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CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN RESORT

301 Resort Dr., Tannersville, PA
570-629-1661

Kids under 13 can join Snowclub Kids Instruction for basic lessons to get up on skis or snowboards. The club has its own dedicated location at Camelback Adventure Basecamp. With separate rentals and ticketing from the rest of your skiers, you can easily drop the kids off for a half-day of lessons. Lessons for ages 4-12 (call for pricing) include a lift ticket, equipment rental and a 2 1/2 hour lesson. There are also adult and private lessons. One-hour private lessons for ages 4 and up are also available. If you stay overnight at the property, you’ll want to take advantage of the pools and hot tubs at Aquatopia. The kids can head to the arcade, VR experience, rock walls and escape rooms before you all end the day at the Trails End Pub & Grille, which has mountain views from the base of the Nine Mile ski slope.

CAMPGAW MOUNTAIN

200 Campgaw Rd., Mahwah
201-327-7800

Campgaw’s Cruisers is a three-week program (one 75-minute lesson per week) for 4- to 6-year-old skiers (call for pricing) designed to get kids comfortable on the slopes, with hot cocoa at the end. Mountain Masters is a four-week program (one 90-minute lesson a week) geared to anyone age 7 and up. Skiers will be placed in a small group based on ability (even advanced skiers can hone new skills). A variety of one-day lesson options are available for anyone over age 4. Reservations are recommended in advance for group or private sessions. Check the website for lesson pricing and note that there are additional costs for rentals. Campgaw also offers an adaptive program for adults and children with developmental disabilities or visual impairment. The 90-minute lessons start at $129 and rentals are an extra fee.

HOLIDAY MOUNTAIN

99 Holiday Mountain Rd., Monticello, NY

This small and affordable spot is great if your kids get

overwhelmed by bigger places or if you’re trying to see if they’ll enjoy the experience before going all in. Private lessons start at age 3 1/2, and group lessons are offered for ages 8 and up. Group lessons are $40, while private lessons are $90 or a semi-private lesson (for two skiers) is $125. Beginner packages, that include lift fees, ski rentals and a group lesson, start at $70. Make it an overnight and stay at the nearby Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark, New York’s biggest indoor waterpark.

HUNTER MOUNTAIN

64 Klein Ave., Hunter, NY
518-263-4223

Just two hours north of New York City, this Catskill mountain is a popular choice for skiers of all ages. Book a private full day ski or snowboard lesson for your group (1-4 people) for $650 (gear is a separate rental charge) and make the most of your time on the mountain. Group half-day lessons for kids age 5-6 or 7-14 start at $100, with instructors teaching new techniques for mastering mountain terrain. Looking to really test your skills? New York has more than 50 ski resorts. Learn all about the options at iskiny.com.

JACK FROST SKI RESORT

434 Jack Frost Mountain Rd., White Haven, PA
570-443-8425

Ready to get off the bunny slopes and tackle more technical terrain? The instructors at the Ski & Ride school specialize in helping you achieve your goals no matter your skill level. Kids ages 5-6 can take private lessons, while group ski and snowboard classes are available for ages 7-12. If your kids are comfortable on skis and have always wanted to try gate racing (as seen at the Olympics), ages 5-15 can join the race team on weekends in December through February. Call for pricing.

MOUNT PETER

51 Old Mt. Peter Rd., Warwick, NY
845-986-4940

The amazing thing about this resort is not just that it’s close to New Jersey (only an hour from the George Washington Bridge), but that it has a free beginner ski and snowboard school. Most spots require a lift ticket and a lesson fee but at Mount Peter, beginner lessons are free for ages 6 and up once you buy an all-day lift ticket. If you know how to ski, but want to get better, lessons for ages 3 and up start at $110. Don’t forget to hit up Pete’s Pub for some après-ski fun, with hot and cold drinks and chili and soups to warm you up after a day in the snow.

MOUNTAIN CREEK

200 Rte. 94, Vernon
973-827-2000

This four-season resort has zip lines, mountain bike trails and a waterpark in warmer weather, but is all about skiing in the winter. With more than 167 skiable areas and 1,000 vertical feet across four peaks, this is also one of New Jersey’s best places to strap on skis. New this year for ages 4-15 is Kids Camp which includes a lift ticket, rentals and a two-hour lesson for beginner skiers. Go Skiing and Snowboarding packages are perfect for beginners age 7 and up who have a little familiarity with the slopes. You’ll get a full-day lift ticket, equipment rentals and access to the Terrain Based Learning skills area, where you can take self-guided lessons with instructors nearby. Not sure about skis? Try the Sno-Go rentals, which are like a combination of bikes and skis together and give newbies more stability. Private lessons are also available. Call for pricing.

SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN

401 Hollow Rd., East Stroudsburg, PA
570-421-7231

Try the beginner ski package ($125-147), which includes a lift ticket, complete ski rental and a first-timer group lesson. Skiwee for ages 4-6 has a small instructor-to-student ratio and a special learning area called the Honey Bowl, which boasts a surface lift to practice on before they move up to the Mountain Cruiser level (ages 7-15). Sessions start at $145. If your 3-year-old is ready to ride, sign up for a one-hour private SkiBaby or Mommy/Daddy & Me class ($100).