebrate finishing a challenging effort.

Activate Afterschool Programs

We currently have 52 elementary schoolers in fall swim lessons and afterschool programs. These fill an important need for our families, serving as childcare for parents and as an opportunity for kids learn important skills, stay active, and have fun with their peers between our summer camp and winter sports seasons. Both of our fall afterschool programs are led by Sally and Espi, our Activate program staff, as well as Maria and Gia, our two fall Empower interns. Our elementary school afterschool programs are also supported with funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole.

On Thursdays, 26 kids meet to do a variety of activities after school, including biking, climbing at the bouldering wall, playing in fall leaves, making arts & crafts, trick or treating, and preparing for Dia de los Muertos.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, 26 kids head to the rec center for swimming lessons. They’re learning very quickly to get comfortable in the water, float on their own, and, by the end of the season, kick across the pool! Swimming lessons remain our most popular new program, creating access to water safety skills and opportunities for fun.

THANK YOU for your Old Bill’s gift!

We received a record number of gifts through Old Bill’s Fun Run this year, and are so grateful for this incredible outpouring of support from our community. We’ve grown significantly as an organization, and still have long waitlists for all of our programs. With your generosity, we can continue to increase the capacity of our programs while continuing to make all of them even better for our families. If you gave through Old Bill’s this season, thank you!

Join us for a Dia de los Muertos Celebration

Thursday November 2, 5-7pm

Dia de los Muertos is a time to honor lost loved ones, share stories of their lives, and welcome their souls home. To celebrate this special holiday, our Coombs afterschool program participants have created traditional altars and filled them with decorations and offerings. We invite you to join us for a community Dia de los Muertos celebration 5-7pm this Thursday, November 2 at St. John’s Hansen Hall. Enjoy food, make arts & crafts, get your face painted, and can view the altars made by Coombs and other organizations.

Partner Spotlight:  Share Winter Foundation

As we gear up for winter, we are excited to thank the Share Winter Foundation for their critical support of our ski and snowboard programs. We align with Share Winter’s mission - to enrich the lives of youth through winter sports - and are grateful to be part of their network of like-minded organizations. Their grant funding makes our winter programs possible, from learn to ski/ride lessons at Snow King to Coombs Club ski mentorship programs at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Sponsor Spotlight: Rendezvous River Sports

As summer fades into the rearview mirror, we need to thank one of our key sponsors of the season:  Rendezvous River Sports. They make it possible for our participants to experience water sports, which is always a highlight of the summer. Year after year they provide paddleboards for every week of Activate camp and discounted ducky trips our Engage programs.

Dear Friends, 

This summer was awesome. It was our biggest one yet, full of new experiences for our 230 participants from cooking quinoa with Slow Food in the Tetons to multi-day backpacking in Yellowstone. We capped it off with an amazing week at Teton Valley Ranch Camp with 65 of our middle and high school participants. Even though our participants headed back to school, we were still able to connect with them through Climbing Club and Bike Club through September. We even held Participant and Parent Council meetings as a way to more deeply and consistently involve kids and their families in our program planning, collecting feedback and ideas to inform our programs moving forward in the year.

We were also busy over the last month with our Coombs Cup Golf Tournament and Old Bill's Fun Run, essential ways we fundraise for our programs. We had a blast at both events, from post-golf cocktails with our supporters to watching our Trail Running Club place in the race on Old Bill's run day covered with Coombs temporary tattoos.

Now our staff is taking a quick breath before diving into fall programs. Once again we have more demand than we can accommodate, but we'll fill every spot we can in our afterschool and learn-to-swim programs. Our fall programs are an important way to meet our families' needs and give participants a way to stay active and connected between summer camp and ski season. We're excited to welcome two high school Empower interns to our fall program staff.

No matter the season, these opportunities for local kids are truly only possible with support from our community through events like Old Bill's Fun Run and Coombs Cup. Thanks again for being a friend of Coombs Outdoors.

Happy fall!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director 

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Activate Camp Highlights

This summer, 122 participants in grades K-5 received up to three weeks of Activate camp each throughout the summer, up from the 83 participants in summer 2022.

This summer, Activate campers had the chance to...

• hike

• climb

• swim

• paddleboard

• go rafting

• learn to cook

• harvest veggies

• make arts and crafts

• earn their junior ranger badges

• learn about bugs and wildlife

• play in the mud

• ride the tram

• go camping

• make new friends

• and so much more!

Activate staff say that a huge highlight of the summer was seeing the youngest campers get into fishing. It was a new activity for us this summer and we were nervous about how it would go for K-2nd graders, but it was such a hit that the kids didn't want to stop! It was also special for our staff to be learning alongside the kids. 

"I think it made them feel more comfortable and confident because they got to see me struggling too!" - Espi, Program Outreach Coordinator

Engage Camp Highlights

Coombs Engage programs gave 100 middle and high schoolers the opportunity to have adventures outdoors this summer, a big increase from last year's 65 participants. The main camp event is backpacking, plus our separate clubs for mountain biking, climbing, trail running, and kayaking.

In the 8 weeks that Engage programs occurred this summer, we ran 10 backpacking trips plus a few car camping adventures. Groups explored the backcountry of the Tetons, the Palisades, and Yellowstone, overcoming challenging conditions and coming out more confident and connected.

At the beginning of the summer, it was a lot of the kids' first time backpacking. At first, they were anxious and complained about how heavy their packs were. By the end of that first trip they all realized they could do it, learning a lot about themselves and gaining great outdoor experience. By the end of the summer they were all swapping stories about their backpacking adventures, whether that meant commiserating about the mosquitos or bragging about the great views they hiked to.

"My favorite thing was seeing how excited they were to get to camp - they called it their home for a few nights. And how one group's highlight was their dishwashing dance party. At first they were nervous about these big trips, but then on the last night they didn't want to go to sleep because they didn't want to wake up and have to go home!" - Megan, Engage Program Coordinator

Our weekly clubs were also in high demand, Engage participants to build skills and share passions for specific activities by attending weekly evening clubs led by staff and volunteer mentors.

• Coombs Climbing Club practiced every Monday at the Snow King Boulder Park, and even got to experience more challenging routes on real rocks during weekend excursions into Grand Teton National Park with Exum Mountain Guides.

• Coombs Mountain Bike Club, now in its second year, met every Tuesday through this month teaching important skills like general bike maintenance, technical riding skills, trail etiquette, and navigation. It quickly became one of our most popular programs with kids progressing quickly and having fun together on our local trails.

• This was the first year for our Trail Running Club, requested by participants who wanted to pick up the pace and explore new trails with their friends. This crew capped of the season by racing in Old Bill's Fun Run!

• Coombs Kayak Club got participants on the water for 6 days of whitewater progression, where they learned how to read moving water, river safety, and paddle techniques with the Jackson Hole Kayak Club. 

