Imagine planning a weekly play-date for 1,001 children at multiple locations. And then doing it over and over again for seven more weeks. It’s a challenge that Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union (BRSU) takes on willingly to guarantee that every student has access to the incredible opportunities made available to them in a winter activity program known locally as JISP.
The Junior Instructional Skiing Program (JISP) was founded some 70 years ago by the Bromley Outing Club. The idea was to provide the children of Southern Vermont with an opportunity to learn how to ski and appreciate winter sports opportunities in Vermont. Over the years JISP evolved to include snowboarding on the mountain, cross-country skiing at Wild Wings Ski Touring Center and ice skating at Riley Rink. But attendance in recent years has been falling.
“After the pandemic, JISP participation had dropped to as low as 25-30% at some of our schools,” says BRSU Superintendent Randi Lowe. “Unless we could find a way to make JISP available for all our students, we would need to end the program. The good news is that teachers, staff, parents, and local community organizations have all stepped up to give us a chance to save JISP. And the kids are thrilled.”
The game-changing decision by the BRSU to salvage its participation in JISP was to bring the program within the confines of the official academic day. The past practice was to end school early on JISP days and provide limited transportation to the winter sports venues. As soon as the kids left school, the school day was over for the BRSU. And more and more of the children simply went home.
Starting in 2024, JISP becomes an included part of educational programming at the BRSU schools. Ensuring that every student continues the day in some fun and engaging way, teachers and staff join students in the various off-campus activities. Transportation plans expanded to ensure everyone can get to their selected activity and return to school in time for dismissal home.
Equally important, expanding the number of programming activities for kids in 2024 opens up JISP to even more partners beyond winter sports. New offerings for this year include: The Southern Vermont Arts Center providing instruction in theater and arts classes; Merck Forest and Farmland opening its acreage for hiking and exploring nature; and Greater Northshire Access Television (GNAT) utilizing its studio for digital video training.
JISP activities come with a cost and that has limited participation for some students in the past. To address this concern, participating organizations have expanded scholarship programs and made special offers available. Local organizations, such as the Stratton Foundation, made financial contributions to fund students in need. Families were asked to pay what they could.
“I’m so proud of the way our local community has rallied around our kids,” Lowe says. “The first two weeks have gone better than we could have possibly imagined.”
And the proof is on the faces of the children and the adults connected with JISP 2024. BRSU Director of Special Education Caitlin Cavagnino, for example, collaborated with the BART Center at Bromley Mountain to ensure those with divergent needs have full access to snow skiing.
“I can tell you that it literally made me teary to see some of our most developmentally complex children heading down the mountain, happy as can be. Students who were hesitant in week one were gleefully participating in week two.” says Lowe. “So, so awesome.”
One benefit of JISP is the creation of a community. Students make new friends from other schools. The older kids mentor the younger ones. Teachers and students connect in new ways that will build stronger bonds when back in the classroom. The learning and relationships carry over directly to their traditional school experience.
At the Riley Ice Skating Rink, for example, a few of the English Language Learning (ELL) students put on skates for the first time. There were some spills at first, but with the help of fellow students and a never-give-up attitude, by the end of the session they’d gotten their ice legs.
Offering multiple JISP choices and moving children and equipment seamlessly from school to remote locations requires extensive planning and attention to detail. At command central sits Lowe’s assistant Celeste Keel, who oversees all the logistics and makes all the trains run on time. “She worked closely with all the schools on communication with families,” says Lowe. “Kudos for Celeste and our BRSU Principals for pulling this program together.”
The early feedback on the new and improved JISP looks good. On the morning following the first day of the program, the most used adjective by students young and old was “awesome!"
One Administrative Assistant at a BRSU school reported that the students were smiling and already looking forward to next week. “And just as important,” she added with a grin, “we didn’t lose anyone!”
Currier little ones ready to ski at Bromley on their JISP Day.
MEMS teacher Michael Schaeffer with a student on the lift at Bromley on JISP Day. (1).heic
Mettawee student skates on the ice at Riley Rink on her JISP Day.
BRSU students in the art studio of the Southern Vermont Art Center on their JISP Day.
Flood Brook students check out cross-country skiing at Wild Wings Touring Center in Peru.
Dorset School students, skis, and snowboards head up the mountain to Bromley on the first day of JISP 2024.
Sunderland students line up to ski at Bromley on their JISP Day.