Prices are per child, before airfare. “Lift” means whether the lift ticket is included. Dates marked “confirm” were posted without a year, or differ between two of the camp's own pages.
Vertical drop, size, snowfall and access for every mountain a camp in this guide uses, from each resort's own stats page cross-checked with a second source. Snowfall is OnTheSnow's long-run average where it has one, because resorts' own claims run 40–60% higher in the East; otherwise it's the resort's figure. Child day ticket is the published 2026–27 single-day price where one exists; most resorts now price dynamically.
Aspen Camp Youth Winter Camp
Aspen Camp of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing · Snowmass, CO
- Who
- Ages 10–17, Deaf or hard of hearing (ASL not required)
- Dates
- Feb 11–15, 2027 (4 nights, 3 ski days)
- Price
- $1,500: cabins, all meals, lift tickets, lessons, rentals, evening activities. Shuttle $50 from Denver, $10 from Aspen.
- Level
- Never-ever to advanced, in 3–5 ability groups
On-snow instructors plus Deaf mentors, interpreters and a nurse on site; background-checked counselors sleep in the cabins. Scholarships available.
What parents say: almost no recent public reviews. The camp closed temporarily around 2019 and later reopened; its winter program dates back to 1979.
Watch out: ask about current staffing and capacity before you book.
Sources: aspencamp.org · Colorado Sun
Tichy Racing Park City Holiday Camps
Tichy Racing · Utah Olympic Park, Park City, UT
- Who
- Junior alpine racers (ages not posted)
- Dates
- Slalom Dec 27–31, 2026; GS Jan 1–5, 2027 (the camp's pages disagree on GS dates, confirm)
- Price
- Full camp with lodging: $3,100 slalom, $2,100 GS. Day option: $2,600 / $1,600.
- Level
- Racers only
Full campers stay at The Residences with staff. Daily dryland, video review, tuning and race strategy. The page doesn't say whether meals and venue fees are included.
What parents say: on SkiTalk, parents describe Tichy as strict and highly structured, with solid coaching, good supervision and better organization than rival camps (mostly from its Mt. Hood summer camps).
Watch out: one parent preferred PV Alpine at Winter Park. Apply by form, availability isn't shown.
Sources: tichyracing.com · SkiTalk thread
FOCUS Winter House Party
FOCUS (Christian ministry for high schoolers) · Snow Mountain Ranch, skiing Winter Park, CO
- Who
- Grades 9–12, any high school; students fly into Denver alone
- Dates
- Dec 27–Jan 2, 6 nights (year not shown on the page, confirm)
- Price
- $1,425 program (lodging, breakfast, dinner, transport) + $525 lift (skip with Ikon) + $250 rentals + $65 helmet ≈ $2,265 + airfare
- Level
- Any; no lessons mentioned
3 students per leader, helmets required, evening faith discussions. It's the closest thing we found to a general-public teen ski sleepaway.
What parents say: no independent reviews found.
Watch out: one FOCUS listing names Copper Mountain instead of Winter Park. Confirm the mountain and the year.
Source: infocus.org
Camp One Step Utah Ski Camp
Children's Oncology Services (Chicago) · National Ability Center, Park City, UT
- Who
- Ages 13–19 with a cancer diagnosis, and survivors
- Dates
- Feb 6–13, 2027 (about 7 nights)
- Price
- Free to families: flights from Chicago, lodging, adaptive instruction and equipment
- Level
- All levels, adaptive
Applications for 2027 are listed as open (one part of the page also shows “closed”, so check). A separate non-ski winter camp runs Dec 28–31, 2026 in Wisconsin.
What parents say: the organization rates 4.6–4.9 on camp aggregators (not specific to the ski camp); a survivor's op-ed praises the adaptive gear and friendships.
Sources: camponestep.org · survivor op-ed
Scouts BSA Ski & Snowboard Weekends
Green Mountain Council, Scouts BSA · Killington, VT
- Who
- Scouts, leaders and family, attending with a Scout unit (not drop-off)
- Dates
- Jan 29–31 and Mar 12–14, 2027
- Price
- $365: weekend lift tickets, 2 nights' group lodging, breakfasts, Snow Sports merit badge instruction. Rentals extra.
