School Programs

Booking Requests

School programs are available weekdays from December - early April, excluding holidays. Our booking request form opens mid-September annually. 

Information collected using our booking request form will be used for the sole purpose of field trip communications. All contacts will be added to our mailing list. If experiencing issues with our web form or to be removed from the mailing list, please contact us directly.

Booking Confirmation

When your trip is confirmed, a Booking Confirmation will be emailed to all contacts provided. Upon receipt, please complete the following steps:

• Review your confirmation email and booking details. Carefully read our Booking Policies, including deposits, payments, changes, and cancellations. We require a flat rate deposit, see "Payment".
• Review our pre-trip information for teachers and parents. Show students what they can expect by sharing our shape of the day video.
• Guided lessons/tours only: Help us learn more about your group! Divide students into groups of approximately 10-12 based on skill level. Include boot sizes for ski rentals. Our handy sizing chart and skier levels cheat sheet are included with all confirmation emails. Ski groups and boot sizes must be sent 1 week in advance of your trip. Sizing is not required for snowshoe rentals. Any additional information about your students will be helpful, e.g. behavioural cues, adaptive needs, etc. 

Payment

Taxes apply to all products. Please email us if you require a breakdown of applicable taxes.

A quote will be provided with your confirmation email, and a hold placed on your trip date(s). To secure your booking, we require a flat rate deposit of $250 for groups of 10-15 students or $500 for 15+ students. We will issue a final invoice for the balance owing post-trip. 

Payments can be made by credit card, e-transfer, or cheque. Please contact us for credit card authorization form or e-transfer details. Cheques can be made payable to Whistler Sport Legacies, 1080 Legacy Way, Whistler, BC, V8E 0K3. Include your school name, trip date, and note deposit or final payment.

Changes & Cancellations

Change Of Date

If a scheduling conflict arises, please contact us as soon as possible.

Change To Group Size

Changes within 1 week of your trip are non-refundable. We understand that numbers can fluctuate, please contact us as soon as possible if group numbers change and we will do our best to provide a solution.

Cancellation

• More than 4 weeks' notice - no penalty, deposit refunded.
• Less than 4 weeks' notice - deposit is non-refundable.
• No Show – 100% of original booking value applies.

Cancellations made by WOP or as a result of district-wide bus cancellations or highway closures will not be penalized.

Contact us prior to your trip if you are considering cancelling due to extreme cold. Admin fees will apply if we are notified last minute / day of. WOP remains open during rain or cold weather events. Our staff are prepared with contingency plans to facilitate programs in variable weather. The Callaghan Valley can experience different warming/cooling patterns in comparison to Whistler/Squamish – check our Weather page for current conditions. Some schools choose to come despite the cold, therefore extreme cold cancellations are at the discretion of the school in consult with Whistler Olympic Park. In the event of extreme cold, we recommend following Cross Country BC’s cold weather policy for event cancellations. Temperature is what will be expected/measured at program start time, start time may be delayed if warming is predicted.

• -15°C cancel event for age 12 & under
• -20°C cancel event for age 13 & up

We understand public health orders have seen on-going change over the past few years. Refunds will be provided for cancellations if public health orders prohibit field trips, large group gatherings or travel between communities. Admin fees may apply.

Group Size & Instructor Ratios

Guided lessons/tours can accommodate approximately 20 - 80 students or 2 - 3 classes each day. Schools are welcome to book a self-guided experience if lessons/tours are at capacity.

For ski lessons, instructors are reserved on an 1:10 ratio (groups of 12 - 15 are accommodated in some circumstances). 

For snowshoe tours, we reserve approximately 2 guides per class. 

If a biathlon program has been requested, additional instructors/guides are reserved to supervise the biathlon range and equipment. 

In addition to paid staff, Whistler Olympic Park volunteers may assist on program. They can be identified by a green vest.

Teachers & Chaperones 

A chaperone is a teacher, educational assistant, support staff, parent or guardian. We ask that these individuals help us in the following areas:

• Assist students in the rental shop with equipment pick-up/return. Help students with boots/skis/snowshoes.
• Ski with a group and assist with supervision during on-snow activities, washroom breaks, etc. Those who are not skiing may walk on trails in designated areas only.
• Supervise students during lunch.

To ensure a student focused learning environment, chaperones need to have the same or greater skiing ability as their assigned student group.

Complimentary tickets and rentals are provided for teachers and chaperones based on a 1:10 ratio. Where possible, we will honour SD48 field trip ratios. A rate of $32 per person applies for each chaperone in excess of those ratios. Additional complimentary tickets/rentals can be requested for EA's and 1:1 support staff. We do not charge for chaperones who have season passes and/or their own ski equipment.

Determining Skier Skill Levels

Teachers, please share our handy sizing chart and skill levels cheat sheet with parents/guardians. This will be attached to your confirmation email.

• Never-Ever – Brand new to skiing or snow sports. Show me the way!
• Beginner – Student has cross-country skied at least 3 to 5 times with school or family, stays on beginner terrain – green trails/flats and low-grade hills.
• Low-Intermediate – Student has cross-country skied more than 5 times, classic or skate (but not both), or is a confident alpine skier. Prefers to stay on intermediate terrain green/blue trails, and moderate rolling hills.
• High-Intermediate – Students has cross-country skied many times, can classic and skate ski, skis in a Nordic club program or with family/friends regularly. Comfortable skiing on intermediate/advanced terrain blue/black trails with steeper hills. Let’s Race!

