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While we may be best known for our work in the winter months, this summer has shown that our programmes continue to make an impact year-round.
For those new to Snow Camp, we are a charity with a clear mission: to turn young lives around with the power of snowsports. But our work goes far beyond the slopes. Through our carefully crafted programmes developed over the past 20 years, we empower young people by developing life skills, qualifications and vocational opportunities in the snowsports industry and beyond.
This summer, we’ve achieved major milestones, expanded our impact across the UK, and, most importantly, seen the profound effects our work has had on the young people we support. Let’s take a look at how Snow Camp continues to grow, thanks to the incredible efforts of our community, sponsors, and the youth who participate in our programmes.
This summer, our First Tracks programme saw incredible numbers of young people participating across all of our regions, from London to Scotland. This is their first introduction to skiing or snowboarding and has played a key role in helping participants build confidence, develop new skills, and discover a love for the sport.
Young people are taught how to ski or snowboard by qualified instructors and Snow Camp youth apprentices and volunteers who have completed our programmes in previous years. They are the best role models to demonstrate to the new young people what they can achieve with Snow Camp.
Young people are also supported by our Wellbeing Managers, who are on hand to lend an ear while providing additional advice and guidance along with delivering workshops during the programme.
Here’s a breakdown of how many young people took part in the First Tracks programme across our key areas:
This year, we welcomed 227 young people to the slopes from the capital. Many of them had never tried skiing or snowboarding before, but by the end of their two days with us, they were confidently navigating the basics and even showing leadership among their peers.
Our Midlands team had an outstanding summer, with 225 young people completing the First Tracks programme. The feedback from participants and their families has been overwhelmingly positive, with many saying they’ve already set their sights on continuing with the next stages of Snow Camp’s programmes.
In Scotland, 167 young people embraced the First Tracks experience, with an additional 63 young people engaging with Snow Camp for the first time with live talks at their youth clubs. Thanks to our dedicated team of coaches and volunteers, participants learned the foundations of skiing while also building valuable life skills like perseverance and resilience.
Finally, in the North West, we had 271 young people join us for First Tracks. Each participant showed incredible growth over the course of the summer, not just in skiing but also in self-confidence and teamwork.
Overall, 953 young people participated in the First Tracks programme and engaged with Snow Camp across the UK this summer! Every young person gained a Snowsport England or Snowsport Scotland Snowlife award, along with medals and certificates providing a lasting record of their achievements with the support of 214 Youth Projects.
With our 12 fantastic Apprentices included, plus an additional 57 Youth Volunteers (previous Snow Camp Young People who returned to deliver an incredible 1,555 volunteer hours combined) plus 2 Snow Camp Youth Forum Members who Snow Camp employed as Programme Assistants throughout the summer…
The Youth Projects Said It Best:
“It was brilliant to come along with some of our Seniors and experience the First Tracks, I just wanted to also say hearing the young people share their Snow Camp journeys on Day 2 was so inspiring and it was clear to see this resonating with our members also. Please extend our thanks to all the apprentices and volunteers for making the course such a fun and enjoyable learning process for all. The impact the two days had on our young people was clear to see and they have not stopped talking about their positive experiences.” – Madhlo Youth Zone
“[He] was involved in making bad choices for himself and displaying behaviour which was getting him into trouble: After convincing him to try Snow Camp his life outlook has completely changed and choices have become positive and focused: it has been a game changer and a catalyst for a new direction in his life” – The Hideaway Youth Project
“One young person is very hard on themselves regularly and can be self defeating. Having similar role models, frequent praise and quick progress helped him get up every time he fell. You can see a very quick difference in him; he looks proud of himself after the course.” – The Foxton Centre
“One participant struggles with social isolation and confidence, after moving to the UK from Slovakia. First Tracks has given him a new opportunity, out of his comfort zone, to attempt something different. They want to now return for the graduate course!” – Blackburn Rovers
The impact of First Tracks goes far beyond the ski slopes. It offers young people an opportunity to challenge themselves in a new environment, gain a sense of achievement, and set the stage for continued personal growth in our more advanced programmes.
We’re proud to say that this summer’s First Tracks numbers reflected the growing interest in Snow Camp’s programmes across the UK. As we look ahead to the coming winter season, we’re excited to see many of these young people continuing their Snow Camp journey, as many are keen to progress on to our Graduate programme, which runs throughout the Autumn.
While it’s important to celebrate the growth of our programmes and partnerships, Snow Camp’s true success stories come from the young people we support. This summer, we’ve seen incredible transformations in our participants, many of whom arrived at Snow Camp unsure of their capabilities but left with newfound confidence, leadership skills, and a deep passion for skiing and snowboarding.
Take Rumai, for example. We can’t celebrate this incredible young woman enough! Over the past 12 months, Rumai has not only completed her Snow Camp Apprenticeship year with flying colours, but she has also achieved her BASI Level 1 instructor qualification — a huge accomplishment in itself.
We watched Rumai flourish on the slopes during her time in Andorra, where she honed her skiing skills and took on leadership roles. She was a crucial part of the staff team for our AJ Bell 3 Valley Rally event in Val Thorens, demonstrating her ability to step up and contribute in high-pressure situations. Additionally, Rumai made the most of her placement with Planks, an opportunity that further helped her develop both professionally and personally.
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges, but that’s what makes her success all the more inspiring. Rumai’s hard work, passion, and perseverance have truly paid off, and we are so proud of everything she’s accomplished. She’s shown us what it means to rise to the occasion and grow through every experience, both on and off the slopes. Go Rumai! You absolutely deserve this success, and we know you have a bright future ahead of you.
