A new opportunity for sixth through twelfth grade students in the Athena-Weston School
District is motivating them to work on their grades and is teaching them a new skill.
The new Snow Club was started by two teachers: Tori Banek, Language Arts Teacher at Weston-
McEwen High School, and Amanda Stewart, Language Arts Teacher at Weston Middle School.
Snow Club is for students who are grade- and behavior-eligible. During Snow Club, the students
go skiing three times at Bluewood Ski Area (about a two-hour bus ride from Athena-Weston) in
February and March and receive a ski lesson, half-price price lift ticket and half-price ski rental.
According to Stewart, the main goal is to instill students' love for outdoor recreation and
promote an active lifestyle. In addition, she mentioned that outdoor winter recreation helps
provide stress relief and combat seasonal depression, offers the opportunity to participate in an
activity that isn't accessible to all households, enhances social interaction among peers and
community members and may create a life-long hobby.
Banek said Snow Club promotes responsibility in that students maintain passing grades and
demonstrate safety on the mountain while they represent the Athena-Weston School District.
She really appreciates the sense of accomplishment students display in their attitudes, and for
many students, they are excited about learning a new skill while others continue to grow in
their ability to ski/snowboard. “Students also seem to enjoy hanging out and getting to know
other students outside of school. So far, this has been an incredible opportunity, and we are
fortunate that the district has been so supportive!” Banek said.
Stewart said, “Mrs. Banek and I agree that no peace or joy can be found like what we see when
hitting the mountain and the slopes! Being a kid is tough, and Snow Club provides a unique
opportunity to destress, learn a new skill, make friends and have a fantastic time!”