- Level
- Beginner to advanced, ski or snowboard
Lodging has been group space with sleeping bags. The council says weekends fill, so register early.
What parents say: no public reviews found.
Sources: scoutingvermont.org · registration
Young Life Winter Weekends
Young Life · Crooked Creek Ranch, Fraser, CO (near Winter Park)
- Who
- High school (WyldLife weekends for middle school); sign up through your local Young Life area only
- Dates
- 2026–27 not posted yet
- Price
- Set by each area; one area's Dec 27–Jan 1, 2025–26 trip was $1,350
- Level
- Any; recreational skiing, not coached
Ranch has a gym, climbing wall and huge hot tub. Lift and rentals depend on the trip.
What parents say: only promotional student testimony found.
Sources: crookedcreek.younglife.org · trip leader info
Lake Junaluska ENCOUNTER Winter Youth Retreats
Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center · skiing at Cataloochee, NC
- Who
- Middle and high school church youth groups with their own chaperones; no individual sign-up
- Dates
- Jan 15–18 and Feb 12–15, 2027
- Price
- Lodging and meals from $114 (2 nights), plus ski add-on for lift and rentals; one church's all-in 2026 trip was $350
- Level
- Any
Each weekend has hosted 200–700 teens. Cataloochee is a small hill (about 740 ft vertical), good for beginners.
What parents say: no independent reviews found.
Sources: lakejunaluska.com · church trip example
Ski Travel “Snow Escape” high-school trips
Ski Travel · bus from Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC to Québec City, Canada
- Who
- Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William county high schools, plus VA/MD/DC private-school students
- Dates
- Jan 15–19, Jan 22–26, Jan 28–Feb 1, 2027
- Price
- 2027 not posted ($729 in 2024): bus, 2 hotel nights, 3-day lift tickets, 2 breakfasts. Rentals $169 extra.
- Level
- Any; beginner lesson extra
Skis Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham. Students under 19 need a passport or birth certificate plus ID.
What parents say: on WeTravel, a 2023 trip drew 39 mostly positive parent reviews (smooth bus travel, clean rooms). A student op-ed called it fun but pricey, with a roughly 15-hour bus ride each way.
Watch out: the last trip's registration deadline was Nov 5, 2026, “space permitting”.
Sources: skitravel.com · WeTravel reviews · student op-ed
GMVS Holiday Race Camp
Green Mountain Valley School · Sugarbush, Waitsfield, VT
- Who
- U10 (born 2017), U12, U14 (born 2013–2017), registered racers
- Dates
- Dec 16–18, 2026, then the Hobart Memorial race Dec 19
- Price
- $800 for 3 days on snow plus afternoon off-snow activities; lift extra
Also: Power Race Camps Jan 27–29 (GS) and Mar 10–12, 2027 (SL), $680.
What parents say: no camp reviews; the school holds an A+ Niche grade. Ski-parent podcasts recommend these camps as a low-stakes way to try an academy.
Watch out: the December camp is at capacity, waitlist only.
Source: gmvs.org
Burke Mountain Academy December Development Camp
Burke Mountain Academy · East Burke, VT
- Who
- U12, U14 and second-year U10, born 2013–2017, no exceptions
- Dates
- Dec 20–22, 2026
- Price
- $630 + $135 lift (listed as 2025 prices); optional hotel and meal package
Burke calls it its main recruiting event. Small groups led by academy coaches.
What parents say: no camp reviews; the school holds an A Niche grade.
Watch out: selective. Applications closed Oct 15; video submissions got priority.
Source: burkemtnacademy.org
Stratton Mountain School NextGen Mini Camps
Stratton Mountain School · Stratton, VT
- Who
- U10–U16 racers
- Dates
- Jan 11–12, Feb 8–9, Mar 8–9 (no year beside the dates; all fall on Mon–Tue in 2027, confirm)
- Price
- $350 per session or $900 for all three; lift extra
Slalom and GS gate training and drills.
What parents say: no camp reviews; the school shows 4.2 from 9 Niche reviews.
Source: gosms.org
Carrabassett Valley Academy Pre-Holiday Camp
CVA · Sugarloaf, ME
- Who
- U12, U14, U16 (born 2011–2016)
- Dates
- Dec 21–23, 2026
- Price
- $725, paid in full at registration
Last year's version ran 8:30–2:30 with lunch at CVA.