Twenty participants spent a unique week of camp at Snake River Days put on by our friends at the Snake River Fund. With a focus on promoting and protecting the Snake River for the benefit of our whole community, participants learned about river ecology, navigating in moving water, sustainable fishing, leave-no-trace riverside camping, and more. This was a perfect way for kids to feel connected to our local waters and to build community through spending time together on the river. 

One of the biggest highlights of the summer was its finale, when 65 Engage kids and Coombs staff headed to Teton Valley Ranch Camp supported with funds from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. Kids got to stay in cabins with their friends and do activities from horseback riding and archery to jewelry-making and an incredible karaoke dance party. The week reminded us that Coombs Outdoors is more than a chance to play outside - it's a community where kids can grow up together through special experiences.

Summer Empower Internships

This summer marked the third year of the Coombs Empower internship program, and it was another successful season. We had 10 high school participants working competitively paid positions with partner organizations and businesses in the outdoor or conservation industry including: 

• REI

• Wheel Wranglers

• Jackson Hole Land Trust

• Hole Food Rescue

• Hoback Sports

• Stio

• Slow Food in the Tetons

• Trout Unlimited

• Coombs Outdoors

We know our interns have good experiences when they come back for more, like the 4 interns that returned for a second internship at the same employer this summer. Thanks to our partners for making these experiences possible!

Our Partners Make it Possible!

Our programs are so much better thanks to our amazing Jackson Hole community. THANK YOU to all the local organizations who shared their time, expertise, and resources with us and our participants this summer. Partners for our summer programs included:

• Slow Food in the Tetons

• Snake River Fund

• Hole Food Rescue

• Grand Teton National Park

• Bridger-Teton National Forest

• Astoria Park Conservancy

• Jackson Hole Land Trust

• Grand Teton Music Festival

• Rendevous River Sports

• Jackson Hole Kayak Club

• Teton Science Schools

• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

• Teton County Search & Rescue

• National Museum of Wildlife Art

• National Elk Refuge

• Teton Valley Ranch Camp

• Trout Unlimited

• Powers of Flowers EcoPrinting

• Wyoming Game and Fish

• REI

• Teton Pet Partners

• Exum Mountain Guides

Fall Programs Starting Now!

Coombs fall programs are starting now, running 4 days a week for 7 weeks. We had more demand than ever for these programs, so many families are unfortunately on waitlists. We are seeking funds and resources to be able grow this program in future seasons. This year's fall afterschool programs include:

• Swimming lessons, now located at the Rec Center, will help 30 elementary school kids build critical skills in the water on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

• Afterschool programs for K-5th graders, happening on Wednesdays, will keep 26 kids active and connected while serving as important childcare for families.

• This is the first time we're offering fall afterschool workshops for middle schoolers, requested by the participants themselves. We're thrilled to have an especially excited group of 6-8th graders, who wanted to stay involved with Coombs and outdoor activities between summer camp and winter programs.

Thanks for a Successful Coombs Cup!

Thanks to all who attended our Coombs Cup Golf Tournament! It was a beautiful, fun day to play golf and celebrate Coombs programs, with a special performance from the Coombs Ukulele Club. 

Thank you to our hosts at the Snake River Sporting Club and to all the generous sponsors who made the event possible:

• First Republic Bank

• MountainScapes

• Shaw Construction

• Two Ocean Builders

• HUB International

• Stio

• The Wort Hotel

• Jackson Hole News & Guide

• Orijin Media

Get on the water with this ACA Paddle Safety Course

There's still time to get out on the water this fall - make sure you do it safely! We want to pass along an exciting resource from our friends at the American Canoe Association: a free online training course about paddlesport safety, in English and Spanish, that's phone-compatible. Topics include planning trips, managing groups on the water, identifying dangers, inclement weather, rescue priorities, and more! The course can be completed in only about 20 minutes or you can save your progress and finish later. There is no age minimum requirement. We encourage all of our families and other water lovers in our community to take advantage of this great opportunity!

Take the course in Spanish or English.

Volunteer with Coombs this Winter

Interested in sharing your love of snowsports with Coombs kids this winter? Volunteer for Coombs Club, our ski and snowboard mentorship program on weekends at Snow King or Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Click here to learn more and apply.

Thank you to our sponsors!

With 400+ kids making strides each year, the Coombs Path needs a great trail crew. 

That’s you! Your gift helps us get more kids on the Path.

We’re proud of the opportunities we provide for our participants all along the Coombs Path. We can see the impact of our work every time our kids…

• try something new or overcome a challenge

• laugh and get silly with their friends 

• reminisce about a Coombs experience

• tell their family about an accomplishment

• start to show more confidence and self-esteem

• step up to a leadership role 

• do an activity independently outside of Coombs 

• encourage and teach their families to recreate outdoors together

• keep coming back for more and more programs as they get older

Read our new Annual Report

Check out our new Annual Report looking back at the year 2022-2023. Learn about the ins and outs of what we do, from our programs and participants to our goals and plans for the future.

Read here

ACTIVATE

This is where the Coombs Path begins for our participants. Our introductory program provides year-round opportunities for elementary school kids to try new things, get excited, and build comfort in the outdoors from an early age.

Activate by the Numbers

122 summer campers

50 fall afterschool program participants

35 kids in fall & spring swim lessons

185 kids in ski/snowboard lessons

35 Nordic skiers

25 kids in spring break camp

Activate Participant Spotlight

Rihanna, Age 8

Favorite thing to do outdoors: Playing with my friends

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Not being shy and making new friends

Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Have playdates with my friends! 

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ENGAGE

By middle school, participants are ready to navigate more difficult terrain along the Coombs Path. Engage programs offer opportunities to build skills and challenge themselves while connecting with peers and mentors. From clubs that focus on skiing, biking, and climbing to multi-day backpacking trips, these programs help participants develop the confidence to take on new adventures in the outdoors and in life.

Engage by the Numbers

100 participants in summer backpacking camp

50+ kids in climbing, bike, and kayak clubs

152 participants in ski mentorship programs

15 skiers in our new backcountry club

26 kids in afterschool programs

11 participants on our first spring break trip 

Engage Participant Spotlight

Maria, Age 14

Favorite thing to do outdoors: Biking and playing sports

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Learning to get organized, like packing my backpack and having everything I need.

Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Empowering other people to do things too, even if they’re not comfortable at first.

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EMPOWER

After gaining experience along the Coombs Path, our older participants are getting ready to blaze their own trail. Mentorship programs for our high schoolers provide them with the tools and confidence to pursue their dreams in life after high school.

Summer Internship Partners

Coombs Outdoors

Wheel Wranglers

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 

Stio

Jackson Hole Land Trust

Hole Food Rescue

Trout Unlimited

Slow Food in the Tetons

REI Co-op

Empower by the Numbers

10 summer internships

8 winter internships

4 fall and spring internships

11 spring break college trip participants

Empower Participant Spotlight

Mikey, Age 15

Favorite thing to do outdoors: I think my favorite thing to do outside, after working with Trout Unlimited for the summer, is fishing.

