Las Vegas ski resort offers Snow Day weekday program

The Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort has launched a Snow Day program for local children. The weekday field trip-style program is designed for public, private and home-school groups and includes ski or snowboard lessons as well as education about winter first aid and the ecology of the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area.

The program will run from January to March. The cost is $30 per student, and a complimentary chaperone ticket is included for every 12 students. Groups are limited to 200 students, and the resort requires schools to provide one chaperone for every 20 students. The students receive:

■ A two-hour ski or snowboard lesson, lift ticket, equipment rental and a helmet.

■ A course on ski and snowboarding safety, cold weather safety and winter first aid taught by a member of the National Ski Patrol.

■ Introduction to the winter ecology of the SMNRA taught by a U.S. Forest Service-trained interpreter.

■ Lunch and a cup of hot cocoa.

Scholarships will also be available for children whose families cannot afford the registration fee; applications are available at www.skilasvegas.com. Schools are encouraged to register and reserve a Snow Day date at least 30 days in advance.