Watch out: registration deadline Dec 7, 2026.
Source: gocva.com
Okemo Mountain School Camps
Okemo Mountain School · Ludlow, VT
- Who
- U10–U14 racers; Park & Pipe camp for kids 10+ already on a competitive freeski team
- Dates
- Holiday Hammer Dec 16–18, 2026; Valentine Victory Feb 10–12, 2027; Park & Pipe Feb 17–19, 2027
- Price
- Not listed; call (802) 228-1513
The Park & Pipe camp is one of the only freestyle camps for kids we found in the Northeast.
Source: okemomountainschool.org
Keely's Camp Okemo Christmas Race Camp
Keely's Camp · Okemo, Ludlow, VT
- Who
- Ages 8+, grouped by age
- Dates
- Dec 19–22, 2026 (slalom Dec 19–20, GS Dec 21–22)
- Price
- $1,200–$1,300 (the page shows both), lift tickets included
Run by female Olympians and World Cup skiers; families arrange lodging and meals.
What parents say: no parent reviews found; Ski Racing magazine profiles Keely's as one of the top camps at Mt. Hood, known for its all-female coaching staff.
Sources: keelyscamp.com · Ski Racing
Woodward Park City 3-Day Ski / Snowboard Camp
Woodward (POWDR) · Park City, UT
- Who
- Ages 7–17
- Dates
- Jan 16–18 and Feb 15–17, 2027 (the FAQ on the same page shows older dates, confirm)
- Price
- From $449 with full-day lift access and lunch; bring your own gear
- Level
- Intermediate to advanced; not for first-timers
Registration “coming soon” as of Nov 10. Woodward's overnight camps are summer only.
What parents say: the venue rates 4.3 from 431 TripAdvisor reviews; coaches come up again and again as patient and encouraging.
Watch out: reviewers complain about holiday crowds and long lines.
Sources: woodwardparkcity.com · TripAdvisor
Jackson Hole Fall Line Camp
Mountain Sports School · Teton Village, WY
- Who
- Ages 12–17, co-ed
- Dates
- Dec 29–31, 2026 and Feb 14–16, 2027
- Price
- $1,625 for 3 days with coaching and lunch; lift extra
- Level
- Advanced to expert (level 8–9)
5 campers per coach. Drops, jumps, big-terrain decisions and mountain safety.
What parents say: no reviews of the teen camp found; SkiTalk posters call JH's adult Steep & Deep camp, built on the same model, a game changer.
Watch out: one of the priciest camps here once you add lift tickets. Full weeks go to a waitlist.
Sources: jacksonhole.com · SkiTalk thread
Snowbird Kids & Youth Holiday Camp
Snowbird Mountain School · Snowbird, UT
- Who
- Ages 5–6 and 7–15
- Dates
- Dec 26–29 (no year on the page, confirm)
- Price
- About $830 (7–15) and $1,000 (5–6), including lift, lunch and an evening activity (confirm)
One of the few resort camps that includes the lift ticket. Call 801-947-2222.
What parents say: the Snowthere family guide rates the Mountain School 9.0 for parent experience but 3.5 for value.
Sources: snowbird.com · Snowthere
Sugarbush Advanced Kids Camp
Sugarbush Resort · Lincoln Peak, Warren, VT
- Who
- Ages 10–15, comfortable on expert terrain
- Dates
- Dec 27–31, Jan 17–18 and Feb 14–21 (confirm)
- Price
- $315 per day; lift ticket or pass required
Staff may move kids who aren't ready into another program.
Source: sugarbush.com
Smugglers' Notch Snow Sport University Camps
Smugglers' Notch Resort · Jeffersonville, VT
- Who
- Ages 3–15; teens 11–15 in “Notch Squad”; separate programs for 16–17
- Dates
- Holiday period Dec 26, 2026–Jan 3, 2027; registration opens in November
- Price
- Not posted; often bundled with lodging packages
- Level
- All levels, grouped by age then ability
All-day camp, 9:00–2:45.
What parents say: parent blogs consistently praise the instructors and slow, gentle lifts for young kids. The resort rates 3.4 from 86 OnTheSnow reviews.
Watch out: reviewers mention timeshare sales pressure and dated rooms.