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, climbing, fishing, kayaking, and backpacking.

Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Just try to continue to do the activities I’ve gotten to try through Coombs as much as I can. I think I’m most excited to keep backpacking as I get older because there’s just so much to explore.

The Coombs Path doesn’t have to end for our participants - they can join our staff team!

Kids grow up through our programs. They follow the Coombs Path through all its twists and turns, building all kinds of skills and experience along the way. After graduating high school and our Empower program, participants are encouraged to join our staff team for the summer and beyond. 

It’s a priority for us to hire staff who represent the community we serve. Our former participants are perfect candidates to lead the next generation of Coombs kids down the Path. This year, our staff of former participants has included 6 summer instructors and one member of our full-time staff: Espi, our Activate Program Coordinator!

Former Participant Staff Spotlight

Espi, Activate Program / Program Outreach Coordinator

Started in Coombs programs: Age 11

Favorite thing to do outdoors: Paddle boarding

Something you’ve learned or tried because of Coombs: Skiing! I really was scared of skiing. Or better yet, backpacking. I never knew that even existed til last year.
Something you’re excited to do outdoors in the future: Mountain biking! When I get a helmet. I haven’t done it yet and am excited to go with my Coombs coworkers!

Favorite part of working for Coombs: I like the balance of working in the office and getting outside with the kids. I love helping them enjoy the outdoors and talking to them in Spanish.

Support their journey.

Whether they’re just setting out or gaining momentum for life ahead, our participants are learning and growing on the Coombs Path. Support their journey - give through Old Bill’s this season.

Old Bill’s Giving starts now!

Local youth follow the Coombs Path to adventure, confidence, and belonging. Support their journey - give through Old Bill’s this season.

Dear Friends, 

August has arrived and with it comes the beginning of the Old Bill’s Fun Run giving season. As a nonprofit in Jackson Hole, we feel so fortunate to have a community-wide event that provides us with the opportunity to tell our story, celebrate our successes, and be a recipient of the incredible generosity of this philanthropically spirited town. 

This Old Bill’s season we are looking forward to sharing stories from “the Coombs Path” with you. Young Coombs participants start their journey with us in Activate programs where they are introduced to activities such as alpine and Nordic skiing, hiking, paddleboarding, swimming, and car camping. Activate programs provide a safe space for children in grades K-5 to try new things, learn to feel welcome and included in outdoor recreation, and fall in love with nature. 

Middle schoolers gain momentum along the Path through our Engage programs which focus on skill building, mentorship, and building the confidence and knowledge needed to be independent recreators. Engage participants are provided with the gear and guidance necessary to excel at skiing or snowboarding, kayaking, backpacking, climbing, trail running, mountain biking and more. Engage programs create opportunities that help middle schoolers build confidence and feel like they belong at school and to this community by providing them with similar experiences, equipment and opportunities as their peers. 

High schoolers reach new heights on the Coombs Path in the Empower program, which provides continuity of services and opportunities to high school students at a time when they need it most. Empower participants are able to keep recreating with Coombs at the level of their choice, while also being provided competitively-paid internship positions, professional and personal development workshops, college application and prep assistance, spring break college trips, and leadership trainings. 

Throughout the next few weeks, you will meet Coombs Outdoors’ participants who are at different locations on the Coombs Path. As you read about their experiences, know that your support has been instrumental to blazing a trail for them to travel down. Your contributions through Old Bill’s Fun Run provide critical funds that allow us to expand capacity for more local youth, create new programs, and respond to the needs of our participants and families. 

Thank you for being a part of the Coombs Path. 

Happy trails!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director

2022-2023 By the Numbers

392 participants in winter programs

172 summer campers

25 Empower internships

18 high school graduates

146 participants in afterschool programs

47 participants in spring break programs

Support their journey.

Our participants grow up along the Coombs Path. Support their journey - give through Old Bill’s Fun Run by September 15.

Dear Friends, 

Summer is here and with it comes endless opportunities for outdoor exploration. Here at Coombs Outdoors, we believe that summer should be about fun for kids, catching a break from school and, especially here in Jackson, taking advantage of the amazing playground outside our door. We are excited about the vast array of experiences and opportunities that our summer programs are offering to our participants. Our programs are not only an essential resource for families, but are providing local youth with access to the outdoors which improves quality of life, helps level the social playing field with their peers, and leverages the power of fun and adventure.

I'm excited to let you know that Coombs has enrolled the largest summer participant roster in our history, with over 220 local youth benefitting from programs this season. This growth directly reflects a dedicated effort to offer more programs year-round, filling gaps in services for working families and further reducing barriers to outdoor access. We have listened closely to families, participants, and community partners to learn more about what is missing for them and where Coombs programs can provide support. Our summer programs follow the traditional Coombs Path for participants: Activate, Engage, and Empower providing programming designed for kids in grades K-12. 

We wouldn’t be here without you. We are grateful for the support from friends like you, community partners, and businesses that make Coombs Outdoors programs possible. 

See you on the river!

Jenny Wolfrom Holladay

Executive Director 

Activate Camp

Activate summer day camp offers K-5 kids an inclusive introduction to outdoor recreation, developing comfort and excitement in the outdoors. This summer’s Activate programs have 122 participants receiving up to three weeks of camp each throughout the summer, which is a 35% increase from the 83 participants in summer 2022 programs. Activate participants experience many different activities such as hiking, biking, swimming, paddle boarding at R Park, rafting the Snake River, rock climbing in Grand Teton National Park, and camping at Colter Bay. Additionally, thanks to a special new partnership with the Grand Teton Music Festival, 13 Activate campers are learning to play the ukulele in an 8-week after-camp club with Meaghan Heinrich, a music teacher and GTMF children’s musician. 

Activate Participant Spotlight

Meet Amairany!

Amairany, a rising 5th grader pictured below, has been involved with Coombs since she was in Kindergarten. She participates in Coombs programs year-round, and especially loves summer camp.

This summer, she has…

- paddleboarded at R Park

- rock climbed in Grand Teton NP with Exum

- soaked at Astoria

- explored Phelps Lake

- spent time at the SK bouldering wall as a part of the Coombs Climbing Club

- run from Cache Creek to Snow King as a part of Coombs new trail running club

Engage Camp

Coombs Engage programs give middle and high schoolers a chance to dive deeper into the activities they tried in Activate programs, working with mentors and peers to build the skills and confidence to be independent recreators. Growing from 65 participants last summer to this year’s 100, summer enrollment in Engage programs is up by 64%. Engage participants will get up to three weeks each of backpacking-based camp programs, spending 2-4 nights out each week on trips through Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Twenty Engage campers will also attend a week-long Snake River Fund camp to raft, kayak, fish, and camp along the Snake. As a grand finale to the summer, 75 Coombs campers will experience a week of sleep-away camp through a special partnership with Teton Valley Ranch Camp with support from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. 

