Chicopee Ski Club facts for kids

Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort is a fun place in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. It started way back on December 29, 1934, as a club for winter sports. It's a not-for-profit place, which means it uses its money to make the resort better for everyone.

Chicopee is built on a big area of land, about 165 acres (0.67 km²). In winter, it's a popular spot for skiing, snowboarding, and even snow tubing! The ski hill has a drop of about 200 feet (61 m) from top to bottom. On average, it gets about 133 centimetres (52 in) of snow each year, which is great for winter sports.

But Chicopee isn't just for winter! When the snow melts, it changes into a summer resort. You can enjoy activities like tennis, volleyball, and exciting ropes courses. There's also a 30 feet (9.1 m) rock-climbing wall and an 18-hole disc golf course. If you like biking, you'll find mountain bike trails and a cool BMX course called PINES Bridge Park.

Chicopee also runs special programs. They have summer and winter camps where you can learn new skills. They also host team-building events for groups.

A view from the bottom of the North ski run.

Ski Runs and Trails

Chicopee has 11 different ski runs for all skill levels. They are marked with special symbols to show how difficult they are:

• Green Circle: These are the easiest runs, perfect for beginners. Chicopee has 4 green runs, including "Little Foot" and "Kids Zone."
• Blue Square: These runs are a bit more challenging, for skiers and snowboarders who are getting better. There are 4 blue runs, like "North" and "Chicane."
• Black Diamond: These are the most difficult runs, for experienced riders. Chicopee has 4 black diamond runs, such as "Apple Bowl" and "Racer's Alley."
• Terrain Park: There's also a special area called the Terrain Park, where you can practice jumps and tricks.

Lifts to the Top

To get up the hill, Chicopee uses different types of lifts. There are three regular chairlifts and two magic carpets.

A view of the Chicopee North lift.

• Chairlifts: These lifts carry you up the mountain while you sit on a chair. Chicopee has chairlifts that can carry two, three, or even four people at once.
  • North Chair (4 Person Chairlift)
  • Apple Bowl (3 Person Chairlift)
  • Tenderfoot (2 Person Chairlift)
• Magic Carpets: These are like moving sidewalks, mostly used on the beginner hills to help new skiers and snowboarders get started easily.
  • Rabbit's Foot Carpet
  • Little Foot Carpet

Programs and Learning

Chicopee offers many programs during the winter season for people of all ages.

• Snow School: Here, you can take lessons to learn how to ski or snowboard, or improve your skills.
• Downhill Racing: If you're interested in racing, Chicopee has programs where you can learn how to race in events like Slalom or Giant Slalom. You can join weekly programs, or special camps during Christmas or March Break.
• Track-3 Program: This program helps people with disabilities enjoy skiing and snowboarding.