Park City & Deer Valley

The After-School Ski Program offers Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Nordic Jumping & Cross Country Skiing

Every Friday afternoon after school, close to 500 elementary students in the Park City School District gear up and head to the hills. As part of the Get Out and Play Ski Program, the children go to one of four venues: Park City Mountain Resort, Canyons, the Utah Olympic Park or White Pine Touring Center.

The district-wide, after-school ski program run by the parent-teacher organizations began about 30 years ago with students skiing at Park City Mountain Resort once a week, according to program coordinator Kerry Morgan. As popularity grew, the program added snowboarding and extended to Canyons. Attendance was split between the two resorts.

In 2008, the Youth WinterSports Alliance approached the district with a proposal to further expand how the students could take advantage of winter sports through the season.

"They wanted to offer students more options to the program because there is more you can do getting out there on the snow," Morgan said. The new partnership added cross-country skiing at the White Pine Touring Center and Nordic jumping, freestyle and freeride skiing at the Utah Olympic Park to the mix.

Until last year, the program was entirely coordinated by parent-volunteers. To further streamline the growing program, YWSA created Morgan's position to oversee coordination efforts, contracts, registration and to handle finances, allowing parents to focus their efforts on creating a positive experience for the students.

Parents arrive at the elementary schools at about 12:15pm, shortly before the end of the day. They help students get ready, load them into the appropriate buses by about 12:45pm and accompany them as they travel to the venues, arriving at about 1:15pm. For safety and organization, every child has an arm band with his or her name, school, phone number and the name of their instructor. After the lessons, students pile into the buses and return to their schools to meet their parents.

"This program would not run without all of the amazing parents who show up on Friday afternoons," Morgan said.

Students choose what sport they want to take part in when they register, Morgan said. The two resorts alternate which schools they host each year. This year, students at Trailside and Parley's Park Elementary schools are at Park City Mountain Resort, while those at McPolin and Jeremy Ranch go to Canyons. Students at any school can choose cross-country skiing or Nordic jumping.

Lesson times vary depending on the sport. The shortest lesson is a 90-minute cross-country skiing class at the touring center. "If you've ever cross-country skied, that's more than enough," Morgan said. Nordic-jumping classes last for two hours.

Students at Canyons and Park City resorts ski with instructors for two-and-a-half hours. Classes are split into age-group and skill level and the resorts ensure that no classes have more than about six or eight students.

Two sessions run through January and February. The first is a five-week session from January 7th, 2011 through February 4th, 2011. Between 450 and 500 students participate in sports at all four venues. The second, four-week course runs from Feb. 11 through March 11 and is limited to about 150 students at the Olympic Park and touring center because the resorts face an influx of business and can no longer accommodate the program, according to Morgan.

Interested students register in October and early November. If there are open spots in session two, registration reopens for a brief period during January until every spot is filled. Registration for session two recently closed.

The program cost varies depending on the sports and the length of the session. Those who ski or snowboard at one of the resorts can expect to pay $185, which includes lift tickets but not equipment rentals. For participants with a season pass, the price drops to $160. The resorts offer 10 scholarships for each of the four elementary schools. Scholarships cover lift tickets, lessons and rentals.

The first session at White Pine Touring is $140. The second session is $115. Rental equipment is included in the touring center program fee. Participants at the Utah Olympic Park pay $180 for the first session and $150 for the second.

The Youth WinterSports Alliance offers five additional scholarships for any of the four venues for either session. Members of the alliance also hold drives to collect equipment, from jackets and mittens to helmets and goggles, for students who want to participate but don't have everything they need.

"We will, through parent and community donations, provide whatever they need for this program," Morgan said. "The whole goal of this program is to make it as affordable as we possibly can to reach these kids who otherwise might not have this opportunity."

For more information, visit the program website at www.getoutandplay.ywsa.org.

by Douglas Greenwood OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

Physical & Intellectual Development a Focus of Indoor Play Land

A new family-friendly activity center is now open at Kimball Junction. Monkey Mountain has over 2,000 square feet of play area for children up to age 12 in the Silver Mountain Sports Club building on Ute Boulevard.

It is the creation of the Carter family. Chris Carter's career moves him around a lot, so his family has lately been living in a different country every six to nine months. Their only constant has been a second home in Park City where the family spends a few months each year.

That's why Sarah Carter felt inspired to start a business here; it was the most logical place to put down some roots. Right now motherhood is the most important thing in her life, she said, so naturally a business catering to the needs and development of children was at the forefront in her mind.

Her last three homes were in Canada, England and Russia. In the former two, she found indoor play structures for children to help them run and exercise year round something especially important during cold winter months.

