“Inside SnowSchool with Kerry McClay”
Our SnowSchool Director, Kerry, is on the podcast!
“If you’re going to have public land, you really need to think about creating opportunities for all folks to have some kind of meaningful experiences in those places. If the land truly belongs to all of us, we need to foster that.”
How do we break down barriers to winter access and inspire the next generation of outdoor stewards? What does it take to connect 35,000 kids annually to snow, science, and conservation?
Find out in the latest episode of Trail Break Radio as Life in Motion podcast host Jeremy Lux chats with our very own Kerry McClay, national director of SnowSchool, for an in-depth conversation on connecting kids to their local winter wildlands, snow science, and conservation in a way that’s fun, educational, and life-changing.
In this special crossover episode, by Life in Motion, Kerry talks about his childhood adventures, his journey into outdoor education, and how SnowSchool introduces kids to winter through hands-on snow science and outdoor exploration. Kerry discusses the program’s growth into a national initiative, how it’s making a difference, and why it’s essential to foster a lifelong connection to nature.
Kerry also takes listeners behind the scenes, sharing insights into how SnowSchool has adapted over the years, what a typical day looks like for students, and the importance of ensuring kids from all backgrounds have access to winter experiences. Whether you’re a parent, educator, nonprofit leader, or simply someone who loves winter, this episode will leave you inspired to explore snow.
What is SnowSchool?
Since its inception over two decades ago, SnowSchool has introduced more than 500,000 kids across diverse communities to the magic of winter wildlands. Today, the program operates at 70 sites nationwide, giving students from kindergarten through high school the chance to explore snowy landscapes on snowshoes. Combining adventure with STEM-based lessons in hydrology, winter ecology, and wildlife tracking, SnowSchool engages students with cutting-edge NASA snow science, helping them understand the vital connection between snowpack and the water they rely on every day.
But SnowSchool is about more than just science. It’s about breaking down barriers to winter recreation for kids who might otherwise never experience it. During the 2023-2024 season, 53% of participants came from underserved communities, including Title 1 schools, tribal and rural schools, special education and adaptive programs, and refugee populations. Through SnowSchool, these students not only experience the beauty of winter but build a lifelong connection to the outdoors, inspiring the next generation to care for wild spaces.
Meet Kerry McClay
Kerry joined Winter Wildlands Alliance in 2013 after helping establish the National Flagship SnowSchool site with Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area and the Boise National Forest. Kerry is a graduate of the University of Montana and Prescott College, and completed a Doctorate of Education at Boise State University. Working collaboratively with snow scientists and educators, Kerry designed the innovative SnowSchool curriculum now utilized across the US snow-belt to introduce thousands of children to the joy of exploring their local winter wildlands every season. Kerry lives in Boise and enjoys being outside whenever possible with his wife and their young daughter.
To hear more from Kerry about his journey and the transformative work of SnowSchool, listen to the full episode of “Inside SnowSchool with Kerry McClay”on Trail Break Radio.
“It has a way of really evoking their imagination and sense of wonder and curiosity about this whole winter world. If you do it the right way, kids really quickly realize it’s just full of mystery and magic and really exciting science.”
If you’re interested in sponsoring an Episode of Trail Break Radio. Email Emily Scott at escott@winterwildlands.org to become a Backcountry Partner.
