Dear Middle School Families:

For over fifteen years, we’ve enjoyed fun, safe, instructional and memorable experiences on our ski/snowboard trip!  This year we’re excited to continue the tradition at Bear Creek Mountain Resort (www.skibearcreek.com).  About an hour drive from Philadelphia, Bear Creek is a great mountain for learning to ski or snowboard and has a comfy lodge where you can put your feet up, have a hot chocolate and spend time with our group! The date for this year’s optional Middle School skiing and snowboarding trip is February 6, 2016.  

If you are interested in going (and I hope you are), please send your signed permission slips, package information, and payment to school by Wednesday, January 27.

Participation: The trip is open to all Middle School students and any immediate family members who wish to participate. We encourage parents and guardians to join us. No experience is necessary; in fact, it’s fun to learn together. In order to create the safest possible experience for our participants, we ask that an adult accompany each 5th grade student on the trip.  For 6th through 8th grade students, we aim to have a minimum of one adult present per two or three students, and we usually have at least a one-to-two ratio.

Cost: We receive a group discount from Bear Creek, but we know that the cost of skiing and snowboarding is significant, and it consistently creeps up from year-to-year. We are committed to making the experience accessible to all.  We make sure that financial aid is available. Please indicate on your form if you are interested.

Departure: On Saturday morning, February 6, we will get an early start (7:00 AM) from school and travel to Bear Creek in cars. We plan to return to GSFS by 6:30 PM., and we’ll make phone calls if there is any delay. If you can volunteer to drive, we deeply appreciate it. Please let us know on the attached form how many passengers you can carry. We will need to copy your license and insurance information on the morning of the trip if we don’t have them on file.

Packages: There are many different lift, rental and lesson packages available.  We recommend a lesson for any student who is skiing or snowboarding for the first time.  The “Discovery” packages include rentals and lessons for skiers and snowboarders of various levels.

Signing Up: If you plan to join us on the ski trip, please complete the form on the next page, along with the school permission form and payment below and submit to Kate Zook-Gibbs by Wednesday, January 27. (*If renting equipment, please also complete and return the “Rental Contract and Agreement” and submit with all other forms and payments to Kate by January 27.)

On Friday, January 29 we’ll share a list of participants to confirm everything, and then we’ll hold meetings for students at lunch the following week to finalize preparations. I’m really looking forward to it!

Many thanks, looking forward to having fun with you on the slopes!