Tradition of Free Skiing Continues
Boyne Area students continue to enjoy free skiing as a part of a long tradition at Boyne Mountain.
With one of the best ski resorts in the Midwest literally across the street, could you really blame students for playing hooky to hit the slopes?
But for the better part of a century, students at Boyne Falls haven’t had to sneak around to enjoy the outdoors and snow, thanks to a deal brokered between the late Everett Kircher and the Boyne Falls Public School system.
In the early 1950’s an agreement was made between Kircher and the district involving a land exchange. Under the original contract land owned by the school would be given to Boyne Mountain and vice-versa, in addition to the land swap students would be able to enjoy the Mountain one day a week during the winter for free for the next 50 years.
“The contract has since been renewed on a yearly basis and Boyne Mountain intends to continue as good neighbors and in the spirit of community to offer free skiing opportunities to the students of Boyne Falls Public Schools,” says Erin Ernst, Public Relations Manager for Boyne Resorts.
Although the original terms of the agreement have long since expired, students at Boyne Falls continue to ski free at Boyne Mountain once a week because the program has had such a positive impact on the community.
“It’s been part of our school for a long time,” says Principal Paul Zagata, “the kids really look forward to it, its one of the nice things about Boyne Falls”.
But kids, before you start bugging your parents to transfer to Boyne Falls you should know it’s not just a day of free skiing.
“The program has become more coordinated and better defined in the last 20 years,” says program director Brittney Book. She says the kids learn to follow instructions, develop their listening skills and interact with other people in the community.
“It’s not a free ski, it’s a structured environment,” adds Zagata, “it’s part of the curriculum.”
See the full story in this week’s Boyne City Gazette!
