Favorite things about the Silver Valley: Lookout Pass Free Ski School
Lookout Pass Free Ski School Director Chris Nusz (bottom right) chats with the some of the school's volunteer instructors during a recent ski season.
Courtesy photo
MULLAN — The Lookout Pass Free Ski School has been teaching youth the ins and outs necessary to hit the slopes for more than eight decades.
Tammy Nusz and her husband, Chris, have been running the school for 20 years. The school is a nonprofit extension of Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area that runs off donations and volunteers.
Since it was founded in 1942, the school has taught over 38,000 kids. The nine-week program runs each year from January to March, culminating with an awards ceremony and barbecue.
“We live in an amazing place with so many ski hills close by, that this program is a great way to get your kids started on a sport that will last them all their lives,” Nusz said.
The annual turnout for the school is about 250 students, which requires a healthy number of volunteers to ensure proper training and supervision.
“We are always looking for volunteers to help,” Nusz said.
The school is governed by a small board of directors.
With the Silver Valley snugly nestled within a region brimming with ski hills, giving kids an opportunity to learn how to ski or snowboard at no cost to their families is invaluable.
“We work with Lookout Pass to help everyone have a great day on the hill,” Nusz said. “Most of all, nothing beats a child’s smile that learned a sport and is so happy to come back the next week. Free Ski School is a rarity in our country, and Shoshone County gets to support a rare gem.”