Kids'N'Snow
December through March in West Yellowstone The high mountain valley town of West Yellowstone averages more than 153 inches of snow each year. Depending on the year, snow starts to accumulate in late October and stays on the ground through mid-April. Getting outside and engaging in winter activities is critical for the kids in West Yellowstone. However, it can be hard to try something new, find a low-cost activity or find someone to teach you a winter sport.
Kids'N'Snow has grown tremendously with more than 1,000 participating families from more than 10 states and eight countries each winter. In 2012, the program was awarded the Montana Tourism Partnership of the Year, and in 2014 it was awarded an AZA Disney grant.
The Kids'N'Snow program (www.kidsnsnow. org) was developed to offer an opportunity for all kids, from West Yellowstone as well as winter visitors, the chance to try new things in a safe, fun, hands-on learning environment. And, hopefully, to develop lifelong healthy habits along the way.
Traditionally, each weekend has included a variety of outdoor activities such as snowshoe hikes with a Forest Service or Yellowstone Park Ranger, snowcoach rides into Yellowstone Park, Nordic skiing, rides with a sled dog team, M120 snowmobile rides and learning programs like identifying animal tracks and meeting raptors at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center. Saturday evenings feature "Skating, S'mores and Sleddin'." During the January event, kids have the chance to learn how to ice fish (and get a free rod) as part of the NAIFC Kids Camp.
The Kids’N’Snow program started with a “test” weekend in December 2010, working with strategic partners to create a program just for kids in the winter. The weekend was so successful, it was expanded in 2011 into a full program featuring one kids’ weekend each month, December through March.
This winter, organizers are taking the programming back to basics as they rebound from the pandemic. Kids’N’Snow will take place one Saturday each month with educational programs at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, crafts at the Visitor Center, movie specials at the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, a scavenger hunt, and s’mores, sledding
and skating at Pioneer Park. (Bring your own skates.) December activities will be offered in conjunction with the Christmas Stroll and Rodeo Run Sled Dog Races (for viewing only, no rides), January will feature the Kids Ice Fishing Camp courtesy of the National Ice Fishing Tournament, and March will include the Rendezvous Ski Race. The dates for the 2021/22 season
» December 18, 2021 » January 8, 2022 » February 5, 2022 » March 5, 2022. This wonderful community event and all of the activities offered are free, thanks to the generous support of local businesses, West Yellowstone Chamber, TBID, Town of West Yellowstone and many others. For more information call the Visitor Information Center at 406-646-7701 or visit DestinationYellowstone.com or kidsnsnow.org.
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