Kenosha Unified fourth-graders hits the slopes with Jockey and SOS Outreach at Wilmot Mountain
WILMOT — Kenosha Unified students hit the slopes Monday afternoon at Wilmot Mountain for the first of many ski lessons as part of the “Learn to Ride” ski and mentor program.
With the help of Jockey and SOS Outreach, kids from Frank Elementary, Brass Elementary, Lincoln Middle School and the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha have the opportunity to receive professional skiing instruction for five weeks. They were fitted with ski gear, at no cost to them, and had the chance to collaborate with community mentors.
Their mentors are working with them on the SOS core values of “courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and humility,” which are all skills that provide a framework for positive decision making.
“When we heard about (“Learn to Ride”), we knew we wanted more kids to get involved in it,” said Jockey Chief Philanthropy Officer Jake McGhee. “It gets kids out of their comfort zones and it’s a great leaning experience.”
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Emily Hernandez, a 9-year-old fourth-grader at Frank Elementary, said Monday was her first time skiing and she was having fun.
“I learned to climb up the hill, ski down the hill and turn,” she said.
Frank Elementary fourth-grade teacher Jessica Huizenga said she was grateful for SOS Outreach for giving Frank students the opportunity to learn to ski.
“What a wonderful opportunity, especially for inner-city students, to learn something they may have never had the chance to learn,” Huizenga said.
The ski and mentor program first started last year with students at Brass Elementary. Terri McGuire, a Brass Elementary school fourth/fifth grade teacher and now SOS Outreach Program coordinator, was instrumental in bringing the mentorship program to kids in Kenosha.
“It’s much more than just learning to ski. Students are developing life skills through an emphasis on core values, adult mentorship and community service activities,” McGuire said. “With the launch of the mentor program, our students are paired with vibrant people in our community to hit the slopes and develop connections that will hopefully last more than just one season.
“The goal is to build strong character, positive relationships, and a greater sense of belonging. Skiing is the catalyst to get them excited and have fun,” she said.
Brass Elementary students who completed the introductory “Learn to Ride” program last year have now been placed in the mentor program, which will span from fourth grade through high school, with each year of the curriculum requiring increased youth participation in skill development and community service commitments. Upon completion of the mentor program, kids can then give back to the community by becoming junior mentors.
After hearing about the SOS Outreach program, Jockey partnered with the program to help bring it to more students.
“When we first heard about the SOS Outreach program that took place last year, we knew it was something we wanted to be involved with,” McGhee said. “Not only do we love the idea of youth having an opportunity they likely would not otherwise have, but we also loved the SOS Outreach curriculum and mentor program, and we thought it was a perfect way to get our employees involved.”
With the combination of the three schools and the Boys and Girls Club, more than 140 students and kids will participate in this year’s program.
IN PHOTOS: Wilmot Mountain, 2017-present
Back on the slopes
Skiers take to the slopes at Wilmot Mountain Saturday during the opening weekend for the resort, located at 11931 Fox River Road in Randall, just south of Downtown Wilmot. Significant snowfall has not yet come to Kenosha County, but thanks to colder temperatures and snow-making equipment, Wilmot’s 120 skiable acres, 25 trails and seven lifts were ready for ski enthusiasts.
Day trip from Chicago: Wilmot Mountain
11931 Fox River Road, Wilmot, Wisconsin
262-862-2301; wilmotmountain.com
Under the same ownership as Vail, Breckenridge, Alpine Valley and Brandywine and just over an hour drive from downtown Chicago, Wilmot Mountain is primed for a day trip or an impromptu getaway from the city.
Once you get your bearings, shoop down four green trails, seven blue trails and seven black-diamond trails, or test out freestyle terrain parks with ramps, fun boxes and halfpipes.
Face coverings are required indoors, and proof of vaccination is required for guests over 12 years old to dine at some restaurants, including ski-school programs that include lunch. Employees are required to be vaccinated and undergo daily health screenings.
Brass at Wilmot Mountain
Fourth graders at Brass Community school have taken to the slopes with a character building experience that includes free ski lessons at Wilmot Mountain that began Feb. 7. The 30 students began character sessions with dinner and free ski lessons that will take place for five weeks.
Brass at Wilmot Mountain
Fourth graders at Brass Community school have taken to the slopes with a character building experience that includes free ski lessons at Wilmot Mountain that began Feb. 7. The 30 students began character sessions with dinner and free ski lessons that will take place for five weeks.
