A Visit from the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences

This year, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, an independent school
serving 6th through 12th grade in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighbourhood,
started a cross-country ski club. Led by Jordan Goldwarg, a teacher at SAAS
and a former skier and coach at Williams College, and Aleisha Smith, also a
teacher at SAAS, the club aims to introduce kids to the sport of skiing with
the hope that they will eventually get involved in competitive racing.

On February 11-13, the club went on its inaugural trip to the Methow. This
trip represented the culmination of the first year of the club, and six
students (three from 6th grade and three from 10th) made the trek over the
mountains to experience all that the Methow has to offer.

While in the Valley, the group checked out the weekend's biathlon races,
skied with Methow Olympic Development Project athlete Sam Naney, explored
many of the trails at Sun Mountain Lodge, completed a time trial, and
checked out the town of Winthrop. For many of the kids, it was a thrill to
immerse themselves in winter for the first time in their lives. They were
amazed by the range of trails in the Valley, and enjoyed first-time
experiences like walking across a frozen lake.

The SAAS students are eager to return to the Valley, and we hope that this
is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership between SAAS and the
people of the Methow!