The CTA Youth Programs use nordic skiing as a way to inspire students to be active outdoors and experience the natural world during winter in Vermont. Our programs promote access to nordic skiing by focusing on students and communities who might not otherwise have had the opportunity. All CTA youth programs are provided at no-cost to both students and institutions as a way to promote access to the sport. This is essential to the core values of the program: that everyone, no matter what situation they are in, should have the opportunity to explore the outdoors and learn new things. With this goal in mind, we have intentionally focused expansion efforts on underserved communities in both rural and urban areas of the state. We hope that our programs will increase community engagement, encourage outdoor recreation, and create cultural connections among participants.
Through our programs, we aim to help young people:
- Experience winter in Vermont through multi-week nordic skiing experiences, both at school and at nordic centers.
- Explore new types of healthy, affordable physical activity to help combat growing obesity trends
- Have fun and connect with peers while learning new activities
- Develop an awareness of and enthusiasm for lifelong winter recreation
- Engage with the unique history and ecology of this region
- Learn to be comfortable and warm exploring outside in winter
- Encourage their parents to get out and learn a new winter activity
