Ski & Snowboard Trip
February 1 - February 2, 2008
Chestnut Mountain, Galena, IL

2008 Ski & Snowboard Trip Flyer
Ski Trip Coordinator Information Packet
Contact: Gina Byrnes, Oak Forest Park District - (708) 687-7270 or gbyrnes@oakforestparks.org

As most recreation program coordinators can attest, the task of providing programs for the teen population is one that may take a lot of trial and error and sometimes results in program cancellations, due to lack of interest. One successful program that never seems to have a problem in attracting teens is the annual IPRA Ski & Snowboard Trip.

This event, sponsored and coordinated by the Teen Committee of the IPRA, is unique in that no park district, either too small or too large, is unable to participate. The number of teens brought by park districts has ranged from two teens all the way up to over 100.

At last year’s trip, skiers and snowboarders numbered over 1,100 teens (representing 39 park districts both large and small) throughout the state of Illinois. This is one of the IPRA programs that continues to attract established as well as newly formed park districts throughout the state.

Shirley Braglia, Superintendent of Recreation for the New Lenox Park District, summed up the success of this annual teen event by saying, “This trip has grown tremendously for us throughout the years. Our teens look forward to this trip and even block out the usual weekend in advance.” To illustrate its success, Superintendent Braglia added, “As a regular event offered for the last ten years of our winter programming, we are now seeing adult volunteer chaperons who attended this event when they were teens. It’s a wonderful track record of continuing participation we enjoy.”

For an event of this size and stature, the safety of each teen is paramount. Throughout the event, which runs from approximately Friday evening at 10:30pm to Saturday morning, at 5:00am; the teens ski and snowboard all-night while the adult chaperons monitor the teens both inside the resort and on the slopes in order to ensure a safe experience. All adult chaperons for this event provide a united front wherein the safety of all teens is addressed. This is accomplished through the use of identifying armbands by all adult chaperons. Teens are informed that if assistance of any kind is needed, they can seek help from any of the chaperons. Parents of the teens that attend the Ski & Snowboard Trip find it reassuring that with a venue of participants close to 1,000, assistance for their child is never too far away.