Children’s School Manual

Welcome to Children’s Instruction at Big Sky Mountain Sports

Welcome to the Big Sky Mountain Sports School team.
As a children’s instructor, you play a vital role in creating safe, memorable, and inspiring mountain experiences.

Our mission: Inspire a lifelong passion for the mountain experience.
Our guest promise: “Unlock new potential on the mountain.”
You play a central role in bringing these to life.

Everything we do follows the order of importance:

Safety — protect our students and set them up for success.
Fun — create excitement, comfort, and a positive connection to the mountain.
Learning — build skills, confidence, and a lifelong love for snowsports.

1. Safety First

Without safety, there is no fun and no learning. It is the foundation of every decision we make.

Your Responsibilities

Know and follow the NSAA Responsibility Code and Big Sky Mountain Sports safety procedures.
Constantly assess terrain, weather, snow conditions, and student ability.
Choose terrain appropriate for the least experienced student in your group.
Keep visual contact and count your students frequently
AVOID LOSING CHILDREN!! If a child is missing, contact the Mountain Sports School office AND your supervisor immediately.
Separation Plan (Examples)
- Mini Camp: Student stays in place if they lose visual of instructor.
- Ski Camp (levels 3+): Choose one of three options: the student returns to the assigned flag in the Kids Bowl; OR goes to the bottom of the lift the group is using; OR stays put and waits safely.
Teach and model safe lift loading/unloading procedures.
Be mindful of fatigue, cold exposure, and altitude effects.
Encourage hydration and restroom breaks.

If a Student Becomes Lost

Stop the group in a safe place.
Call your supervisor or the Mountain Sports office immediately.
Do not leave the rest of your group unattended.

Gear & Equipment

Check each child’s helmet fit, goggles, gloves, and clothing before leaving lineup.
Secure all loose gear and ensure lift passes are accessible.
Teach kids to carry their own equipment safely.

⚠️Even when every precaution has been taken, if a student perceives danger, that fear alone can become a risk factor. When students do not feel safe, their attention shifts away from learning, their bodies tense, and their movements become rigid—all of which increase the likelihood of accidents.

2. Fun: Creating Joy & Comfort

Children learn best when they feel safe and they’re having fun.
Your energy and attitude set the tone for their entire experience.

Build Trust

Start each day with names, introductions, and a fun warm-up game.
Use age appropriate language — simple, positive, and encouraging.
Celebrate effort and progress, not perfection.
Balance group structure with creativity and laughter.

Set the Scene for Success

Choose terrain that matches the group’s skill level so everyone feels successful.
Encourage exploration, not competition.
Recognize when students are tired or cold — short breaks prevent meltdowns.
Help students feel comfortable with you and with each other; a sense of belonging keeps them engaged.

Lunch & Breaks

Coordinate with the dining area and keep your group together.
Watch for allergies and ensure students clean up their space.
“No pee, no ski!” — check restroom needs before each session. During lunch, only mini camp age students should use the sunken lobby bathroom. All other students should go to the Yellowstone Conference Center.
A 5-10 minute rest or snack break can turn a hard day into a great one.
During breaks, encourage them to clean up—leave the area better than you found it.

3. Learning: Building Skills & Confidence

Our teaching goal is not just skill development — it’s creating confident, independent young mountain athletes.

Technique > Terrain
Our philosophy: mastering sound technique creates freedom across terrain. Pushing children onto terrain they’re not ready for (“over-terraining”) damages confidence and stunts learning. Stress skill mastery first; terrain comes later.

Approach

Follow the Mountain Sports progression levels
Use a mix of demonstration, guided practice, and positive feedback.
Encourage questions — curiosity is a sign of engagement.
Focus on one or two key skills per session; repetition builds mastery.
At the end of the lesson, review what was learned and preview what’s next.

Report Cards

Complete every child’s digital report card by 4:00 pm. These will be emailed to parents at 5pm.
- from the time you start editing the report card, you have 1 hour to complete it.
- Add a personal comment if you like (optional, but impactful).
- this should not take more than 10 minutes for your entire group.
The “Relive Your Day” email feature will be sent to parents combined with the digital report card.
Highlight key accomplishments and include a personal note — parents love it.
Review the report with the student and parent at pickup; celebrate the progress.

Parent Conversations

Speak with confidence about student progress.
If a parent asks for harder terrain or faster advancement, explain that proper skill development ensures safety and long-term growth. When in doubt, refer them to a supervisor.
Thank parents for trusting us — they’re partners in their child’s journey.

4. Your Daily Flow

Morning

9:15 am — Instructor briefing, Scan you pass and attached your flaik tag.
9:30 am — Meet students, introductions, warm-up, create class lists.
Mid-morning — Short rest, hydration check.

Midday

12:00 pm — Lunch (for full-day programs).
Restroom and gear checks before heading back out.

Afternoon

1:00–3:15 pm — Continue lessons, adjust groupings if needed.
3:15–3:30 pm — For levels 3+, lessons conclude with a final gondola run. Trackers are removed at the top of the Kids Bowl and dropped into the bin. If you will be late, call your supervisor immediately. End-of-day wrap-up, collect flaik tags, report cards, parent conversations.

(This schedule may vary slightly by program; the supervisors will communicate any changes at briefing.)

Lesson Times

Morning (Mini-Camp, Mini Riders, Small Fry): 9:30 am–12:00 pm
Afternoon (Mini-Camp, Mini Riders): 1:00 pm–3:30 pm
Full Day (Mini-Camp, Mini Riders, Ski Camp, Snowboard Camp): 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Small Fry Try: Session times 10:00–10:45 am, 11:00–11:45 am, 12:15–1:00 pm

We’re All In — One Team

At Big Sky Mountain Sports, we’re more than instructors. We are guides, coaches, creators of possibility. We are bold, curious, generous—and most of all, we believe in the potential in every child we teach.
Thank you for being the difference. Let’s make this season memorable. Let’s inspire discovery, transform lives, and help our guests unlock new potential on the mountain.