Getting kids to be–and stay–active is an ongoing trend across our country. Schone Malliet, founder and CEO of the National Winter Sports Education Foundation, is doing exactly that in a fun and innovative way.
Malliet’s foundation founded the National Winter Activity Center, a nonprofit that welcomes children ages 6 through 17, with a mission to improve their overall health and wellness by providing access to winter activities, skill development, healthy meals, and mentoring. The NWAC, located in Vernon, New Jersey, hosts children from cities such as Newark, N.J., Yonkers, the Bronx, and parts of Manhattan through partnerships with local youth organizations.
The Center introduces children to activities that they would not typically be exposed to or consider trying, while making it economically feasible, and is the only facility of its kind in the country. This winter, more than 1,100 kids are expected to participate in this exciting opportunity!
The kids are outfitted with gear and then enjoy a weekday or weekend session of winter fun with their coaches, a snack, and a meal. By the end of five weeks, children will have gained nearly 40 hours of outdoor activity at a time of year when they typically opt to stay indoors with sedentary activities.
With Malliet as the driving force of the program, additional partners of the National Winter Activity Center include Ted Ligety, U.S. Ski Team, Olympian and World Champion, United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), the International Ski Federation (FIS), and the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).
The Center, formerly an area ski resort, received a $15 million upgrade in order to restore the property, as the nation’s first private 501(c)(3) nonprofit winter activity facility dedicated exclusively to youth from all economic backgrounds. It is their goal to introduce 7,000 children to winter activities by 2021. Malliet is also talking with other facilities interested in replicating this program.
Learn more about this innovative facility and program by visiting www.Winter4Kids.org.