Sources: smuggs.com · OnTheSnow · All Mountain Mamas
Spirit Mountain Holiday Ski & Snowboard Camp
Spirit Mountain · Duluth, MN
- Who
- Ages 6–12, first-timers to intermediate
- Dates
- Dec 28–30, 2026
- Price
- Full day $375 including lift and rentals ($300 with own pass and gear); half day $195 plus lift and rental
The best all-in value we found. Before/after care $45.
What parents say: local parent guides are positive and note holiday sessions fill.
Source: spiritmt.com
Giants Ridge Holiday Ski Camp
Giants Ridge · Biwabik, MN
- Who
- Ages 5–12, all levels
- Dates
- Dec 27–29, 2026 (1–4 pm); Presidents' Day and spring-break camps too
- Price
- About $289–$299 (listing conflicts); lift and rentals extra
Giants Ridge advertises free skiing for young kids in 2026–27 (age cutoff varies by page).
What parents say: the resort rates 3.1 on OnTheSnow; reviewers praise the ski school but not the food.
Sources: giantsridge.com · OnTheSnow
Bridger Bowl Holiday Camp
Bridger Bowl (nonprofit ski area) · Bozeman, MT
- Who
- Ages 4–13 (snowboard from 7)
- Dates
- Dec 21–24 and Dec 26–31, 2026
- Price
- $225 per day for 7–13, $200 for 4–6; rentals and lunch not included
Book by the day: 5 hours from 10:30 am for ages 7–13, 3.5 hours for ages 4–6.
Source: bridgerbowl.com
Aspen Snowmass Max 5 Child & Teen Lessons
Aspen Skiing Co. · Snowmass Treehouse, Aspen, CO
- Who
- Ages 7–12 and 13–17
- Dates
- Any day; book single or multiple days
- Price
- From $279 per day; kids' lift ticket $86 with a lesson. Lunch included for 12 and under.
Groups capped at 5, the smallest standard group we found at a big resort.
What parents say: TripAdvisor reviewers call it expensive but worth it, and say the school works to keep the same instructor across days.
Sources: aspensnowmass.com · TripAdvisor
Sun Valley Bears & Teen Adventure Camps
Sun Valley SnowSports School · Ketchum, ID
- Who
- Bears 7–12; Teen Adventure Camp 13–17 (peak and holiday periods only)
- Price
- Bears $175 per day with lunch; teen price not posted
- Ratio
- 6:1 for Bears
Full refund if you cancel 48 hours ahead. Quieter and cheaper per day than Aspen or Jackson.
Source: sunvalley.com
Palisades Tahoe Kids Multi-Week Programs
Palisades Tahoe (Alterra) · Olympic Valley, CA
- Who
- Ages 5–13 (age as of Dec 1, 2026)
- Dates
- January–March 2027 series
- Price
- Start-Up camp $597 (4 days, beginners); midweek half-day $670 (8 days); Sunday full day $1,803 (8 days). Ikon Pass required.
No kids' holiday camp; the 3-day All Mountain camp is adults-only.
What parents say: TripAdvisor reviewers praise small classes; recent reviews complain about lift lines.
Source: palisadestahoe.com
Day camp or overnight ski camp?
Pick a day camp if your child is under 10, a beginner, or has never slept away from home. You'll stay nearby, which also means you can ski yourself. Pick overnight if your child already does sleepovers or summer camp, skis at least green-to-blue terrain, and one of the 8 programs above fits who they are.
Camp directors say first-time overnight campers are often 10–12, and interest matters more than age. Homesickness is normal: about 83% of sleepaway campers feel it at some point. Parents who've done it suggest practice nights away first, and not promising a pickup if your child gets homesick.
How much does a kids' ski camp cost in 2026–27?
| Type | Typical price | Examples |
| Small-area holiday day camp | $195–$375 for 3 days | Spirit Mountain $375 all-in; Giants Ridge ~$289 + lift |
| Destination-resort kids' group lesson | $175–$600 per day | Sun Valley $175; Aspen $279+; Vail ~$480 off-peak, ~$600 peak (2025–26) |
| Packaged 3-day resort camp | $449–$1,625 | Woodward Park City $449 (lift in); JH Fall Line $1,625 (lift extra) |
| Academy race camp, 3 days | $630–$800 + lift | Burke $630 + $135 (2025 prices); CVA $725; GMVS $800 |
| Overnight weekend | $350–$365 | Scouts BSA Killington $365; church retreat ~$350 |
| Overnight week | $1,500–$3,100 + airfare | Aspen Camp $1,500; FOCUS ~$2,265; Tichy $2,100–$3,100 |
The hidden cost is usually the lift ticket. Most resort camps don't include it, and Palisades and Mammoth require an Ikon Pass. Vail Resorts mountains take 20% off a child's third consecutive group-lesson day, except over peak holiday weeks.