In Russia, she found a culture committed to child development and lacking the commercialism that permeates products and services for kids in the U.S.

Investigating the schools in Park City, she discovered there were not many choices to keep children engaged after school.

That inspired her to build an indoor playland with an emphasis on structured and unstructured play.

Nothing gives her more joy at this point in her life than hearing the laughter of her children her youngest being five-year-old twins.

"We want to hear the noise. Kids can be as loud as they want here," she said.

Sarah Carter's own background is in figure skating, so she naturally cares about physical development and fitness.

Two playground-equipment companies were hired to create Monkey Mountain. One made the climbing structure that engages both upper and lower-body muscles. The other made jungle-themed carpet and plastic animals children can climb on and around. The idea is to inspire creativity in play with every available square foot while catering to children of all ages and ability levels.

There are two party rooms for hosting birthdays and special events. But Carter is also lining up partnerships with other businesses to provide structured activities like yoga for children, or maybe art classes.

Because Monkey Mountain is all indoors, it does not currently qualify as a childcare center. Her long-term goal, however, is to provide an environment where parents can drop children off for several hours at a time to take classes and play.

Some kind of themed activity will be provided every hour, so no matter how brief the visit, there will be structured and unstructured activity.

For right now, parents must attend with their children but a parents' lobby next to the play area overlooking the Basin is filled with desks, couches, flat-screen televisions and wireless Internet access so they can relax or work while the kids enjoy themselves.

Monkey Mountain

1526 Ute Blvd.

435-214-7451

www.monkeymountain.com

by Andrew Kirk OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

Monkey Mountain Now in Silver Mountain Sports Club

A very different kind of business is opening in the Silver Mountain Sports Club this Saturday.

From 12:00pm to 4:00pm children of all ages are welcomed to check out Monkey Mountain, a new indoor playland above the Church of Scientology at 1526 Ute Boulevard.

Owner Sarah Carter's own background is in ice skating. Her husband is in trading. They currently live in Russia and own a home here. While in town, Carter said she's noticed that parents don't just want to find fun things for their children to do, but would prefer if the activity aided in their development somehow.

Wanting to give children more year-round physical activities, she met with two playground equipment manufacturers and with them designed Monkey Mountain. The equipment gives them lower and upper-body exercise as they play. The staff is trained to facilitate learning through play, she said.

The 4,100-square-foot space has a 22-foot tall playland with cushy carpet and educational panels on the walls for toddlers.

"We utilized every inch of space we could. Everything is custom made to fit our space," she explained.

After Saturday's grand opening, regular hours will be 9:00am every day to 8:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7:00pm all other days.

To learn more, visit monkeymountain.com.

by Andrew Kirk OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

Meet a Clan of Wacky Alpacas

Blue Moon Ranch will Host Its 6th Annual Open Barn Day

September 25th - 26th, 2010 from 10:00am - 4:00pm

Thirteen years ago, Linda Gardner picked up a magazine in an airport and came face-to-face with photos of an unfamiliar creature, the alpaca.

"I just looked at their faces and said, 'I'm in love. If there's a way I can make a living and be around these animals for the rest of my life, by golly I'm going to do it,'" she says.

Her husband, Ed Heintz, recognized the look on her face immediately and thought, "Here we go again."

Not long after returning to their home in Herriman, Gardner purchased a female Huacaya the type of alpaca with short, crimpy, fleece-like fiber. That alpaca had a baby, and "That was so much fun, we decided to buy more," she says.

In 2003, the couple purchased seven acres of property in Woodland to accommodate their growing brood and started Blue Moon Ranch.

As for the spontaneous career move, "I've never regretted it for a minute," Gardner says. "Alpacas are the most gentle, intelligent, fascinating creatures, and the fiber is a bonus."

This weekend, Sept. 25-26, Blue Moon Ranch will host its sixth annual Open Barn Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The event coincides with National Alpaca Farm Days, which is sponsored by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association.

Blue Moon Ranch is home to about 75 alpacas. They are all Huacayas and there are more females than males. Nine babies, or cria, were born this summer. All of the alpacas are for sale.

Gardner and Heintz shear the alpacas once a year, in late May or early June, and collect an average of five pounds of prime blanket fiber from each animal. "Then it's just a mad scramble to get everything ready for this weekend," she says.

According to the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, alpaca fiber is as warm as wool and as soft as cashmere. It's lightweight, naturally hypoallergenic, and can be dyed any shade. It's also water repellent and odor- and wrinkle-resistant.

