The skills that a new employee provides a ski area from the first day are probably more important in the present far-from-rosy economic climate than a string of alphabetic degrees. This is the philosophy that Wenatchee Valley College projected in its twoyear program in ski area management. The school’s administration wants its students to know the principles of management, but they want the students to be able to get a job so they can apply those principles.
The ski area management course in this central Washington college is not yet a big thing (about 17 will be enrolled this year), but it is only in its third year. It’s an outgrowth of a ski instruction course which William J. Penhallegon instituted 12 years ago. He is chairman of the college’s Division of Physical Education and a long-time participant and teacher of skiing.
A practical laboratory is essential for such a course and Penhallegon has three. The main one is Mission Ridge ski area, perched on a mountain barrier a few miles above town. Just down the road is Squilchuck Ski Bowl, a Washington State Parks rope tow venture which the students are operating under a cooperative agreement through Mission Ridge management. New this year is Echo Valley, near Lake Chelan to the north. The ski club area has a Pomalift, three rope tows and a snack bar. Wenatchee Valley students will supply the amangement and operating personnel for this also.
Walt Hampton is a veteran ski area manager who runs Mission Ridge, a four-lift area at which the students spend most of their learning time. He is not quite so enthusiastic as Penhallegon, but his considered opinion is, “The program benefits us.”
The benefits are not so much from the help the students provide, but the intangible step toward a greater professionalism in the industry. Try as they may, says Hampton, having students on the job does detract from production as the various operations are explained on the job. This takes the time of full-time paid employees.
Hampton believes the students are not schooled enough in the hardheaded business approach to skiing. “If you spend a dollar, you have to make back a dollar, at least. But I do think there are advantages and benefits to this management course.”
Even with these reservations, Hampton just added one of the Wenatchee Valley grqaduates to this small year round staff.
The college degree is that of an associate in applied arts with a minimum of 93 credits required. Required business courses include: principles of salesmanship, management, advertising personnel management, composition, business law, accounting and bookkeeping and public speaking. Other required courses are surveying and outdoor recreation as well as first aid and prevention of athletic injuries.
The fall seminar involves prepping the ski area for winter operations, placing the equipment in good operating condition, ready to go. Then, during the winter quarter the management students work on the lifts, drive packing equipment, work with the ski patrol and mountain rescue teams. They spend time, too, in the office, learning the rudiments of ticket control and ticket selling. They receive no pay for these activities.
Students do earn money during their off-class times working the two student-run areas at Squilchuck at Echo Valley (at $2 an hour). And they earn the going wage at Mission Ridge if they work on the crew during vacation periods.
The benefit of all this is that on the course’s completion, the student not only has a diploma, but his advisor can write a recommendatory letter to a ski area manager telling him that the student can do the job — knowing how and when to pack, how to sell tickets, keep records, load chairs and maintain equipment. Penhallegon encourages students to take electives that will help them, such as a basic ourse in AC-DC electricity, dendrology and small engine repair.
Tuition is $83 per quarter (double that for out-of-state), but students can more than earn back their tuition, at least during winter quarter if they work weekends and holidays in the areas. Most student recruitment has been by word of mouth. This fall, students are enrolled from Canada, Garmisch, West Germany, New York, Minnesota and California in addition to Washington. Five are returnees and 12 are new; four are four-year college graduates who are taking the two-year management degree.
Colleges Offering Recreation Programs With Ski Area Management Options
- Capilano College, 2055 Purcell Way, N. Vancouver, B.C. V7J 3H5. A two-year degree program in the Outdoor Recreation Division includes second year courses directed at ski area operation. Some training at a ski area.
- Eastern Washington State College, Cheney, Wash. 99004. A four-year degree program with 60 credit hours in Commercial Recreation. A three-month required internship may be spent at a ski area.
- Franklin Pierce College, Rindge, N.H. 03461. A four-year Recreational Development program may include internship at a ski area as an option.
- Johnson State College, Johnson, Vt. 05656. A four-year B.S. degree in Recreation Facilities Management with work experience at a ski area may be designed to cover ski topics.
- Kelsey Institute, PO. Box 1520, Saskatoon, Sask. S7K 3R5. A two-year program in Recreation Technology covers some topics related to ski areas.
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich. 48824. A four year program leading to a B.S. degree in the Department of Park and Recreation Resources is being introduced this year. It includes internship at a commercial recoreation enterprise. A graduate degree program is also offered in this department.
- University of Vermont, Burlington, Vt. 05401. A four-year program in Private Recreation Management and Tourism includes a ski area management course and optional seminars and internship programs in this field. An M.S. degree in planning is also available.
- University of Wisconsin, River Falls, Wi. 54022. A four-year degree program is offered in the Park and Land Management program with an option in recreation. Student training can be provided at nearby ski areas.
- University of Nevada, Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, Nev. 89109. In the four-year B.A. degree Hotel Management studies, one course is offered in Ski Resort Management.
Colleges Offering Ski Area Management Programs
- Colorado Mountain College, Leadville, Colo. 80415. A two-year program offering a certificate in ski area technology. Emphasis is on mountain operation with courses in blueprint reading, welding, vehicle maintenance, electricity, and ski area planning. Students work at Ski Cooper area.
- Gogebic Community College, Ironwood, Mich. 49938. A two-year associate degree program in ski hill management. Program covers business, food service, ski hill operations and design, public relations. Students work at the college ski area.
- Humber College, P. O. Box 1900, Rexdale, Ont. M9W 5L7. A one-and-a-half year program with two semesters of classroom study and one semester of work at a ski area. Courses include snowmaking and grooming, ski school management, accounting, retailing methods, trail cutting and erosion procedures, publicity and marketing. A diploma is given upon completion.
- Lyndon State College, Lyndonville, Vt. 05851. The four-year program leading to a A.S. degree includes work experience at Burke Mountain and one year of study at Vermont Technical College in addition to study at Lyndon State. Subjects covered include fiscal planning, ski area design, operation and maintenance, quantity foods, retail shop operation. (See text for additional description.)
- Wenatchee Valley College, 1300 Fifth St., Wenatchee, Wash. 98801. A two-year program with work-training sessions at Mission Rdoge Ski area. Included are courses in salesmanship, ski instruction, surveying, first aid and safety, composition, business law and public speaking. Associate in Applied Arts degree. (See text for additional information.)