How to choose a kids' ski camp
- Match the level honestly. Woodward wants intermediates, Sugarbush and Jackson Hole want experts, and the academy camps want registered racers. A beginner placed too high has a miserable week.
- Ask what's included. Lift ticket, rentals, lunch, helmet, and (for overnight) supervision at night.
- Ask the ratio and group size. Almost no camp publishes it. Good programs run about 4–6 kids per coach; Aspen caps at 5, Fall Line runs 5:1, Sun Valley 6:1. Parents report holiday beginner groups of 14+ at some big resorts.
- Ask who coaches. PSIA-AASI Level I is entry level, Level II teaches intermediates, Level III teaches advanced skiers on all terrain. The Children's Specialist certificates (CS1, CS2) are specifically for teaching kids. Level II plus a Children's Specialist certificate is a strong sign.
- Ask if your child keeps the same coach every day. It's the main reason a camp beats day-by-day lessons.
- For overnight camps, ask about ACA accreditation. The American Camp Association audits camps against about 300 health and safety standards. It's voluntary, but a good camp will explain why it is or isn't accredited.
- Book early. Holiday weeks, MLK weekend (Jan 16–18, 2027) and Presidents' weekend (Feb 13–15, 2027) sell out. Academy camps fill or close in October and November.
One experienced parent on SkiTalk warned that some holiday camps are mostly marketing; the questions above are how you tell.
Free and cheap kids' ski passes for 2026–27
Is ski camp safe for kids?
Serious injuries are rare, and helmets are now the norm. The National Ski Areas Association measured 96% helmet use among skiers and riders 17 and under in 2023–24, up from 25% across all ages in 2002–03. A CMAJ meta-analysis found helmets cut the odds of head injury by about 35%, with a larger effect in studies that included children under 13, and no added neck-injury risk.
For young snowboarders, the wrist is the weak point. A study of US emergency-room data on kids' snowboarding (2012–2022, 3,036 cases) found the wrist was the most injured body part, with fractures making up 40.7% of diagnoses. Wrist guards are cheap; most kids with wrist injuries in a Norwegian study weren't wearing them. Beginners are injured at about three times the rate of experts, which is one more reason to put new skiers in lessons.
Programs we checked and left out
- Camp Chi Teen Ski & Snowboard (JCC Chicago): often cited online, but we found no 2026–27 listing. Call the camp before counting on it.
- Woodward Copper / Park City / Tahoe overnight winter camps: not offered; Woodward's overnight camps are summer only.
- YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch, Frost Valley YMCA, Camp Jewell: winter programs are Nordic, tubing or snowshoeing, not downhill ski camps.
- Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA winter camp: included one downhill day in past years; no 2026–27 details.
- Steamboat Kids Ski Weeks, Alta Teen Mountain Explorers, Big Sky teen camp: couldn't verify 2026–27 details on the resorts' own sites.
How we built this guide
In November 2026, we searched for every US ski and snowboard program where kids or teens ski in a camp format in winter 2026–27, across the Northeast, West, Midwest and Southeast. We checked dates, prices, ages and inclusions on each camp's own website and linked it on each card. Parent feedback comes from Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, OnTheSnow, Niche, WeTravel, SkiTalk, DCSki and parent blogs; ratings are labeled when they cover a whole resort or school rather than the camp. Where we found no reviews, we say so. We don't take payment from any camp listed. Prices change and holiday sessions fill, so confirm with the camp before booking.
FAQ
What is the best ski camp for kids in 2026–27?