Gardner carefully breeds her animals for the highest quality fleece. "I'm very fussy about who gets to make the babies," she says. "It's good to be the goddess."

She spins the fiber herself and makes mostly skeins of yarn. She sometimes creates clothing items for family members, but she doesn't purport to be a talented knitter. She does like to press the fiber into felt for scarves, which, she notes, is one way the fiber goes straight from the bag to a finished product and "has zero carbon footprint."

Aside from the profitable aspects of raising alpacas, Gardner does what she does because she finds them fascinating. "They're very intelligent," she says. "They have very strong family ties and exceptionally good memories. They tug at my heartstrings. They're very valued and loved here."

Each of the alpacas at Blue Moon Ranch has a different name and a distinct personality. If there's food involved, they will come when called, Gardner says. If she's wielding a syringe, on the other hand, they are likely to ignore her.

Alpacas make good pets, but their cuddly appearance can be deceiving. "They don't love to be handled," she says. "If you enjoy working creatively with fiber and have an acre for a couple of non-breeding boys, it's great. If you want a pet for your emotional needs, I think you best go to Furburbia and get a puppy."

Open Barn Days will provide an opportunity for visitors to interact with the alpacas and take guided tours of the ranch. Gardner can't promise that guests won't get spit on, which is a common fear-based response for alpacas, but she says she hasn't been caught in spitting crossfire for years.

The event will also feature spinning demonstrations on a wheel and on a traditional drop spindle. Knitters will be on hand to answer questions and alpaca yarn, hand-woven rugs, felted scarves, handmade soaps and knitted items including gloves, hats and socks ("the warmest things you'll ever put your toes in," according to Gardner) will be available for purchase.

Blue Moon Ranch is located at 3535 South 1000 East in Woodland. Driving directions and more information are available online at www.bluemoonranch.net.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

by Alisha Self OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record

Morning & Afternoon Sessions Available for 4-Year-Olds

Official enrollment in Park City School District will not be measured until Oct. 1. But unofficial counts have shown that enrollment may drop by about 200 students from last year, said district business administrator Patricia Murphy. Having fewer students in the school has opened up additional classroom space, and administrators plan to fill that space by introducing a preschool program at McPolin Elementary in October.

The school board members began seriously considering a full-scale preschool program about a year ago, according to School Board President Kim Carson.

Administrators planned to offer one class with hopes the classes would quickly expand to the other elementary schools. They began earmarking monies from the budget to start the program, Superintendent Ray Timothy said.

Park City schools have been working with Davis County schools to offer a limited early-education program for a number of years through the Government Head Start program. Head Start is designed to help minority families become self-sufficient and prepare children for success in school.

Curriculum director Tom VanGorder worked closely with Judy Jackson, the Davis County School District Head Start director, to bring existing Head Start principles into the development of the local preschool program. "When families achieve more, children achieve more," Jackson said.

The collaborative effort allowed Davis and Park City districts to combine curriculum and staff for the preschool.

"We'll be leaning on each other hard to make sure this goes where we need it to go," Jackson said.

VanGorder developed the curriculum by studying successful preschools in the Granite School District. He then worked to shape the program to the needs of families with students in Park City schools.

VanGorder and Jackson looked to research showing a direct correlation between preschool programs and a narrowing achievement gap. "The earlier we can reach children and start them with those connections," Jackson said, "We'll see that achievement gap close."

The program will be funded primarily by four federally-funded sources. Head Start, Title One, Special Ed. and Title Three monies will fund the program for qualifying students.

The Federal Jobs Bill may provide the potential funding to extend the preschool classes to all four elementary schools this school year, Timothy said. But because the stimulus initiative is designed to preserve and maintain current jobs, administrators will wait to see how they can use the funds for new positions or programs, he said.

The plan was cut back to its roots to ensure the program didn't lose its funding. "We had it already earmarked in our budget," Timothy said.

McPolin Elementary will offer a morning and afternoon session for 4-year-old students beginning Oct. 20. Each class will meet Monday through Thursday for three hours. Registration is $30 and will be held Sept. 27 and 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. With only 29 available slots, classes will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

Superintendent Timothy plans to extend the preschool to the remaining elementary schools as soon as permanent funds are secured. "Our ultimate goal is to have one three-year old class and one four year old class in each of our elementaries," he said.

For More Information on Park City and Deer Valley Contact:
Michael Lapay
Prudential Utah Real Estate
Mobile: 435-640-5700
Toll Free: 888-410-7653

mlapay@pureparkcityrealestate.com

by Douglas Greenwood OF THE RECORD STAFF : The Park Record