AWARD WINNING AND INNOVATIVE FAMILY PROGRAMS AT MOUNT SUNAPEE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mount Sunapee Resort
Newbury, NH
Bruce McCloy, Director of Marketing and Sales
(603) 763-3500 or bmccloy@mtsunapee.com

Newbury, NH – (August, 2007) – Mount Sunapee has earned its top ranking in the East for family programs by providing cutting-edge programs and facilities that make it easy for families to learn and enjoy the mountain together.  In 2006 Mount Sunapee was ranked 10th in North America for family programs by SKI Magazine.   

Families First, which received a national award from the National Ski Areas Association, is entering its fourth season and has quickly become one of Mount Sunapee’s most popular learning programs.  Families First allows families (ages eight and up) to learn how to ski and snowboard together in the same class.  If there is a mix of skiers and snowboarders then two instructors are assigned to the family.  “With a bunch of people who don’t know each other the only thing they have in common is that they are beginners,” says Peter Ettenborough, Mount Sunapee ski instructor, “with a family, everyone is comfortable with each other.  The parents know the kids are safe, and the kids know their parents are right here, so their confidence level is higher.”

Another innovative family offering is the Tag-A-Long Lesson.  This program takes the private lessons available for three and four year old children through the Mother Goose Child Care one step further.  One parent will be able to “tag-a-long” with the child and the instructor so he or she can learn some of the techniques that are used to teach three and four year olds how to ski or snowboard.  “Parents want to be involved in teaching their children,” says Maura Gorman, director of the Learning Center, “and the Tag-A-Long program will help them be successful.”

Anchoring the family programs at Mount Sunapee is the Children’s Learning Center located at the base of the South Peak Learning Area.  This state-of-the-art facility, built in 2003, puts all programs for children ages one to seven under one roof.  The building houses the Mother Goose Childcare for children ages one to five.  It is also headquarters for Mount Sunapee’s half-day and full-day Snow Stars instructional program for children ages four through seven.  There’s even a children’s rental equipment shop in the Center.  Registration for the half-day and full-day Mountain Explorers program for children ages eight to twelve is also at the Children’s Learning Center.

For more information about Mount Sunapee’s Family programs visit mountsunapee.com