SnowSchool Grows Up!
Program alumni share SnowSchool’s lasting influence on their lives and early careers
Ashley Phillips, SWEP Project Director works with SnowSchool students outside the Winter Discovery Center Yurt. Photo courtesy of SWEP
From Kerry McClay, National SnowSchool Director (12/6/24)
As Winter Wildlands Alliance’s National SnowSchool program celebrates its 25th season, we’re reflecting on the profound impact it’s had over the years. Since its inception, SnowSchool has reached over 500,000 students across dozens of communities, and many of those students are now spreading the impact far and wide.
With so many former students now grown— pursuing college, careers, and their own outdoor adventures—we’ve begun collecting stories about the accomplishments of our former SnowSchool kids. In this first installment of “SnowSchool Grows Up,” I caught up with two former students at our longtime SnowSchool site in Tahoe City, California, hosted by Sierra Watershed Education Partnerships (also known locally as the Winter Discovery Center Yurt). Meet Koson Verkler and Lily Murnane. They are both in their final years of college, have already amassed amazing accolades, and are both dreaming big!
Photo credit Koson Verkler
Photo credit Koson Verkler
Koson Verkler
Koson Verkler is a senior at the University of Montana, majoring in Forestry with a minor in fire science and management. Growing up in North Lake Tahoe, Koson participated in SnowSchool programs at the Winter Discovery Center during his elementary and middle school years.
“I think of that as the start of my science career,” said Verkler. “It was my first immersion in science based education and I remember learning about hydrology and snow and how the experience coincided with the drought in Tahoe. We were learning about the environment, in the environment.”
Koson loves backpacking, Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, road biking, hiking, camping and wanted to choose a career path that would always allow him to be outside. Koson credits his love for the outdoors with being immersed in nature at a young age by his parents and the adults in his life. He emphasized the importance of education programs like SnowSchool in remove barriers to outdoor exploration.
“On those days everyone became an outdoorsy person because they had everything we needed from gear to clothing”.
Koson found his way to The University of Montana and Forestry after traveling to campus and meeting with a family friend and science professor on campus.
For his summer job, Koson works with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation as a lead member of the Helitack crew out of Missoula. Now in his 3rd season as a crew member, his team mostly focuses on quickly responding to new fires in Western Montana. He recently received an Incident Commander Type 5 certification and hopes this will open doors and continue to improve his skills and experience. Looking ahead, Koson plans to continue working in fire management, with an eye toward graduate school in ecology.
“I think I’ll be in fire for a few more years, but then I think it would be awesome to go back to graduate school, maybe in ecology.”
Koson has keen interest in pro active fire management and supporting and helping bring back Indigenous knowledge and burning techniques. He currently works on prescribed burning in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy in Western Montana.
Photo credit Lily Murnane
Photo credit Lily Murnane
Lily Murnane
Lily Murnane is on the Division 1 Nordic Ski Team at Montana State University and is a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in Coaching. Lily also competes for the Australian National Nordic Team where her mother was born.
Lily grew up in Tahoe City CA, and as an elementary and middle school student, she attended programs at the SnowSchool site at the Winter Discovery Center. Lily remembers her early SnowSchool days fondly.
“I remember them packing all of us in a bus, driving us to the yurt so we could explore topics around snow and natural sciences. We always talked about what we can do for the environment and we always had fun in nature. It was an amazing opportunity to get out of the classroom.”
For her love of winter and the outdoors, Lily credits the her access to nature and the example set by adults in her life.
“I grew up having access to trails and nature right out my back door. Being outside is the most fun … it certainly was growing up. The snow… Some people think there is a limit… but there really isn’t. It’s such a different experience in winter. I grew up with a community of people and my parents who loved and ran the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area.”
Those early lessons in stewardship have stuck with her.
“If we don’t protect snowscapes and our climate it affects the entire sport. We really need to increase awareness and work to protect the places we ski.”
As Lily looks toward her final collegiate season, her goals are ambitious.
“It is my senior year and I am shooting for a Top 20 in my college racing circuit. I was introduced to the Australian racing scene through my mom, and I’ve been connected with and racing for the Australian National Team since. I want to keep that up and try to qualify for the World Cup. Also one of my goals is to compete in the World U23 Championships in Italy this year.”
After graduation, Lily plans to explore a career in coaching and possibly pursue graduate school.