Coombs also invites Engage participants to build skills and share passions for specific activities by attending weekly evening clubs led by staff and volunteer mentors.

• The 25 members of Coombs Climbing Club meet every Monday at the Snow King Boulder Park, and also have two weekend climbing trips to Grand Teton National Park with Exum Mountain Guides.

• Coombs Mountain Bike Club meets every Tuesday and provides 20 participants with mountain bikes, helmets, and other necessary gear to safely hit the singletrack.

• Mountain Bike Club teaches important skills like general bike maintenance, technical riding skills, trail etiquette, and navigation, as well as helping participants feel welcome and supported on their home trail system.

• Our brand new summer Trail Running Club, requested and attended by participants who developed a passion for hiking with Coombs and want to pick up the pace.

• Participants with a passion for water can join Coombs Kayak Club, providing roll and skill clinics at the Teton County Recreation Center and offering six days of kayaking in August. Last summer, Kayak Club members progressed to running the iconic Snake River Canyon on their final day of camp. 

Engage Participant Spotlight

Meet Zoe!

Zoe, pictured below climbing, is a rising 8th grader who is one of our most involved Engage participants throughout the year. This summer, Zoe has…

Spent 4 nights backpacking in the Bechler area of Yellowstone and 3 nights backpacking in the Palisades

Bouldered at the Snow King bouldering wall as a part of Coombs Climbing Club

Run on local trails with Coombs new Trail Running Club

Zoe will spend one week in Colorado in August with Women’s Wilderness as a part of their BIPOC backpacking trip

Empower Internship Program

This summer marks the third year of the Coombs Empower internship program, connecting high school participants with competitively paid job opportunities at local businesses and organizations in the outdoor industry. Each participant develops professional and leadership skills through structured training, on-the-job experience, and dedicated mentorship from partner employers and Coombs Outdoors staff. With positions ranging from bike technician to conservation associate, this program provides a chance for participants to engage with the local community and explore outdoor career opportunities.

This summer 10 interns are working at:

• REI

• Wheel Wranglers

• Jackson Hole Land Trust

• Hole Food Rescue

• Hoback Sports

• Stio

• Slow Food in the Tetons

• Trout Unlimited

Empower Participant Spotlight

Meet Mikey!

After years participating in other Coombs programs, this is Mikey's first year working an Empower internship. He's working with Trout Unlimited's conservation team this summer going to different sites, conducting fish surveys, and helping with data entry on their findings. 

When we asked Mikey what his favorite part of his internship was he said: "Learning to fish and going to places near Jackson I've never been to before. I went to the Buffalo Fork and Mosquito Creek and they were so cool!"

Partner Spotlight: Snake River Fund

They're not just our office building neighbors, Snake River Fund is a key partner for our summer programs. Their dedicated staff offer unique opportunities for our summer camps and make it possible for our participants to connect with rivers in new and deeper ways. They take Coombs campers rafting on the Snake River, share the wonders of macroinvertebrates, and more. We're especially excited for two Engage camp groups to join them for Snake River Days - a full week of activities and learning centered around this amazing resource. Thank you, Snake River Fund!

“Snake River Fund's partnership with Coombs Outdoors in 2023 has allowed us to elevate all of our on-water programming. Together, we've been able to connect nearly 100 youth with the river who may not have otherwise had that opportunity.”

- Orion Hatch, Executive Director, Snake River Fund

The recently graduated class of high school seniors have grown up with Coombs. We feel so proud of these strong, kind, adventurous young people and we can’t wait to see where life takes them.

We’d like to introduce you to some members of the Coombs class of 2023, and share some of their memories as a member of our community over the years.

Jasmin Carrillo

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: Laramie Community College, undecided but would like to study STEM

Favorite Coombs Memory: “It was the last day of the ski season, the sun was out and there was a race course. I decided to try it. As I was going down I could feel the wind pulling me back, yet I wanted to go faster. At that moment, I felt like the fastest skier on the mountain. After this adventure, I thought about becoming a ski racer!”

Johan Garcia

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: University of Wyoming for the fall, then transferring to Colorado College for astronautical engineering

Favorite Coombs Memory: Back in the day Emily Coombs took them out to Phelps Lake for a soccer team lake day. Johan used a booklet to identify animals, including a cool mouse. He also remembers that his brother found a fish in the lake and loved it so much he tried to keep it, but, alas, the fish didn’t make it!

Brittney Tzompa

Started with Coombs: Age 11

Plans after high school: University of Wyoming, Sociology

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite Coombs memory was camping for the first year the Empower program happened. Being at the campfire telling scary stories, and everyone not wanting to go to bed because of how scared we were.”

Destinee Vazquez

Started with Coombs: Freshman year of high school

Plans after high school: Brigham Young University, Business & Finance

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite Coombs memory was skiing with Sofia, Blanca, and Kelly.”

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “My advice to someone new to Coombs is to have fun, make friends, and if you fall get up and try again.”

Alexis Hernandez

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: Columbia University, Political Science & Economics

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite memory was when I was first starting to ski. I got into Coombs with my sister and we were both trying to learn. The best part was riding Snow King for the first time and being at the top and seeing the whole town.”

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “Don’t be scared of what’s to come. Everything is going to fall into place in the future. Make the most of the resources you have. Coombs has much to offer and has allowed me to grow so much, so take advantage of that.”

Kelly Lopez Garcia

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: BYU Idaho, Accounting

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite memory from Coombs was the finale parade a few years ago at Snow King, when we all skied down in a single line.”

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “My advice to someone new to Coombs is put yourself out there, and not be afraid to get out of your bubble and explore.”

Daniela Bedolla Zarate

Started with Coombs: Sophomore year of high school

Plans after high school: Central Wyoming College

Favorite Coombs Memory: “I loved the snowboard program. I also love the training for summer jobs and internships and got to have a cool internship at Hole Food Rescue for two summers.”

Dania Lopez

Started with Coombs: Age 6

Plans after high school: CWC, Accounting

Favorite Coombs Memory: “My favorite memory would be camping with Coombs and hiking with friends while playing card games at night.”

Marco Sosa

Started with Coombs: Age 10

Plans after high school: University of Wyoming, Mechanical Engineering

Favorite Coombs Memory: The horse packing trip was really fun, and cool hikes! He remembers playing campfire games like Cards Against Humanity, and really liked anchovy dip - something new he hadn’t tried.

Yuriel Sosa

Started with Coombs: Age 8

Plans after high school: Gap year, working; then Wyo Tech

Favorite Coombs Memory: The horse packing trip was really fun, and cool hikes! He remembers playing campfire games like Cards Against Humanity, and really liked anchovy dip - something new he hadn’t tried.