Intermediate and advanced alpine skiers often transition easily into cross-country skiing. If a child is an experienced alpine skier we recommend classifying them as a low-intermediate cross-country skier their first time out.

Accessibility & Inclusion

Contact us to discuss any accessibility needs and ways we can support. Adaptive equipment and leisure buddy support can be provided in cooperation with Whistler Adaptive, to integrate any participant into a ski lesson. Please contact Whistler Adaptive directly to make arrangements for leisure buddy support.

Lunch Program

Whistler Cooks Catering provides an optional lunch program. $8.50/student, includes choice of sandwich (ham & cheddar, turkey & gouda, or roast beef all on white house made sourdough, or falafel wrap), apple or orange, cookie, and hot chocolate. 

New this year, parents can order direct through Whistler Cooks - link provided with booking confirmation. Please note that school lunch orders are prepared off-site and delivered to the venue on the day of your field trip. The day lodge café cannot prepare items from this menu. 

Guests are welcome to purchase food and beverages on site at the café. Students must be accompanied by an adult. If planning to make purchases at the café, we kindly ask for advance notice to help manage volume and minimize wait times during your trip.

What to Wear/Bring

Outerwear

Light snow pants
Warm jacket
2 (light) pairs of gloves or mittens
A (light) toque
Waterproof layer for rainy/snowy days

Layers

Dress for the weather, with comfortable clothing, and layers of synthetic or wool blends – allows moisture and sweat to evaporate and adjust the temperature as the body warms up and cools down while skiing.
Avoid cotton (including jeans), it absorbs and holds moisture.

Personal Items

Sunglasses
Sunscreen
A full water bottle, snacks, and lunch
Personal medicine
DO NOT bring valuables.
Participants can bring their cross-country ski gear – program fees help cover instructional costs and will not be reduced for those with personal gear.

Arrival & Departure

All vehicles must stop at the gate on arrival. Please provide a final head count at the gate - this will be communicated to our ski school team.

Schools participating in a lesson or tour proceed to Parking Lot 3 (signs for “P3”). Buses will drop students off at the Cross Country building. Our coaches will be outside waiting for you! Wait on the bus, a staff member will come to greet you. Students will meet their instructor(s) as they step off the bus. Drivers can then proceed to park in one of our available lots.

Schools participating in a self-guided program proceed to the bus loop at the south end of parking lot 3. Wait on the bus, a staff member will come to greet you. You will receive directions for ticket and rental pick-up.

Lesson/tour programs run from 9:30 am – 1:30 pm or 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. You are welcome to continue skiing or snowshoeing on your own after your program ends. If you choose to continue skiing after your program, the school must ensure all rental equipment is returned to the rental shop before departure. The park closes at 4:30 pm. Arrival/departure times will also be confirmed with self-guided groups to avoid confusion at the gate and rental shop upon arrival.

About Biathlon

Biathlon is a winter Olympic sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting. Our traditional program uses .22 calibre rifles tethered down for safety. New This Year: Schools can now choose electronic biathlon—an alternative, no-ammunition option suitable for ages 8 and up. Electronic equipment can be set up indoors or outdoors. 

Safety is our top priority. Our biathlon programs follow a strict safety plan, and all staff complete annual training. The range is supervised by licensed safety officers and is fully approved by the RCMP and the International Biathlon Union. There is zero tolerance for horseplay on the range.

If needed for trip approval, we can provide a full Biathlon Safety Policy.

About Snow Luge

A safe, fun introduction to the fastest sport on ice, snow luge—also known as natural luge—offers a beginner-friendly way for students to experience the thrill of luge in a controlled environment. Using specially designed sleds on snow (not ice), this slower version of the Olympic sport is perfect for school groups.

Snow luges sessions are held in the toboggan area at Whistler Olympic Park and led by a qualified luge coach. Students learn about equipment, body control, and steering through engaging on-snow drills. Each session is followed by a snowshoe tour. 

We can facilitate approximately 1 class per 1.5 hour snow luge session. For two classes, students will rotate through snow luge and snowshoe activities. All luge equipment provided. Students must bring their own snow sports helmet. 

For on ice luge, bobsled, or skeleton activities and field trips, please contact our colleagues at the Whistler Sliding Centre track. Ask about the BC Luge School Luge Support Program - BC Luge is committed to making the sport of luge accessible to students in the Sea to Sky Corridor. To help schools experience luge at the Whistler Sliding Centre, BC Luge will provide financial support to offset the costs of field trips, $100-$200 per class.

Curriculum Ties

Nordic sports are enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, and skiing involves all major muscle groups, building balance, strength, and endurance. Our school programs combine traditional cross-country ski drills with games and experiential learning on the trail to create a learning environment that is fun and functional. With a focus on developing physical literacy through snow literacy - balance, gliding, speed and body control, decision-making, safety, and learning through play - we strive to help participants gain competence, confidence, and motivation to move and be active for life.

Ski Play & Physical Literacy

Our ski playground is a designated area with terrain features that encourage learning to ski naturally. Click here to see it in action.

"Physical Literacy & Its Relevance to Skiers", article by Michelle Deacon, NCCP CCI and CC Coach Developer, CANSI Level III Cross Country Ski Instructor.