Finding full-time employees to work at ski resorts has always been a challenge. For one thing, people don’t want to work for only a three- to four-month period during the winter. And, the pay’s not great either—usually slightly above minimum wage at best.

To cover their needs, most resorts turn to international recruiting and hire South Americans, South Africans, Aussies and New Zealanders—mainly college students who want a work-abroad experience during their summer break.

Wouldn’t it be great if resorts could find the folks they need closer to home? A couple of resorts in the East are trying to do just that. While international recruitment will always play a major role for resort jobs, Jiminy Peak and Ski Butternut in the Berkshire region in Massachusetts are trying to solve some of their workforce needs by hiring kids from inner city Boston. It saves on the hassle factor of trying to get foreigners on staff (i.e. no visa, no language barrier, and sometimes no housing problems).

“It would be easier—there would be less of a cultural shock. Recruitment would be a lot easier, too,” says Chad Jzyk, human resource manager at Jiminy Peak. And, the logistics of having employees nearby are better—“we’d only have to travel to Boston,” he adds.

So for the last couple of winters, Jiminy Peak and Ski Butternut have been working with YES, a Boston-based non-profit organization that works with 7 to 17-year-old inner city children from low-income families. Since about 1970, the YES (Youth Enrichment Services) organization has been introducing urban kids to the great outdoors, including getting them to learn to ski and snowboard. Currently, 15 ski resorts work with the group providing lift tickets and lessons for beginners. “YES teaches kids to dare to try something new, and in the process, gives them the confidence to believe they can achieve anything,” says Mary Williams, president of YES, whose alumni generate over 12,500 skier days per year, according to the group.

Once the kids got hooked on skiing, it was a natural step to get the kids into jobs at the resort. At Butternut, the YES recruits worked in rental, ski school, day care, and as lift operators. The resort hired about 24 different teens, paying them $8 per hour, for the past two winter seasons.

“They loved it,” says Einar Aas, ski school director/rental supervisor at Butternut, “they enjoyed these types of roles much more than the food service jobs.”

“City kids are more people oriented,” says Williams, who explains that YES also has a job-training program to help prepare teens for the work world. “We don’t just want to be a feeder for service sector jobs.” YES works with the teens on how to be polite to people, to make sure they smile while working, proper dress, ethics, and how to apply for jobs.

At a job fair in Boston last fall, one YES teen scored a job at Vail. Granted it was just stacking boxes and warehousing, but it was a great experience, according to Williams. “He would like to go back if he can get a higher level job,” she says.


Racial Tensions?
Of course, hiring kids from urban-based organizations like YES undoubtedly means that resorts may also be changing the look of their workforce. In fact, Aas recalls, “Mary told me I needed color in my school.” Soon after, Mary’s son Mark started to work in the ski school at Butternut and the relationship eventually evolved into hiring teens from the group.

As the racial mix of skiers/snowboarders has changed over the years, and continues to, it makes sense to more closely align the staff to reflect that change. But, does mixing a bit of diversity into the mostly white world of the ski industry pose potential problems?

“There was concern at first about whether there would be any racial tensions or misunderstandings from a cultural [standpoint],” says Jzyk. “But it hasn’t been an issue. It’s been great from the guest point of view and it’s been great to add that diversity,” he says, adding that the community has changed its mix in recent years so it is a natural progression.

Although Jiminy has only been able to hire a few YES teens, they would like to increase the number of students they hire. Limited housing and providing transportation to and from the resort is a challenge for Jiminy and other eastern resorts that have expressed interest. The Butternut connection works better because YES owns a lodge near Butternut where students can stay for the weekends while working at the resort.


Part-Timers To Full-Timers
Jiminy has also boosted its recruiting efforts with high schools in the community, which has worked well. “We fall short [on help] during midweek or holiday periods,” comments Jzyk.

Butternut is working with YES to try and get more full-time help from older kids who are finished with school or who have time to work during breaks while attending college. Some YES grads who learned to ski at Loon have gone back. “Four kids have gone there on their own and become instructors,” says Williams. “We’re reaching out to other resorts,” she adds.

With its highly successful outdoor and environmental experiential education programs, YES is helping to lower the student attrition rate among urban youth by offering unique opportunities for positive risk-taking and practical learning that is both problem-focused and real-world oriented.

And, that’s a good thing!