Leanne Tzompa

Started with Coombs: Age 17, Empower Internship at Teton Literacy Center

Plans after high school: Central Wyoming College, then University or Utah or Wyoming to study Secondary Education

Advice to a New Coombs Kid: “Be open to trying new things. You may never know if you actually like it if you haven’t tried it at least once!”

Luis Beristain

Started with Coombs: Age 12

Plans after high school: University of Texas Institute, Collision and Repair

Favorite Coombs Memory: “I loved the skiing program and going rock climbing in the Tetons. Camping was also very fun.”

Nicole Checker

Ary Jimenez

Ashley Hernandez

Blanca Sartillo

Deyna Lira 

Gael Gaona

Congratulations!

Dear Friends, 

With the end of our Fiscal Year approaching in June, we find ourselves winding down our 10th anniversary celebrations. This year was certainly one for the books with over 400 local youth enrolled in programs throughout the year, an incredible staff of 9 creating and running inclusive outdoor programs, and unprecedented support from this community. We are inspired by and proud of what this organization has accomplished over the past 10 years and we couldn’t have done it without you. 

While spring is typically a time to reset and rejuvenate, Coombs has been busy this offseason launching new spring programs that benefit kids and families and preparing for our largest summer yet with more than 200 local youth enrolled in programs. The Coombs summer staff is stronger than ever and ready to safely lead our participants in the outdoors. This year we have invested deeply in professional and leadership development opportunities for our summer instructor staff - 6 of whom are former Coombs participants - by providing a Wilderness First Responder certification course, Lifeguard certification opportunities, behavioral and emotional responder training, and a multi-week risk management field training prior to the start of camp. 

In an effort to keep our participants as safe as possible, we are also in the process of raising funds to upgrade our vehicle fleet to be in line with the highest safety recommendations from insurance carriers. 

Thank you for helping us celebrate an incredible 10 years of growth and success! Looking to the next 10 years, we can’t wait to see what Coombs can do. We are especially excited to continue watching Coombs participants fall in love with the outdoors and create feelings of connection, community, and confidence through their experiences and opportunities provided by Coombs Outdoors.

See you on the trails!
Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director 

Watch our new short film celebrating Coombs 10th anniversary!

This year Coombs Outdoors marked 10 years of programming for our local youth. To celebrate, we made a film! Growing from 28 to 400 participants, we've come a long way since our first year. We hope you'll enjoy this glimpse into the impactful organization Coombs has become and why we're so deeply proud of the work we do. View our 6.5 minute video.

Launched: Coombs Spring Break 2023

Spring break in Jackson is traditionally a time for families to get out of town, explore new places, and try new things. However, for many local families who may not have time off work or resources to travel, spring break can create challenges with childcare and keeping kids active, engaged, and safe while school isn’t in session. Coombs heard a need from parents and participants, and we listened and responded with spring break program options for each of our age groups that provided access to fun outdoor activities as well as opportunities to travel to new and memorable places. 

ACTIVATE spring break: Local day camp for elementary kids

Our Activate spring break camp is proof that you don't need to get away to have an adventure. Coombs staff ran a day camp right here in Jackson for our elementary school participants, and everyone had a blast! 

The week was led by staff members Espi and Hannah as well as Coombs interns Shirley and Aldric. The group went snowshoeing in Grand Teton National Park, played soccer at JH Indoor, did activities with the JH Children's Museum, went swimming at the Rec Center, visited the Teton County Search & Rescue Hangar, swam at Astoria Hot Springs, and more. Activate kids had a blast spending spring break being active with their peers. 

ENGAGE spring break: Coombs ladies take on Moab 

We're still feeling the sparkle from our very first Engage spring break trip! Coombs middle schoolers, along with staff members Laura and Ellie, spent a week together in the red rocks of Moab laughing, exploring, and wearing glitter. They hiked in Arches National Park, practiced their camping skills, tried canyoneering for the first time with Jackson Hole Mountain guides, and went bouldering and skateboarding at Evo Hotel in Salt Lake City.

From a nerve-racking rappel to freezing nights at camp, the girls had many opportunities to build confidence and resilience throughout the week. We were proud to see each member of the group cheering on their friends, being silly, helping with chores, demonstrating courage, and embracing their authentic selves.

On the last night of the trip, the girls worked as a team to make Mexican sopes from scratch. Sharing knowledge and stories from their families, they used a tortilla press and camp stove to create the delicious meal all on their own!

"We were excited to see the girls embrace family recipes while showing off their camping skills and taking care of one another. As we enjoyed this special meal together, we were reminded of what makes Coombs so magical and impactful on participants. We look forward to many more trips like this in the future!" - Ellie, Engage Program Manager

EMPOWER spring break: High school participants visit Salt Lake City

Coombs high school students spent their spring break in Salt Lake City with Coombs staff Caroline and Jenny! These soon-to-be seniors visited the University of Utah campus to explore options for college and learn about resources for Wyoming residents and first generation students.

They also had a blast staying at the SLC hotel, run by our sponsors Evo, where they hit the skateboard park and bouldering wall. Of course, they also got outside and skied some powder at Snowbird Resort. We wish every week was spring break! We can't wait to find out what this crew gets up to next in high school and beyond.

One year of Coombs swimming

We're proud to wish our Coombs swimming lessons a happy one-year anniversary! Our goal is to meet our families' needs through our programs, so we delivered when our parent council asked for swimming lessons which are limited yet essential for kids growing up in Jackson. Sure enough, we have a long waitlist for these lessons and are hoping to continue growing the program. This after-school program is now in its third season at Astoria Hot Springs, supported with funding from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole. Students from Munger Elementary make up this spring's group, who have lessons two days a week for a 4-week session. Our experienced instructors are helping them practice and build important skills, getting them ready to hit the water as summer approaches.

Welcoming new staff: Megan, Molly, & Molly

This month we welcomed three new staff to our year-round team!

Megan Tattersall (left) spent last summer as an instructor with us and is now our Engage Program Coordinator, keeping programs running smoothly for our middle school participants.

Favorite activities: trail running, mountain biking, arts & crafts, snuggling her dog Iggy

Favorite trail snack: gushers

Molly Bussen (middle) joins us from Teton Youth & Family services as our Empower Program Manager, working to connect high schoolers with outdoor industry partners for meaningful internships.

Favorite activities: running, climbing, canoeing, skiing

Favorite trail snack: goldfish

Molly Watters (right) returns to the Coombs team as Communications & Development Manager, and is excited to use storytelling and fundraising to help Coombs keep growing its impact.