Brass at Wilmot Mountain
Fourth graders at Brass Community school have taken to the slopes with a character building experience that includes free ski lessons at Wilmot Mountain that began Feb. 7. The 30 students began character sessions with dinner and free ski lessons that will take place for five weeks.
Brass at Wilmot Mountain
Fourth graders at Brass Community school have taken to the slopes with a character building experience that includes free ski lessons at Wilmot Mountain that began Feb. 7. The 30 students began character sessions with dinner and free ski lessons that will take place for five weeks.
Brass at Wilmot Mountain
Fourth graders at Brass Community school have taken to the slopes with a character building experience that includes free ski lessons at Wilmot Mountain that began Feb. 7. The 30 students began character sessions with dinner and free ski lessons that will take place for five weeks.
Brass at Wilmot Mountain
Fourth graders at Brass Community school have taken to the slopes with a character building experience that includes free ski lessons at Wilmot Mountain that began Feb. 7. The 30 students began character sessions with dinner and free ski lessons that will take place for five weeks.
Brass at Wilmot Mountain
Fourth-graders at Brass Community school took to the slopes with a character building experience that includes free ski lessons at Wilmot Mountain that began Feb. 7. The 30 students began character sessions with dinner and free ski lessons that took place for five weeks.
Family skiing together during sunrise at Wilmot Mountain
Entrance Walkway at Wilmot Mountain
Wilmot Mountain Night Tubing
Nighttime tubing is one of the activities available at Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort. The resort, reopening for the 2022-23 season, offers 25 ski and snowboarding trails and 24 tubing lanes.
Wilmot Mtn Linked Tubes
Guests enjoy tubing at the Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort in this file photo. The resort is reopening next month with expanded hours after the pandemic cut operation times.
Family and Friends Heading to Ski at Wilmot Mountain
Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort snow cannon
A snow cannon, combining water and pressurized air, shoots out snow particles at the Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort Sunday. With cold temperatures setting in, the resort will spend the next week blanketing the area with snow in preparation for the 2022-23 season.
Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort snow cannons
Snow cannons at the Wilmot Mountain Ski Resort coat the ski hill with snow Sunday. Season passes and tickets are on sale now, with prices to rise before the end of the month
FRANK AT WILMOT MOUNTAIN
A Wilmot Mountain ski instructor gives instructions to Nayeli Gonzalez, 10, before she skis down a hill Monday afternoon. Kenosha area youth have the opportunity to learn to ski for free with the “Learn to Ride” program.
Jillian Craig
WILMOT TUBING
The warm weather has delayed the opening of Wilmot Mountain for the winter recreation season. It needs to be about 28 degrees for the creation of snow like this at the tubing runs in 2019.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN SET TO OPEN
Rachael Muhlenbeck, marketing manager for Wilmot Mountain, talks about the facility, which will open at 4 p.m. Friday. Wilmot has been making snow since Halloween.
Brian Passino
WILMOT MOUNTAIN SET TO OPEN
Rachael Muhlenbeck, marketing manager for Wilmot Mountain, talks about the facility, which will open at 4 p.m. Friday. Wilmot has been making snow since Halloween.
Brian Passino
WILMOT MOUNTAIN SET TO OPEN
Rachael Muhlenbeck, marketing manager for Wilmot Mountain, stands in front of the chair lifts at Wilmot Mountain, which will open at 4 p.m. Friday. Wilmot has been making snow since Halloween.
Brian Passino
WILMOT MOUNTAIN SET TO OPEN
“We’re like Santa’s elves,” said Christine Larson as she stocks ski wear and accessories at a store at Wilmot Mountain on Tuesday. The resort opens for the season at 4 p.m. Friday.
Brian Passino
WILMOT MOUNTAIN SET TO OPEN
The chair lifts at Wilmot Mountain stand ready for skiers. The resort opens for the season at 4 p.m. Friday.
Brian Passino
WILMOT MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS
Adam Bauer, a Wilmot Mountain volunteer, and his son, 6-year-old Aben help plant flowers for the newly created butterfly garden at Bristol Woods Park.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS
WILMOT MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS
A Wilmot Mountain volunteer is de-barks a fallen oak tree that will be cut up and used as trail and playground area accessories.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS
Peter Disch, Wilmot Mountain general manager, is a volunteer who helped to de-bark a fallen oak tree.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN VOLUNTEERS
Wilomot Mouintain volunteers helped re-surface a wetland at Bristol Woods Park. They added fill dirt, graded it and planted natural wildlife plants that would help restore the area.
