Child care: The Cricket Club Nursery (802-496-3551 ext. 20) offers infant care for children 6 weeks to 18 months for $60 for a full day, $45 for a half day, $115 for two days. Child care for children ages 18 months to 6 years costs $55 for a full day and $40 for a half day, $105 for two days.

The Ski and Play introduction to skiing program is $70 for a full day with lunch and two lessons, $135 for two days. A half day with one ski lesson is $50. Children ready for more advanced skiing should register in the lesson programs (see below). The nursery takes no reservations, but if you check your child into the nursery on Friday and pay for two days, you’re guaranteed a spot on Saturday. Or, if you call at 8:15 a.m. and say you’re coming, they’ll hold a spot for your kid.

Children’s lessons: Programs run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. A full day is $80 with lunch; half day is $40, without lunch. Lift ticket is an additional $15. Mad River offers a number of options for kids and teens: Rockin’ Robins is for kids ages 4–12 who are learning to ski for the first time; class size is limited to three. Chipmunks is for ages 4–7 who have had some ski experience and are able to ride lifts. Kids 7 and older can chose from Panthers, Development Team, Freestyle Team, Telemark Team and Junior Race Program.

Private lessons for kids 3–12 cost $40 per hour, $25 for each additional child; $70 for two hours, $35 for each additional child. Weekdays, the lack of volume means that kids' groups lessons are offered as privates at weekend junior group rates.

Photographed in the Mad River Valley at Mad River Glen by T.J. Greenwood