September 3, 2008
The ABC's of ski area day care
by Heather Burke/
While pregnant, I was medically cautioned against skiing. The fact that my ski pants wouldn’t zip was further reason to wait out the winter months while “with child.” What came as a surprise (shock to the system) is that you can’t ski when you have a newborn, either. New baby equals no bashing the bumps for a few months at minimum. But there is some promising news for young parents who have been sidelined from the fall line.
Ski areas are investing serious dough in the diaper set. Resorts are offering brand-new day-care facilities just steps from the lifts to lure parents back to the slopes, with the hopes of hooking the family on ski vacations from infancy. You can make your way back to skiing as your child reaches about 6 months by choosing resorts with state-of-the-art child care (not just your B.C. — Before Children — criteria of lift capacity, snowmaking and vertical stats).
New parents are understandably nervous about bringing their newborn to an unknown and away-from-home child-care environment. There are some simple steps to find the right child care, assuage your fears, and satisfy your child’s needs, so you can get a fall-line fix. You may need to remind yourself that it’s healthy to break out of the parenthood rut for a few runs. You deserve some literal down time, and your child will be just fine in the meantime with no resentment (likely no recollection at all) years from now.
Smugglers’ Notch, the leader of the pack when it comes to accommodating parents, offers day care for babies as young as 6 weeks old. Everything about “Treasures” day care is prime for powder-craving parents: the slopeside setting, the custom-designed, age-appropriate rooms, and a staff consisting of some of the best-trained caregivers in the ski business.
Okemo has two day-care centers book-ending the ski resort for your convenience at the Okemo and Jackson Gore base areas. Parents will find the Penguin Playground Day Care Centers for children 6 months to 4 years to be bright and cheery, well-staffed and state-licensed, with the latest safety protocols. You can reserve Okemo’s day care by the hour, half-day or full day, depending upon how many turns you want to make. Go online at okemo.com to read helpful tips on what to bring, what to expect and how to reserve child care in advance of your visit.
Killington’s Rams Head is the epicenter for young families visiting the “Beast of the East.” Here, under one roof, are all the child care and ski camps. Killington’s Friendly Penguin Day Care (must be Okemo’s tuxedo twin) is full service and only available for a full day, probably justified given the expanse of the ski terrain. It’s pricey at $100 per day midweek, and $130 per day on weekends and holidays, but can you put a price tag on your little darling — or a full day of freedom to ski? Apparently, yes.
Sunday River has three day-care facilities, allowing you options depending upon where you are lodging (or parking). The River takes children as young as 6 weeks old at South Ridge base or at either hotel, the Grand Summit or the Jordan Grand. It doesn’t get any more convenient than having full-service day care right downstairs in your on-mountain hotel. Of course, you must call in advance to reserve Sunday River’s child care, either for half-day ($40) or full day ($60).
Saddleback in Maine also has a state-licensed day care, on the lower level of the beautiful new base lodge. Hourly rates are just $7.50 per hour for children 6 months and up. Combine that with Monday’s $25 lift ticket for Ladies’ Day — this could be a Maine cure for desperate house moms.
Mount Sunapee’s modern mountainside Learning Center is home to Mother Goose Childcare, where caregivers cater to youngsters ages 1-5. On Tuesdays — Ladies’ Day — moms receive 50 percent off the weekday child-care cost (normally $48 full day).
Bretton Woods offers “Babes in the Woods” day care for kids ages 2 months to 5 years. The slopeside day care is within the Kids’ Alpine Club building, along with the Hobbit Ski & Snowboard programs for children ready to learn to ski at age 3.
Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires has the custom-designed Burbank Children’s Center with kids programs under one convenient roof, including the Cub’s Den day care for children 6 months and up. Jiminy Peak offers hourly care at $10.
Heather Burke is an accredited ski journalist and mother of two based in Kennebunk, Maine. She travels with her husband and kids to ski resorts all around New England and the country, looking for the best snow and family programs.
