I moved to Utah to pursue a career in the outdoor industry, but eventually found my way back to my first love: teaching. I am a 4th grade teacher over at Rose Park Elementary School in Salt Lake City, and I am asking for donations to cover the cost of the Ski Utah bus, equipment rental, and instruction fee so that my 4th graders can get up the canyon for the first time!

I teach at Rose Park Elementary, a local public school here in the valley. It is a title one school, which means the majority of our student body lives below the poverty line. Our school does what it can to make sure our students have opportunities to engage in their community beyond the school. However, one community that they have not been able to break into is the outdoor community. Some of us in Salt Lake are lucky enough to recreate in are the Cottonwood Canyons. We ski and hike in these mountains, fish in these rivers, and camp under the stars that illuminate these towering granite walls. Most of these kids have never had the chance to get up into the mountains, let alone leave the valley floor.

To inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts and stewards (you can't protect what you don't care about, after all), I have registered my fourth grade classes for a ski trip through Ski Utah. We have been accepted into the program, and the kids are so excited! However, one hurtle for us to clear is the cost of the program. It is a $35 fee per kid. While I am asking for Ski Utah to help us cover some of the costs, as well as organizing my class to help with fundraising for their trip, I am fundraising the rest on my own. Anything you are willing to donate (even $5) will help us get these kids skiing and gaining an experience that will define their 4th grade year, if not their lives.

We are heading to Solitude on Thursday December 18th, so our deadline is approaching fast! Look forward to seeing you all on the mountain!