Most recreation program coordinators will tell you that providing programs for teens involves a lot of trial and error. Sometimes the trial results in program cancellations, due to lack of interest. But one teen program never seems to have a problem in attracting an audience: the Annual IPRA All-Night Teen Ski. The 2007 IPRA Teen Ski will most likely be held the first Friday and Saturday in February. Organizers expect a turnout similar to the 2006 event, held February 3rd and 4th at the Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, which drew skiers and snowboarders from 39 park and recreation agencies from across Illinois. More than 1,100 teens from agencies large and small - some as far away as Normal, Illinois - participated. Obviously, this is one program that continues to attract clients from established and newly formed teen programs throughout the state. - by Lauren A. Lotz

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An Opportunity for Any and Every Agency The history of this event dates to 1989, with three or four park districts planning a co-op teen ski trip. This first trip was held at Wilmot Ski Resort and attracted several hundred teens. Alex Brown, formerly of the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, and Gayle Mountcastle, currendy superintendent of recreation for the Des Plaines Park District, are two of the original IPRA Teen Committee members who developed the idea. Before this time, neither the IPRA nor any of its subcommittees offered statewide co-op trips. Now in its 16' year, this event, still sponsored and coordinated by the IPRA Teen Committee, is unique in that any agency, large or small, can participate. Some agencies send a couple of skiers, while others send many more. The New Lenox Community Park District began sending skiers to the event a decade ago and for the past three years has sent more than 100 teens, making it the largest participant. New Lenox Superintendent of Recreation Shirley Braglia sums up the success this way: "This trip has grown tremendously for us throughout the years. Our teens look forward to this trip and even block out the usual weekend in advance." The trip has become a tradition. "We are now seeing adult volunteer chaperones who attended this event when they were teens. It's a wonderful track record of continuing participation we enjoy," says Braglia. Riding this trend is Anthony DiCarlo, a past teen participant who has been a chaperone for New Lenox teens for the last three years. Having a group of ski trip "graduates" gives the district an enthusiastic core of volunteer adult chaperones to draw on. Chaperones can ski or snowboard at no cost. For many adults who enjoy winter sports, volunteering to chaperone creates a win-win situation for both the volunteer and the agency. And no wonder, because this is one all-nighter that is all about fun. Not only are teens treated to an all-night evening of skiing and snowboarding, but there is an entertainment area complete with a DJ and dance floor. Part of the evening's activities includes a fun outside bonfire for all participants to socialize and warm up, too. Food is also available.

Want to Go? The summer heat has just begun. But, just like every recreation planner, your thoughts are on your winter offerings. Why not offer teens at your agency an all night ski trip they won't forget? Specifics for the IPRA's Ail-Night Teen Ski for 2007 are still in the planning stages, but if you would like additional information on how your agency can become involved in this great teen special event, please contact Nicole Boer-Chesak, with the IPRA Teen Committee at 630-909-5122 or via e-mail at nicole_Doer@glendaleheights.org. Or, check the Teen Committee's postings on the IPRA Web site at www.ILipra.org.

Keeping it Safe and Fun

For an event this size, the safety of each teen is paramount. Throughout the event, which runs from approximately Friday evening at 10:30 p.m. to Saturday morning, at 5:00 a.m., the adult chaperones monitor the teens both inside the resort and on the slopes in order to ensure a safe experience. All chaperones wear armbands, and teens are coached to seek out chaperones whenever they need assistance. Parents of the teens who attend the Ail-Night Teen Ski find it reassuring that with a venue of participants close to 1,000, assistance for their child is never too far away.

For an additional safety measure, the New Lenox Park District has implemented the use of medical information cards for each participant. Each laminated card contains a teen's name, contact information, medical issues and emergency contact information. Each teen receives this card and must carry it all times during the skiing and snowboarding event. Although the teens, their parents, the chaperones and the resort staff hope there is no need for it, this medical card provides additional peace of mind if the teen is seriously injured while on the slopes.

Agency liability is always an issue, but especially so for higher risk activities, such as skiing and snowboarding. Agency liability

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is addressed through three separate liability waivers required by the host resort, IPRA and the individual local park district or recreation agency. All agencies must provide these signed documents for each participant and submit them on the day of the event. This procedural requirement greatly limits any liability concerns participating agencies may have.

Getting Teens Equipped and Transported to the All-Night Ski

Logistics are no barrier to participation, even if an agency has only a handful of teens that want to ski and even if skiers do not have their own equipment. The ski and snowboarding packages offered by the IPRA allow for those who do not have their own equipment to rent ski equipment and snowboards. A package is also available for those who have their own equipment, and, therefore, need only a lift ticket and transportation.

Normally, renting a bus or van to transport only a few skiers would be cost prohibitive, but this problem has been solved through the use of a co-op transportation plan wherein agencies share the cost of transportation with other neighboring districts. The Teen Committee encourages this plan. So if your agency would like to explore the co-op transportation option, call the IPRA's 2007 Teen Ski Trip Representative to find out what agencies in your area are bringing skiers to the event. Sharing costs allows for all agencies to offer the All-Night Teen Ski at a price that is attractive and doable for teen participants.

How Participating Benefits Your Agency

An additional benefit for agencies to participate in this event is the marketing opportunities it presents. This event can provide teen program coordinators with a unique database of participants for all future teen programs. For example, the New Lenox Park District has created a database distribution list using Teen Ski participants in order to market current and future teen programs via direct mail. New Lenox also captures the teen skier's e-mail addresses and is now able to increase its efforts to offer e-mail announcements to teens on upcoming events. Of course, all e-mail addresses are (and must be) obtained with the permission of the parents.

To further its teen target marketing efforts and to increase the input from teens in the district, the New Lenox Park District also plans on using its teen ski database to create membership for a Teen Council. The teens that participate in this program are very likely to want to play a more active role in decisions made by the park district on behalf of the teens. Further, the council will provide a wonderful sounding board for future teen programming decisions.

Many agencies that currently take part in the All-Night Teen Ski will agree that although participation in the event presents additional responsibilities and planning, the benefits it creates for teen programming are well worth the effort. The key is to create a win-win situation for both the participants and the agency.

Lauren A. Lotz is the teen program coordinator for the New Lenox Community Park District. In her role as teen coordinator, she draws on years of experience in marketing and promotions to offer successful and creative teen programming for the community of New Lenox. Lauren can be reached via email at llotz@newlenoxparks.org.

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