Unforgettable School Ski Trips to Sunday River

School ski trips have always been a popular option for educational excursions, and today, with more and more resorts opening up to cater to these groups, the choices you have are excellent. While most people head to the Alps or the Dolomites, I highly recommend that you consider Sunday River in Maine’s Western Mountains as an option for your next school ski trip.

Introducing Sunday River

This relatively new resort has increased in popularity, becoming one of the best mountains for snowsports in New England. Due to its fabulous location, the terrain is ideal for skiers of all abilities, the conditions are superb and the season’s snowfall is reliable.

It’s made up of a long ridge that stretches across three miles and has an impressive eight peaks that are all connected by ski runs. Views of the Mahoosuc Mountains and Mount Washington are certainly impressive from here.

Skiing for Children

When taking the little ones out on the slopes you need to be sure that you choose a location that is going to suit not only youngsters, but also those who have never been on skis. You need a resort that will help build confidence and Sunday River definitely does that. Perfect for beginners and intermediates, the long, wide pistes that cover 870 acres are well kept and topped up with extra snow if needed. Lessons to suit all abilities can also be booked in advance.

Children have the opportunity to progress on the slopes here and can begin at the South Ridge Base Lodge, where they will enjoy long, sweeping runs to the bottom. There are also more difficult runs, with the challenging narrow double black runs on White Cap and Barker Mountain being the hardest.

Accommodation and Other Information

Sunday River is famous for its friendly and helpful staff. All accommodation is located close to the slopes, making for easy access when you are trying to get all of the children kitted up and out of the door in time for lessons. Dormitories are a five-minute walk from the slopes, great value and offer bunk beds, a central communal area and en-suite bathrooms. I always think this is a good option for school ski trips.

When your class of children need entertaining off the slopes, there are opportunities to go skating, see a film, bowl or even try snow tubing. You could also include a visit to the pretty town of Bethel, which is only a ten-minute drive away.

Planning a school ski trip can be a challenging prospect, but if you book with a reputable and experienced educational travel company, you can rest assured that your group will be well catered to. They can take care of everything from lift passes to ski lessons to accommodation to transport. I recommend using one of these companies so that you get the most out of your whole experience.

John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational travel for school and youth groups. Whether you’re planning a school ski trip to Europe or North America, a day trip in the UK or an educational tour abroad, you can trust the value of their itineraries, which can be ready-made or specifically designed to suit the needs of your group.