Favorite activities: singing, trail running, mountain biking, hiking with her dog Arty

Favorite trail snack: string cheese

Partner Spotlight: Black Tie Skis

Our winter was a huge success, and we couldn't have done it without Black Tie Skis. They've been incredible partners and sponsors for 3 years, supporting Coombs winter programs with generous financial donations, rental discounts, and gear fit expertise. This past winter season, 111 participants rented high quality gear from Black Tie and were able to attend weekly Coombs Club programs, ski independently and with their friends, and increase their ability and comfort in Jackson's ski community. Thank you, Black Tie, for helping our participants get outfitted and out on the slopes!

Save the date for your favorite golf tournament of the summer!

We are excited to invite you to continue the tradition of friendly competition and supporting the work of Coombs Outdoors at the 2023 Coombs Cup golf tournament.

Date: Thursday, August 17th, 2023

Time: 10:30 Shotgun Start Time, including lunch & followed by reception

Host Club: The Snake River Sporting Club

Register here: 2023 Coombs Cup Registration

Join Coombs Outdoors for your favorite golf tournament of the summer! We are excited to invite you to continue the tradition of friendly competition and supporting the work of Coombs Outdoors at the 2023 Coombs Cup golf tournament.

Coombs Outdoors is celebrating our 10th Anniversary this year. The organization continues to grow with 2023 being a record year of supporting more than 400 children in our community through year-round inclusive programming and access to the outdoors. Demand for our programs increases year-over-year and we are working hard to expand the capacity of our programs to include as many local youth as possible. Your generous support and engagement are critical to making this happen.

The five Jackson Hole golf clubs plus Tributary in Driggs are invited to field teams at the 2023 Coombs Cup. As in the prior years, each team will be led by the club professional.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, August 17th, 2023

• Time: 10:30 Shotgun Start Time

• Host Club: The Snake River Sporting Club

• Participants: Teams from the Snake River Sporting Club, Three Creek, Teton Pines, Shooting Star, Jackson Hole Golf and Tennis, and Tributary. 

• Lunch: Bag lunches will be provided and there will be a Taco Stand at the 9th hole.

• Reception: There will be drinks and appetizers following the golf tournament as well as a brief program about Coombs Outdoors' programs and priorities. 

• Event: Teams from 6 clubs will compete for low best ball. There will be one low best ball from each club. Each club’s professional round will be added to the scores. we will also be awarding prizes for Longest Drives/Closest to the Pins: 2 of each on both nines. 

• Entry Fee: $600 per player/$2,400 per team with all of the proceeds going directly to support Coombs Outdoors.

We are looking forward to another competitive tournament this year and can’t wait to see who will take the title. We hope you will join us for a chance to be the 2023 Coombs Cup winner.

Thank you to Snake River Sporting Club for hosting us again this year and to our title sponsor, First Republic Bank.

Another Successful Skiing with the Stars!

We are still smiling from all of the skiing, and community gathering to celebrate Coombs Outdoors at Skiing with the Stars and CoombsFest. We want to give a special thanks to our Stars, MSS Instructors, Volunteers, parents, participants, and friends for joining us to celebrate; we would not be here today without you. We are grateful for our hosts and Legend sponsors, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snow King Mountain Resort, The Mangy Moose, First Republic, and Stio for providing incredible support for our celebrations.

Skiing with the Stars was a magical event, but don't just take it from us, listen to what one of our Stars, Jeff Leger had to say about the event:

"Corbet’s Couloir is about as classic a run as you will find anywhere. Collecting gargantuan quantities of snow over the course of the winter it calls to the adventurous spirit of skiers worldwide to take the plunge. It is a prominent test piece directly from the summit of @jacksonhole that has created dreams (and nightmares) in the minds of powder lovers for over 50 years. Have you been in? How did it go? I was introduced to this legendary spot through the mentorship of Jackson Hole Air Force members as a wide eyed teenager and it remains one of my favorite spots on the planet to this day.

Last week I had the honor of passing on that torch by participating in the Coombs Outdoors “Skiing with the Stars” fundraiser. Coombs Outdoors is a fantastic organization that empowers local JH kids to grow and thrive by breaking down barriers to outdoor recreation through programs, mentorship and community building. The stoke exuded by the kids as we ripped the classic runs on Rendezvous Mountain was infectious. It was an incredible reminder of the magical power skiing has to provide not only amazing entertainment but also a lifelong foundation of personal confidence that reverberates beyond the slopes and into every aspect of life. These experiences trump any commercialized nonsense promoted by our current toxic culture. Take any chance you get to detach from the madness of Madison Ave. and rediscover the joy of pure natural pleasures. And if you have ever had a personal breakthrough moment in the mountains, please consider supporting Coombs Outdoors in any way you can. Skiing is notoriously expensive but the benefits of participation for today’s kids is priceless. Everyone should have the chance to enter the realm of self discovery it affords whether they have empty pockets or a silver spoon in their mouth." - Jeff Leger

That’s a Wrap on Winter Programs

Just like that, our winter programs have come to an end. Last week we wrapped up our Nordic Ositos programming, Learn to Ski programs and Coombs Club at Snow King and Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. With over 400 participants in Winter 2022/2023 programs, it has been a busy and exciting season. 

In addition to getting more kids out on the snow, Coombs hosted weekly evening workshops for middle school participants. Our second winter cohort of our Empower internship program provided 8 high school students with competitively paid positions at local businesses including Black Tie Rentals, Teton Literacy Center, Coombs Outdoors/Jackson Hole Ski Club, and Snow King where 2 interns received their Jr. PSIA certifications and were employed as Jr. Instructors teaching younger Coombs participants how to ski. The Empower program also hosted monthly workshops for participants that focused on professional and personal development. 

We celebrated the end of our season with our participants and volunteers competing in an exciting scavenger hunt and costume party at the mountains last weekend, and a pizza party for our Ositos and their families! Special thanks to our staff, volunteers, and participants who showed up to ski every week with a smile on their face. 

Coombs hits the water

We are continuing our second spring of swim lessons! After working closely with Coombs parents and understanding their needs, we learned that access to swimming lessons has been a big need for our community. In response to this we have partnered with Astoria Hot Springs to organize two cohorts of swimming lessons which will bring 13 kids 8 days of swimming lessons over 4 weeks! 

This is a significant achievement not only in the individual lives of our participants, but also in the breaking down of barriers that have kept people of color from having access to swimming historically. Many of Jackson’s summer activities take place on or near the water and knowing how to swim is a critical component of being able to participate in outdoor recreation during the warmer months. Here’s to creating safe, positive, and long lasting experiences in the outdoors.

Coombs wins big during the BTACF Spring Month of Fun Raffle!

The B-T Avalanche Center Foundation was so proud of their board for donating raffle tickets to deserving members of the community. The fact that these skis went to a Coombs Backcountry student is truly what this is all about, keeping the culture of winter sports alive and helping our community to be safe in the backcountry.