And then there’s Leggy, whose journey with Snow Camp has been nothing short of transformative. It was an emotional day for all of us when we saw Leggy set off on his first day of employment at The SnowDome in the Midlands. After smashing the 22/23 Snow Camp programme, Leggy went on to complete our 23/24 apprenticeship year with honours, making a lasting impact on everyone he worked with.
Known for being the first to volunteer and the last off the slopes, Leggy’s dedication to Snow Camp and his peers has been remarkable. He was key in supporting the AJ Bell 3 Valley Rally and inspired his fellow participants during our annual Andorra residential. But what makes Leggy’s story truly special is how he’s used his journey to give back to the Snow Camp community. He’s now a fully qualified BASI Level 1 instructor and has taken on additional training in adaptive coaching with Disability Snowsport UK, helping as many people as possible experience the magic of snow, regardless of their abilities.
Leggy’s commitment to Snow Camp’s values and mission, as well as his desire to support the next generation of young people, is nothing short of inspirational. We are beyond proud of everything he’s achieved, and we know he’s absolutely going to smash it as part of The SnowDome team. Good luck, Leggy—your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where it takes you!
These stories aren’t unique to Rumai and Leggy. Every day at Snow Camp, we see young people arrive uncertain of their abilities, hesitant to try skiing or snowboarding. Yet, by the end of their time with us, they’ve not only mastered the basics of the sport but also learned valuable life lessons about resilience, determination, and self-confidence. It’s these personal victories that make Snow Camp more than just a charity—it’s a transformative experience that leaves a lasting impact.
This summer, we’ve also seen a rise in participants taking up leadership roles within the charity itself. Several graduates from previous years have returned as mentors, eager to give back to the programme that helped them so much. Their involvement is crucial in keeping the Snow Camp community tight-knit, supportive, and thriving.
The incredible successes we’ve experienced this summer wouldn’t have been possible without the support of all our sponsors, partners, funders and the incredible Snow Camp community.
With too many names to mention, please enjoy our 2023/24 Celebration Feature to see the full range of ways Snow Camp are supported.
With the momentum we’ve built this summer, we’re heading into the winter season with excitement and plenty of events to look forward to. Our goal remains the same: to continue expanding Snow Camp’s reach and impact, bringing our unique blend of skiing and life skills training to even more young people across the UK. And with the busy winter season ahead, programmes aside, we’ve got an incredible line-up of events that will do just that!
First up, we’ll be attending the first-ever Northern Snow Show on October 5-6. Programme Manager Morv will be hosting a live on-the-snow session, showcasing some of the techniques and skills that Snow Camp teaches to young people. It’s an exciting opportunity to introduce our work to a new audience and continue to build connections in the snow sports community.
Next up with be a huge celebration at The SnowDome Tamworth for their 30th anniversary Dirty30 Party! See you there!
Next, we’ll be heading to LISTEX, the snowsports industry event, from October 16-17 at London ExCeL. This event is a great chance for us to connect with industry professionals, build partnerships, and continue to raise awareness of our mission within the snow sports sector.
Then, from October 19-20, we’ll be part of the London Snow Show, where we’ll have another opportunity to showcase Snow Camp’s impact and connect with new supporters. These events will be key to spreading the word about what we do and inspiring others to get involved.
On October 24th, we’re hosting a very special event — An Evening with Frank Gardner OBE at Goodwood House. This promises to be an inspiring night with the BBC Security Correspondent, and we’re incredibly excited to bring together our supporters for what will surely be an unforgettable event.
As we head into winter, the excitement continues with some of our biggest events on the calendar.
The Independent School Ski Championships (ISSC) will take place from December 13-20 in Sestriere, where we’ll have four skiers and two Snow Camp team members representing us. Robin, one of our young participants, will be learning how to be a rep, which is a fantastic opportunity for them to gain experience in the industry.
After that, Inghams are going above & beyond once again to host our Apprentices for an Experience Week in Val D’Isère, where our Apprentices will learn what it takes to work in the mountains while developing their skiing & snowboarding skills on the slopes.
In January, we’ll be heading back to Morzine for the 2025 Inter-Livery Ski Championships to deliver our Team Triathlon for Snow Camp. The honour is all ours to be welcomed once again as the official charity partner, and we’re already looking forward to the friendly competition on and off the slopes!
And, of course, we can’t forget the ever-popular AJ Bell 3 Valley Rally in Val Thorens in April. This flagship fundraising event is always a highlight of the season for everyone involved with Snow Camp, and we’re encouraging supporters to sign up now to join us for what promises to be another incredible end-of-season event in one of Europe’s highest ski resorts.
We’re incredibly excited about what the future holds for Snow Camp, and we’re confident that with the continued support of our community, we can make an even bigger difference in the lives of young people across the UK. The upcoming months are packed with opportunities for our participants, volunteers, and supporters to come together, and we can’t wait to see what we achieve this winter.
As we close the chapter on this incredible summer season, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been a part of Snow Camp’s journey. From our amazing participants to our sponsors, donors, and volunteers, we couldn’t have achieved any of this without you.
If you’d like to help us continue making a difference, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Whether it’s through donations, volunteering, entering a team at the 3 Valley Rally or simply sharing our mission with others, your support helps us bring the transformative power of skiing and snowboarding to even more young people.
See you on the slopes!
