As one of the first official ski schools in the U.S., Cranmore has a long history of teaching generations of children how to ski and how to have fun doing it. Our children’s program, KidsRule, continues to foster this love for snowsports and the joy of learning.
Cranmore SnowSports Director Karen Dolan, who holds an PSIA Alpine Level 3 certification and has led the program since 1990, answers all the key questions about KidsRule and explains why your kiddos are sure to have their best day ever.
What is KidsRule?
KidsRule is our children's program. It typically runs from Friday–Sunday, but takes place daily during our holiday and vacation periods.
Our children’s program is offered as a full-day session (including lunch) from 9:30 am–3pm. There’s also the option to sign up for a half-day session in the morning from 9:30am–12pm.
You can sign up for as many days as you would like. Our Penguin Program is suited for kids 4 to 6, and our Adventure Program is designed for older kids ages 7 to 14.
How many days would you recommend for a child who is a never-ever?
We have a lot of kids who have never even seen snow, so it depends on the child, their age and ability to separate from mom and dad.
Once children are comfortable sliding on snow, their confidence begins to grow along with the fundamental skills of skiing and snowboarding. Our goal is to make sure each little person has a fun experience and wants to return for another day.
For kids ages 3 to 5, it can take a little while. Older children in a full-day program will usually be riding on both carpets and controlling their speed with turns by the end of day one.
A great way to introduce kids ages 3 to 5 to sliding on snow is with our one-hour “I Wanna Ski or Snowboard” private lessons. This provides the one-on-one attention necessary at this age.
What should parents know about the program?
The more prepared you are, the easier everything’s going to be once you arrive!
Reservations are highly recommended. KidsRule will sell out during peak vacation periods and some Saturdays. If rental equipment is needed, you can add this to your reservation.
You can make reservations online. If you have further questions about the reservation process, please contact the Arlberg Children’s Center.
Tickets and rental equipment must be picked up in the Arlberg Children’s Center prior to lesson check-in.
Check-in for children’s programs takes place outside the Arlberg Children’s Center from 9:30–9:50am. Children should arrive dressed and ready for their lessons.
At the end of the lesson please check with their instructor before picking up and leaving.
Why is Cranmore the best place to learn to ski and ride?
We use Terrain-Based Learning methodology, meaning we build elements in the beginner area to make it easier: arcs to turn, half-pipes so you can get used to sliding on snow before learning other skills, etc. The terrain is going to guide you, and terrain is always a great teacher.
Before we went to Terrain-Based Learning we watched people and thought: They’re not having fun. We need to do something different. So there’s a lot of energy going on, a lot of moving around. You can see people are really connecting to the fun. That’s the key—skiing and riding is fun, and you should also have fun learning to do it. That’s how you get generations of skiers and riders.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This program delivers the ultimate lesson experience thanks to our tested and trained instructors, who specialize in making learning fun and setting kids up for a lifetime of mountain adventures. Thank you for giving them the opportunity to share their passion and excitement for snowsports. We look forward to your visit!