"Learning to backcountry ski has been a great experience. I didn’t only get to learn how to backcountry ski, but also learned about myself and other people. I have learned how much I love trail mix and how much I can eat. I learned how much more fun there is outside of the resort, you can go back country skiing without avalanches, you get to meet new people, and you can build a car by digging snow. Winning these skis means a whole lot to me. I've never had a new pair of skis, these will allow me to enjoy skiing when I get older.” - Joe, Coombs Backcountry Club participant

Dear Friends,

As the snow continues to fall in Jackson, Coombs participants are learning new skills and spending quality time outside. We are in full swing of our biggest winter ever, with over 400 participants out in the snow every week! ❄️ We are so grateful for the continued opportunity to serve our community and grow along with the needs of our families. We could not do this work alone; we depend on our community partners, volunteers, and supporters like you! Together, we are creating real change.

Read more about what our Activate, Engage, and Empower participants have been up to below.

Jump into Winter with our Activate Participants!

This winter we have an incredible 196 participants in Snow King Ski School! Coombs kids are participating in lessons 6 days of the week.

We have 51 snowboarders and 145 skiers in Snow King Ski School

• 62 of these participants are trying a brand new winter sport!

• 28 Coombs parents/high schoolers in our Padres learn-to-ski program.

• 13 participants in Jackson Hole Ski Club's Rockchuck Racers program

• 35 Ositos (grades 3-5) in our Nordic ski program, in partnership with the Jackson Hole Ski Club

See what our Engage Participants are up to!

• We are continuing our Coombs Club ski mentorship program for 153 participants in 6th-12th grade: 106 at JHMR and 47 at Snow King. This program is possible with the help of 60 wonderful volunteers!

• Based on feedback from our fall middle school participant council meeting, we are hosting 11 weekly workshops for middle school participants. We have 17 participants attending weekly and many more that are interested in participating.

• We are partnering with the RAD program at the middle school to provide 4 days of after school nordic skiing for 20 middle school participants in February.

• Coombs supports 4 athletes in more advanced JHSC programs. JHSC deeply discounts the cost of the two freeride athletes. One22 pays the tuition of the two alpine racers. Coombs supports each of the athletes with gear and season passes.

• 14 High Schoolers enrolled in CBC (Coombs Backcountry Club). Participants join Coombs for 9 Tuesday evening practices skinning up Snow King with 6 volunteer coaches for practices including Exum guides and professional skiers. Each participant has the opportunity to attend 2 backcountry tours. Juniors and seniors have opportunity to complete a Level 1 Avalanche Certification with AAI including 2 full days in the field on Teton Pass. 

"I am excited because the backcountry has always interested me. Exploring locations that I have never seen always excites me. I am always open to try new things and follow plans accordingly.” - CBC Participant

Our Empower Participants have big plans!

• Our Empower Internship program is off to a great start this winter season, with 8 interns hired and placed

• All alpine, Nordic, and snowboard instructors were able to go through training and obtain their Jr. PSIA certifications.

• 4 professional development workshops, including resume and cover letter building, professional development, interview skills, and more.

• Internship opportunities with Snow King Ski School, Coombs Outdoors/JH Ski Club, Black Tie Ski Rentals, Teton Literacy Center

We could not be more excited to invite you to Skiing with the Stars! Support Coombs Outdoors and join us to ski and snowboard with your favorite stars on March 2nd, 2023 at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Skiing with the Stars Après Cocktail Party will immediately follow skiing from 4-6pm at the Mangy Moose.

We are excited to be celebrating our 10th Anniversary this year! Coombs Outdoors was founded as the Doug Coombs Foundation in 2012 by Emily Coombs to address the lack of representation and promote inclusion of the whole community in the outdoor recreation opportunities that define the culture of Jackson Hole. The first program funded 28 local children in learn-to-ski programs at Snow King Mountain Resort. 10 years later, we provide more than 400 local youth the opportunity to participate in outdoor programs year-round, spanning from alpine and Nordic skiing and snowboarding in the winter, hiking, biking, boating, and climbing in the summer, and year-round high school internships, swimming lessons, afterschool programs, and more.

The demand for Coombs programs is increasing every year and, thanks to support from generous donors like you, we have been able to fill gaps in services in our community and meet the needs of our families. The organization has transitioned over the past 10 years from a "nice to have" for our community to an absolute "need to have" for our families and participants. Through thoughtful planning and creative program development, we are making it a priority to respond directly to feedback from participants and families about what Coombs can be doing better to improve the lives of our youth.

The first cohort of Coombs participants in 2012. Photo by Emily Coombs.

Your 2022 contribution supports: 

• Our largest Fall after-school programs with 75 total participants receiving weekly after school programming

• 50 elementary students learned to swim in Coombs swimming lessons in partnership with Astoria Hot Springs

• 400 participants in grades K-12 skiing and snowboarding weekly in Coombs programs for the 2022-2023 winter season

• 175 participants receiving three weeks of camp each in Coombs Outdoors 2022 summer programs

• 35 High schoolers placed in competitively paid internships at businesses in organizations around the Valley through the Empower program which also provides monthly professional and personal development workshops

• 40 participants benefiting from the launch of specialized clubs and programs for middle and high schoolers including Mountain Bike, Climbing, Kayak, and Backcountry Skiing and Snowboard clubs

• A summer instructor staff that included 6 former Coombs participants hired and trained to be outdoor leaders and role models for younger Coombs campers

• A full-time staff of eight employees, with 6 of them being 100% focused on program development and implementation

Coombs Outdoors programs have been getting kids outside for 10 years now. Our impact is two-fold; we are supporting local working families by providing a safe and affordable place for their children to grow and experience new things; and we are benefiting our local youth by creating access to outdoor recreation opportunities that help them feel included in the community of Jackson Hole. Our programs are designed to connect local youth more deeply to Jackson’s culture and community, helping them build social collateral with their peers, increase confidence and resilience, and improve mental and physical health. 

In celebration of our 10th Anniversary, we have launched a three-year, $1 Million community challenge. A group of 6 generous donors have come together to match all donations dollar-for-dollar up to $333K/year for three years. The goal of the $1 Million challenge is to provide necessary resources for increasing our capacity to meet the growing demand and need for our programs and contribute to the financial sustainability of the organization. We are excited that all gifts received this year will be matched by this challenge. 

We are grateful for your past generosity and hope that you’ll consider joining the $1 Million Challenge with a gift to Coombs Outdoors to support another amazing year of creating access to the outdoors for Jackson’s local youth.

Left Photo: Mariela learns to ski with Coombs in 2012 

Right Photo: Mariela as a Coombs Summer Instructor leading a group of elementary participants up the Tram at JHMR

Then and Now

“I started skiing when I was 8 years old, during the first ever year of Coombs in 2012. I remember there weren’t many kids. We would ski at Snow King and I learned to ski on the tow rope. My favorite part was taking hot chocolate breaks. It was really fun to ski with Coombs, and my little sister got to join me.