It depends on your child, so we rank within four categories using the Right Camp Ski Camp Score (value, what's included, coaching, mountain, access and parent reviews, out of 100). Top 2026–27 scores: Camp One Step Utah Ski Camp for overnight (free, for teens with a cancer diagnosis), with FOCUS Winter House Party the top overnight option open to any high schooler; Burke Mountain Academy Development Camp for young racers (applications for 2026 have closed); Snowbird Kids & Youth Holiday Camp for resort camps (confirm its 2026 price and dates); and Sun Valley Adventure Camps among programs you book by the day. Woodward Park City 3-Day Camp is the cheapest camp here that includes both lift and lunch, at about $150 a day for intermediate skiers.
Are there overnight ski camps for kids in the US?
Yes, but very few. For winter 2026–27 we found 8 overnight ski programs that take US kids, and each is limited in some way: junior racers (Tichy Racing), Deaf and hard-of-hearing teens (Aspen Camp), teens with a cancer diagnosis (Camp One Step), Scout units, church youth groups (Young Life, Lake Junaluska), a faith-based high-school trip (FOCUS) or a school bus trip to Québec. FOCUS and Young Life haven't confirmed 2026–27 dates yet. Most US ski camps are day programs where kids go home or back to the family's lodging each night.
How much does a kids' ski camp cost in 2026–27?
Day camps at smaller areas run about $195–$375 for three holiday days (Spirit Mountain's $375 includes lift and rentals). Destination-resort programs run $175–$600 a day, and 3-day packaged camps run $449 (Woodward Park City, lift included) to $1,625 (Jackson Hole Fall Line, lift extra). Overnight programs run about $365 for a Scout weekend, $1,500 all-inclusive at Aspen Camp, and $2,100–$3,100 for a residential race camp.
What's the difference between ski school and ski camp?
Resorts use the words loosely. Ski school usually means daily group lessons you book one day at a time. A ski camp is usually a fixed 2–5 day block, often over a holiday, with the same group and coach each day. A seasonal program is a weekly series, usually the cheapest per day. Always check whether the lift ticket, rentals and lunch are included.
When should I book a holiday ski camp?
Now, if it's mid-November. GMVS's December race camp was waitlisted by November, Burke's applications closed October 15 and Carrabassett Valley Academy's deadline is December 7. Resort holiday camps open in the fall and sell out for Christmas week, MLK weekend (January 16–18, 2027) and Presidents' weekend (February 13–15, 2027).
What age can a child go to ski camp?
Resort day camps start around 3–5 for skiing and 6–8 for snowboarding. Most teen camps run 12–17. Race camps group by birth year (U10 to U16). For an overnight camp, camp directors often see first-timers around 10–12, and a child's interest matters more than age.
Do ski camps require helmets?
Most do, and almost every child already wears one: the National Ski Areas Association measured 96% helmet use among skiers and riders 17 and under in 2023–24. A CMAJ meta-analysis found helmets cut the odds of head injury by about 35%, with a larger effect in studies that included children under 13.
What instructor certification should a kids' ski camp have?
Look for PSIA-AASI certified instructors. Level I is entry level, Level II teaches intermediates, Level III teaches advanced skiers on all terrain. The Children's Specialist certificates (CS1, CS2) are specifically for teaching kids. Level II plus a Children's Specialist certificate is a strong sign.
Are there free ski passes for kids?
Yes. Epic SchoolKids gives Colorado and Utah K–5 kids free days at Vail Resorts mountains, but registration for 2026–27 is closed in both states; it reopens in spring for 2027–28. The Colorado Ski Country Passport costs $76 for grades K–6 at 19 areas. Ski Utah (grades 4–6), Ski Vermont (grade 5) and Ski NH (grades 4–5) run grade passports for a small fee.
Sources
- National Ski Areas Association, helmet usage
- Russell et al., CMAJ 2010, helmet meta-analysis
- Pediatric snowboarding injuries, US emergency-room data 2012–2022
- Pediatric ski and snowboard injury review
- PSIA-AASI alpine certification levels
- American Camp Association, accreditation
- Seven Days VT, sleepaway readiness
- SkiTalk, 2025–26 kids' group lesson prices
- SkiTalk, ski school or camp for an advanced 9-year-old
- Snowthere, kids' ski lessons: ages and costs
- Colorado Ski Country, 2026–27 Passport
- TownLift, Ski Utah 2026–27 Passport
Camp-specific sources are linked on each camp's card above.