Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Education Association

Dear Community Member,

Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Education Association has chosen to highlight one of its most celebrated partnerships and educational cornerstones of our winter programming: the Winter Discovery Center. The Discovery Center, or simply, the Yurt, at Tahoe XC is home to Sierra Watershed Education Partnership’s Winter Discovery Program. Last year, SWEP welcomed 428 participants to the Winter Discovery Program, and is expected to bring even more this upcoming season. 

TCCSEA provides ski equipment and trail passes for all participants and educators at no charge. Every year, over the course of 10-weeks, TCCSEA contracts with SWEP to bring outstanding, hands-on science curriculum to the Yurt. On a typical day, students in the 3rd, 4th or 5th grade and their instructors arrive at the lodge, pick-up their equipment (boots, skis, and poles) from the rental shop and head over to the Yurt. Students begin their day with a 1.5-hour lesson, specific to their grade level and based on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards). After their lesson, students, teachers, and parent volunteers embark on self-guided cross-country ski touring where they bring sport and science to life. 

The Winter Wildlands Alliance has named the Winter Discovery Program a certified SnowSchool site. TCCSEA is honored to provide this opportunity for students to learn outdoors in real time. TCCSEA is committed to our partnership with SWEP and the growth of Winter Discovery Center programming. Historically, registration for this program fills up in less than 1 hour. The cost of the Winter Discovery Program each year is $9,000. TCCSEA relies on donations, grants, and fundraising events to bring this dynamic curriculum to Tahoe XC.

The Winter Discovery Center fosters a healthy foundation of outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship for the posterity of our community. Supporting TCCSEA means supporting our mission: to provide affordable access to outdoor education and year-round recreation, building enduring connections between community and nature. We believe that SWEP’s commitment to connecting students with Tahoe’s ecology and watershed is an invaluable investment in the future of Lake Tahoe. 

This giving season, please consider donating to TCCSEA. In doing so, you are empowering us to enhance our community,  and are directly supporting local youth. Our goal is to raise $9000 through this year’s giving campaign and it is our intention to dedicate one yearly ‘ask’ to keep this vital partnership alive. Thank you for your support and for being a part of the amazing community we, together, have created. 

Sincerely, 

Tahoe Cross-Country Ski Education Association