10 years later, I’m proud that Coombs is a lot more well known. Now, kids not only have the opportunity to learn to ski and snowboard, but there’s Nordic skiing, and lots of year-round options. Coombs has evolved a lot. This year I was able to lead the younger kids as an Empower Intern for Nordic skiing and then as a Summer Instructor at Coombs summer camps. It was fun to be a leader to them.”

Mariela Castro Luna started skiing in the first Coombs learn-to-ski program in 2012. She has worked for Coombs Outdoors for the past two years, first as an Empower intern assisting with afterschool and summer programs and most recently post-high school graduation as a full-time Summer Instructor. 

Dear Friends,

We couldn't be more excited to kick off our 10 year anniversary this Old Bill's Fun Run giving season. We are looking forward to celebrating and sharing our new set of values with the community. Our five new values guide our day-to-day program work, partnership development, communications with families, and the strategic decisions that we make. These values are Belonging, Empowerment, Growth, Fun, and Adventure. Our goal is to create and implement programs that reflect our values and promote them within the Coombs community. Coombs participants learn these values in programs and can use them in other parts of their lives, including school and relationships.

This summer we checked-in with Coombs participants and staff to understand how they personally experience these values at Coombs. Hearing the impact that our programs have on participants through their own words and stories is not only inspiring, but also helps us incorporate their feedback to develop more meaningful and collaborative programs. We are excited to share these stories from Coombs participants and staff with you over the coming weeks.

We are continually inspired by the strong values and philanthropic spirit of the Jackson community. Generous donations to Coombs Outdoors through Old Bill’s Fun Run have made it possible for us to invite more than 350 local youth into our year-round outdoor programs in 2022. Your contribution to Coombs Outdoors this year will increase our capacity to share our values with more youth through innovative, inclusive programs that bring us closer to our vision of a community in which youth feel supported, connected, and inspired.

Thank you for supporting Coombs Outdoors!

- Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director, Coombs Outdoors

Donate through Old Bill's today!

From August 12 - September 16, all donations made to Coombs Outdoors through Old Bill’s Fun Run will be matched. This means the impact of your gifts will go even farther!

Donate to Coombs Outdoors through Old Bill's Fun Run

Celebrating 10 Years of Success with a $1 Million Challenge

We are excited to be celebrating the milestone of a decade of service and commitment to local youth and families. Originally founded in 2012 by Emily Coombs as the Doug Coombs Foundation, the organization was established to address the lack of representation and promote inclusion of the whole community in outdoor recreation opportunities that define the culture of Jackson Hole.

“Raising my son in Jackson Hole opened my eyes to the lack of representation of working families present in our outdoor recreation programs and culture. Many of my son’s friends from school were nowhere to be found at places like the ski resorts, local trails, or soccer programs,” said Emily Coombs, Founder of Coombs Outdoors. “In an effort to change this, I founded the Doug Coombs Foundation in 2012 to offer the hard-working families of our community the opportunity to join their peers in sports and outdoor activities. I am thrilled to see the growth and success of this organization over the past 10 years. With the help of our supporters and partners, we have succeeded in making much needed changes that have made the outdoor recreation opportunities we all love available and accessible to more people in our community. However, there is still more to be done.”

The first winter Coombs cohort playing in the snow at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, winter of 2012/2013.
Photo by Emily Coombs.

In an effort to make winter sports accessible to everyone, Coombs Outdoors originally funded 28 local children in learn-to-ski programs at Snow King Mountain Resort. 10 years later, the organization provides more than 350 local youth the opportunity to participate in outdoor programs year round, spanning from skiing and snowboarding in the winter, hiking, biking, boating, and climbing in the summer, and year-round high school internships, swimming lessons, afterschool programs, and more.

"You know how some events happen in your life, and at the moment you don’t realize how important they are but looking back you can remember every second of it? That’s how I feel about being offered a position at Coombs."
- Laura Gaylord, Associate Program Director

Coombs participant Angie learning to ski at Snow King, 2012/2013 winter season. Photo by Emily Coombs.

10th Anniversary Million Dollar Challenge!

A group of generous donors has come together to celebrate Coombs Outdoors' 10-year milestone with a 3-year, $1 Million fundraising challenge intended to build consistent annual operating support that will provide the financial resources necessary to build capacity towards developing more programs that serve a greater number of youth in the community.

To address both organizational growth and community demand in a responsible and impactful way, Coombs Outdoors recently completed a 3-5 year strategic plan in which increasing financial sustainability,  evaluating program impact, and identifying opportunities for growth are highlighted as priority goals. Five donors have cumulatively committed a challenge grant of $333K annually for three years for a total of $1 Million to help Coombs Outdoors reach these goals. Donor contributions up to $333K per year for the next three years will be matched dollar-for-dollar through this 10th Anniversary $1 Million Challenge. 

“Reaching a decade of service to the community is an incredible milestone,” said Marshall Parke, Coombs Outdoors Board Member and one of the grant challengers. “I’ve seen firsthand the growth of this organization and I am inspired by the impact that the life changing services Coombs provides is having on our local youth and their families. I’m excited to see the community show up for this challenge and I’m looking forward to seeing where this type of investment can take the organization in the next 10 years.” 

The generous 10th Anniversary $1 Million challenge donors are Marshall and Veronique Parke, the Staryk Family Fund, Kathleen Brown, Mark and Teri Snell, James and Lindsay Wilcox, and Nancy and Tim Gardiner. All gifts from new and existing donors will be matched dollar-for-dollar through the challenge as well as multi-year pledges to support Coombs Outdoors. 

“We are so grateful to our 10th Anniversary $1 Million Challenge donors who so deeply believe in the work of this organization and in the philanthropic spirit of this community,” said Jenny Wolfrom Holladay, Executive Director of Coombs Outdoors. “Our momentum as an organization has been growing year-over-year as we work to address the needs expressed by our families. This $1 Million challenge is not only an incredible celebration and acknowledgement of the last decade of success for Coombs Outdoors, but will also provide us with resources to expand capacity and services during a time when it is becoming increasingly harder for working families to live and thrive in Jackson. By joining this challenge, donors will help Coombs Outdoors meet its goals to leverage the power of outdoor recreation to build a sense of community and belonging, increase self-worth and confidence, and improve mental and emotional intelligence for our local youth.”

Coombs Outdoors will be planning several special 10th Anniversary events throughout the year. For more information on how to contribute to the 10th Anniversary $1 Million Challenge, reach out to Jenny Wolfrom Holladay at jenny@coombsoutdoors.org. 

Help us secure our challenge funding by donating today!

Coombs participants learning to ski at Snow King, 2012/2013. Photo by Emily Coombs.

Do you have a favorite Coombs memory? We'd love to hear from you! Please reach out to vanessa@coombsoutdoors.org if you're interested in sharing any stories or photos from your time with Coombs.

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