Warrior Dash Wisconsin at Wilmot Mountain
The Warrior Dash Wisconsin races at Wilmot Mountain include all sorts of obstacles for participants.
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Alex Salomon is all smiles after getting past his first jitters as part of the SOS Outreach program at Wilmot Mountain.
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Some of the kids from Peirce School pose for a photo at Wilmot Mountain.
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“Liam loves tubing in our yard in Salem. Next up, Wilmot Mountain!”
Submitted by Colleen Webster
WILMOT MOUNTAIN
Allyson Kubik of Grayslake, Ill., throws her hands in the air while sliding down the tubing hill at Wilmot Mountain. The tubing area opened earlier this week at Wilmot Mountain.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN
Hunter Wallen, 5, makes a turn while skiing on opening day at Wilmot Mountain on Friday.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN
A skier makes her way down the mountain at Wilmot Mountain on Friday.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN
The sun sets behind the mountain on opening day at Wilmot Mountain on Friday.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN a1
It’s not the same as competing in the Winter Olympics, but you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding at Wilmot Mountain in Kenosha County.
WILMOT MOUNTAIN
Hunter Wallen, 5, and his sister, Avery, 3, take the carpet lift up the hill at Wilmot Mountain on Friday.
FALLFEST
Getting ready for ski season
Ryleigh Cliffgard, 6, tries out a snowboard with help from Jackson McNally, of Burton Snowboards, during Fall Fest at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday. The event featured a 5K run, games and activities for kids and a wine tasting for adults. It concluded with a showing of the movie “Hocus Pocus” outdoors. For more, see page A6.
FALLFEST
Visitors take a hay ride around the mountain during the 2018 Fall Fest at Wilmot Mountain. The event returns Saturday.
FALLFEST
Morgandy Mitchell, 6, gets her face painted by Suzy Sparkles during Fall Fest at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Pavel Polousmiak holds a squat while competing in beer stein hoisting. Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Competitors in Saturday’s Rugged Maniac obstacle race at Wilmot Mountain run and leap through fire ….
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
A couple emerges from the mud pit after crawling under barbed wire during the Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
A competitor creates a wave going down the slide. Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Climbing the ropes to the slide near the end of the Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Above, a group holds hands while going down a slide. At left, competitors climb the ropes heading up to the slide.
at the Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Pavel Polousmiak holds a squat while competing in beer stein hoisting. Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Scrambling up the curved wall during the Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
Participants in the second wave start out at the Rugged Maniac obstacle race series at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday.
RUGGED MANIAC WILMOT
KIDS ADVENTURE GAMES
Christian Hayden flies down the zip line during the Kids Adventure Games event at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018.
KIDS ADVENTURE GAMES
Fritz Lincoln rappels down a hill during the Kids Adventure Games event at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018.
KIDS ADVENTURE GAMES
A member of team Dalu 16 throws his backpack as he zooms down a water slide during the Kids Adventure Games event at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday.
KIDS ADVENTURE GAMES
From left, Max Weis, Jenna Weis and Ryan Weiss climb a wall during the Kids Adventure Games event at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday.
KIDS ADVENTURE GAMES
Max Weis makes ups way up a hill during the Kids Adventure Games event at Wilmot Mountain on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018.
RUGGED MANIAC
Devon Syrjanen takes part in the Rugged Maniac at Wilmot Mountain in this photo from 2015.
The event will return in August.
RUGGED MANIAC
RUGGED MANIAC
West C. Jacobs: Snowboarding
West C. Jacobs of Trevor took this photo of his grandson, Xavier, getting instructions on snowboarding at Wilmot Mountain on Jan. 7.
wilmot mtn 2
Skiers get ready to ski at Wilmot Mountain Saturday during a celebration of the ski hill’s 80th anniversary.
wilmot mtn 1
Adam Bauer, food and beverage director at Wilmot Mountain, cuts the replica cake for Saturday’s 80th anniversary celebration. For more on the cake, see page A4.
wilmot mts weidner 1.jpg
Bob Weder holds skis at his first day of skiing at Wilmot Mountain. This photo was taken around March 12, 1960.
sereno photo 3.JPG
Wilmot Mountain ski Instructors Karen Johnson and Kathy Ruffolo Sereno are shown in this undated photo
ROBINS NEST CAKERY
Robin Shiels fashioned a vintage snowcat out of chocolate clay for a cat to mark the 80th anniversary of Wilmot Mountain.
