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Guilderland High School Ski Club Information
Guilderland High School Ski Club Information
Thank you for your interest in Guilderland High School Ski Club!
What is the Guilderland High School Ski Club? Guilderland High School Ski Club is a club for students who already know how to ski or board. Our mission is to get the maximum number of experienced skiers and boarders on as many mountains as time permits.
How does a student apply for membership? Parents and students should read this document and complete the membership/medical form on ParentSquare. In addition to the membership/medical form on ParentSquare, members must also pay a membership fee of $15 either by check to the School Store, or online (online fees apply). Online payments may be made at: https://guilderland-high-school-store.shoplightspeed.com/class-clubs/ski-club/. If you miss the deadline you can still be a part of the club, but officers need applications in so they can prepare sign-up lists for the first trip. Students cannot sign up for a trip until the forms are processed.
How many trips are there and when do they take place? There are typically six scheduled trips each year. All day trips take place on Saturdays. There is a site committee, open to all members, which will choose the resorts we visit. For most of the day trips the buses leave from the Guilderland High School front parking lot at 7 AM and return at 6 PM. To allow for travel to a more distant resort there may be one trip (still to be determined) when the buses leave at 6 AM and return at 7 PM. Students must be in the parking lot 15 minutes prior to departure to load equipment and board the bus. Departure will not be delayed for late students.
Students and advisors must be able to reach parents during the trip in case of an emergency or delay. Parents must be timely in picking up students. Students not picked up on time may not be allowed on future trips.
There is a weekend trip being planned. Students depart for the weekend trip from school on Friday afternoon. They are released from a part of their block 4 class to do so and are responsible for making up any work missed. We arrive back at the school on Sunday at 6 PM. Students must have attended at least one day trip this season and be in good behavioral standing at the school to be eligible for this trip. Payment in full for this trip will be due early to mid-January. Specific dates and more information will follow as they are made. Should the overnight trip not run, we will schedule a day trip for the Saturday of the weekend overnight trip.
How is the club funded? Operational costs are borne by the participants through the membership fee. This fee covers the costs to advisors and supplements chaperone costs. To maintain the club, there must be a minimum number of paid members. If the minimum membership is not attained, then the membership fee may be raised or the club cancelled for the year. Club fees will not be refunded to participants after the date of the first trip. The Guilderland Central School District provides its regular insurance coverage to all members.
What about equipment rentals? Students must have their own equipment on trips. Seasonal rentals from local ski shops might be an option for you to consider if you do not own equipment. Rentals at the mountains are not an alternative due to time constraints and because minors often are not allowed to rent without an adult’s signature.
How do I get information about trips? Dates of trips and costs will be posted on the ski club bulletin board outside of room 302 and on this web-site. Announcements are also sent out using Remind to students and on ParentSquare for parents.
How do students sign-up for trips? Students sign-up and pay for trips at the school store or pay online. Checks are made payable to Guilderland High School. Bus seats are on a first-come, first-served basis. Buses cannot run with many empty seats as buses cost $700 to $1,200 and the club cannot absorb losses of this size. For this reason, buses with less than 30 students will not go. Cancellations will be sent using Remind and ParentSquare. We usually make a decision on Wednesday afternoon whether the trip will run. Sign-ups start the Wednesday ten days before the trip and end the Wednesday immediately before the trip. We extend this as long as is practical to fill seats on buses that are going, but must make the decision as to whether a bus will go based on who has signed up by Wednesday.
Can parents go on trips? Parents are welcome to buy tickets at the adult group rate (usually a bit higher from the junior price but still a good discount), but will only be able to ride on the bus if seats are available. Students in lower grades or from other schools cannot ride the bus due to liability. Parents can ride the bus for the same seat price as students provided seats are available. Students will have priority for bus seating until the end of the day on the Wednesday before the trip. You can send an email to gigantek@guilderlandschools.net to let us know how many adult tickets, whether you want to ride the bus, and if you intend to go even if you have to drive. We can provide the adult group rate price and arrange for payment.
What happens if a trip is cancelled at the last minute? Last minute trip cancellations will be sent via Remind and ParentSquare.
What happens if a student signs up for a trip but then cannot or does not show up for that trip? If a student who has signed up for a trip cannot make the trip and informs the advisor, the student may receive a refund if the student finds a replacement. The club advisor may be able to help with this if there is a waiting list. If a student does not show up for a trip, they may forfeit the cost of the trip to the club for any costs incurred. Club decisions are made based on the number of students attending a given trip. No-shows affect the cost of seats and can affect the ticket price as well as the number of chaperone tickets that are compensated by the resort. In the case of a full bus it also results in leaving students behind who wanted to go on the trip. Exceptions would be made only in an emergency on a case by case basis.
How much do trips usually cost? Trip costs vary with the resort selected. The student is charged the cost of the group rate lift ticket plus the cost for transportation. The resort’s policy for providing compensatory tickets for chaperones, the distance to the resort, and the duration of the trip must be considered. Last year’s fees varied from $80 to $125. Students who already have a season ticket to a particular resort can attend the trip for the cost of the bus seat. You must make the advisors and school store aware of this when signing up.
How are students expected to behave on trips? Behavior on any field trip, including ski trips, falls under the Guilderland High School Code of Conduct which can be found in the student agenda book. Students are expected to comply with all rules and regulations of the Code. Additionally, there are other rules specific to ski trips that must be followed. These include following the rules of the mountain resort that we are using – usually found on the ticket backing. In addition, the following rules are in effect:
Condos and homes at the resorts are off limits!
Never ski or board alone. Ski or board with people of the same ability as yours.
Always ski or board in control. This means that you can stop at any given moment.
Stay in bounds at all times. Use only trails that are open.
If you are involved in an accident, do not leave the scene until help arrives and someone tells you that you can leave, or you both mutually agree that no one is hurt.
Buses depart in the morning STRICTLY at the departure time. We cannot wait for stragglers.
Buses depart at the stated departure time (usually 4 p.m.) sharp. A one dollar per minute late charge will be assessed any student not on the bus at the stated time.
Parents must arrive on time to pick up students or students will not be allowed on future trips.
Report all injuries to Mr. Gigante.
When weather conditions are extreme students will be required to report in for a frostbite check.
Failure to follow the rules will result in disciplinary action – usually a two trip suspension.
How about helmets? Many head injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. If you have one, then wear it. If you don’t own one consider purchasing one. They are warm, light-weight, and comfortable!
What can I expect to have happen in an emergency? Skiing can be a hazardous activity. In this club students ski with other students without direct adult supervision. In the event of an injury, your child would be taken to the first aid station as would any patron. Ski resorts have various arrangements for contacting trip leaders. As soon as the trip leader is aware of an injury they report to the first aid station to make whatever arrangements/decisions are necessary and we will attempt to contact home. The completed, signed medical release form will help emergency care to be provided. If an injury keeps a child from traveling home with the group, the parents are responsible for transportation home for the child.
For further information please contact Kristofer Gigante at gigantek@guilderlandschools.net.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kristofer Gigante - Club Advisor
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