Hamtramck High School Outdoor Adventure Club, Hamtramck, MI

A $1,000 grant subsidized transportation to Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville, MI, provided by B.O.A.T. (Bus for Outdoor Access and Teaching), a Milwaukee-based nonprofit. In total, 16 students, six teachers, plus individuals from local outdoor-oriented nonprofits departed from Hamtramck High School for a three-day trip with two days on snow. They skied and rode each day from first tracks until the lifts stopped running.

The students learned to ski and ride at Mount Brighton, Brighton, MI, through SOS Outreach, a nonprofit that introduces snowsports to young people who would not otherwise have the means to learn.

Hamtramck High School hosts a diverse student body – many for whom English is a second language – representing a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds. Many students at the school qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches.

This trip took place during Ramadan, which meant many of the students were fasting. Part of the grant supported an on-site medical team, which – in partnership with the Crystal Mountain Ski Patrol – monitored fasting students to ensure they had what they needed to safely hit the slopes all day, while honoring their religious practices.

This is the club’s fourth trip to Crystal Mountain and the second with support from an ASEA-CEF grant. Many participants have been inspired to work outdoors or advocate for outdoor education after learning to ski and ride.