ROBINS NEST CAKERY
A replica of Wilmot Mountain’s snowcat rests next to photos at Robin’s Nest Cakery in Kenosha.
ROBINS NEST CAKERY
Robin Shiels talks about creating a cake for Wilmot Mountain’s 80th anniversary celebration.
ROBINS NEST CAKERY
Robin Shiels works with her replica of Wilmot Mountain’s snowcat while creating a cake for the resort’s 80th anniversary.
Wilmot 80th
An old high-pressure snow gun used to make snow at Wilmot Mountain in the 1960s on display at the Kenosha History Center.
Wilmot 80th
Patches and momentos from Wilmot Mountain’s past on display at the Kenosha History Center.
Wilmot 80th
Wilmot Mountain artifacts on display at the Kenosha History Center.
Wilmot 80th
A Tucker Sno Cat sits at the Wilmot Mountain entrance. It was part of a fleet of trail groomers that were in service in the 1960s.
Wilmot 80th
Skiiers prepare to hit the slopes with a view of Wilmot Mountain. See more photos on Page A8.
Wilmot 80th
An old photograph of Wilmot Mountain action from years gone by on display at the Kenosha History Center.
Wilmot 80th
A sign marks Wilmot Mountain’s 80th anniversary which was observed Feb. 10.
Wilmot 80th
Skiers hit the slopes at Wilmot Mountain Wednesday.
Wilmot 80th
An old menu from Wilmot Mountain’s Iron Kettle restaurant on display at the Kenosha History Center.
Wilmot Mountain timeline
Wilmot Mountain timeline
Behind the Lens – Bill
The snow-making equipment at Wilmot Mountain had been on for two days in preparation for this season’s opener, so I headed out late in the afternoon and caught the setting sun casting brilliant color on the swirling snow. To cover the distance from the parking lot to the top of this ski hill, I used a 500mm lens.
Camera: D5
Lens: 500 mm
ISO: 800
Aperture: f/8
Shutter: 1/1000th sec
NEW YEARS EVE
Zelda Tsaparas, 3, of Chicago, smiles as she gets her face painted by Suzy Sparkles at Wilmot Mountain’s New Year’s Eve celebration Sunday.
NEW YEARS EVE
Snowboarders and skiers make their way down the hills at Wilmot Mountain on New Year’s Eve. Wilmot Mountain is staging an 80th annivesary celebration on Saturday.
NEW YEARS EVE
New Year’s Eve on the mountain
The Bergman family, from left, Celia, Chad, Anderson, 7, and Karina, 10, pick out their props before having their pictures taken in a photo booth hosted by Moments in Time at Wilmot Mountain on New Year’s Eve.
NEW YEARS EVE
NEW YEARS EVE
Snowboarders and skiers make their way down the hills at Wilmot Mountain on New Year’s Eve.
NEW YEARS EVE
Zelda Tsaparas, 3, of Chicago, smiles as she looks in the mirror after getting her face painted by Suzy Sparkles at Wilmot Mountain on New Year’s Eve.
SNAPSHOT – SKI INSTRUCTOR
Gary Lieder, 71, of McHenry, Ill., is the Ski School Director at Wilmot Mountain and has been a ski instructor there for 48 years.
SNAPSHOT – SKI INSTRUCTOR
Gary Lieder, 71, of McHenry, Ill., is the Ski School Director at Wilmot Mountain and has been a ski instructor there for 48 years.
SNAPSHOT – SKI INSTRUCTOR
Gary Lieder, 71, of McHenry, Ill., is the Ski School Director at Wilmot Mountain and has been a ski instructor there for 48 years.
Ski with Santa
Families can ski with Santa Dec. 19 and 20 at Wilmot Mountain.
Wilmot Mountain
Making the rounds at Wilmot Mountain
An employee at Wilmot Mountain makes his rounds as snow making equipment prepares for today’s season opener.
Wilmot Mountain
Employees at Wilmot Mountain drive through blizzard conditions created by snow making equipment that is preparing the slopes for action.
Wilmot Mountain
Skiers ride up and glide down the slopes at Wilmot Mountain in Wilmot earlier this year. The ski hill marked its 80th anniversary in February and opens Friday for a new season.
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