While it may have been a lackluster snow year, skiers at Vail-owned and other ski resorts in Summit and Eagle counties are once again helping forests in White River National Forest (WRNF) while they’re schussing. Designed to improve forest health and enhance recreation on WRNF, the National Forest Foundation (NFF) Ski Conservation Fund lets guests voluntarily donate $1 or more when purchasing tickets, season passes, or lodging to improve area forests. The NFF then adds a 50-cent match to help fund local forest stewardship projects.

Since its inception in 2007, the Ski Conservation Fund has invested over $7 million in 31 community organizations to support on-the-ground work benefiting WRNF. Funds are generated via an innovative partnership between the NFF, Vail Resorts (Breckenridge, Keystone, Beaver Creek, and Vail), Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin, where guests can donate to the fund when purchasing online tickets and season passes or staying at their lodges. The NFF oversees the investment of those funds in WRNF stewardship projects.

This year, the fund is expanding its regional capacity to further engage communities in Summit and Eagle counties for restoration projects and trail work supported by the WRNF. Representatives from NFF and the resorts are working with those from Eagle and Summit counties and the Eagle-Holy Cross and Dillon Ranger Districts to ensure the funds support the most critical projects in each community. The NFF has established two community advisory committees to recommend high-priority stewardship projects for funding, partnering with the U.S. Forest Service and other organizations to implement the chosen projects.

One local nonprofit beneficiary is Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. This year, as in years past, the fund will provide over $100k in funding for RMYC to support the Dillon and Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger Districts on priority project completion through its Natural Resource Internship Program, which engages young adults in work experiences within natural resources management agencies, fostering careers and education in natural resources. At its peak in 2024, the program served 142 participants and has provided AmeriCorps Education Awards to hundreds of young people since its inception. 

"For over 10 years, the Ski Conservation Fund has provided funding to engage youth and young adults through RMYC programming on priority conservation projects throughout Eagle and Summit counties,” said RMYC CEO Ryan Banks. “The partnership has not only improved recreation access, but has changed the lives of hundreds of RMYC participants." Last year in the Dillon Ranger District, RMYC crews helped refurbish two historic buildings atop Boreas Pass owned by the USFS and Summit Huts, including the Section House and Ken’s Cabin. In the Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District they completed trail restoration in Yeoman Park, Turret Creek, West Holland, and other areas. 

“We’ve been fortunate to partner with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to augment our ability to do on-the-ground work,” said White River National Forest Supervisor Brian Glaspell. “This collaboration has yielded critical results benefiting National Forest System lands while simultaneously providing American youth with invaluable vocational training and work experience. Partnerships like these are crucial for tackling projects that help the agency sustain forests and grasslands and the myriad benefits they provide.”

This year, to help support these and other forest-improvement efforts, the NFF has also established a new stewardship coordinator position dedicated to the 2.3-million-acre WRNF. “It’s exciting to consider how we as a forest-wide community can address the challenges facing our public lands,” said new hire Jamie Werner, who brings a background in restoration work and project management to the position. “It’s a great way to further the NFF’s mission to promote the health and public enjoyment of the forests.”

The bottom line is that whether it’s bashing bumps or imbibing in burgers and a beer at the bar, skiers are having a hand in bettering our forests. “Through our longstanding partnership with the National Forest Foundation, we’re preserving the places we love for future generations through these on-the-ground conservation efforts,” said Nicky DeFord, director of community investment at Vail Resorts. “This revamped commitment is a truly collaborative effort to protect and restore our public lands, prioritizing what’s needed most in each community as we turn our generous guest donations into action.”

 Both WRNF and the NFF are thankful for the support. “We’re proud of the many forest restoration and recreation projects the Ski Conservation Fund has supported across the White River National Forest over the years, and we’re thrilled to be working with local communities to increase the impact of this initiative,” said NFF President Mary Mitsos.

Added White River National Forest’s Glaspell: “The White River National Forest has benefited tremendously from the many partner projects funded through the White River National Forest Ski Conservation Fund. Its creation 14 years ago provided an innovative way for the public to support a wide variety of our partners who work to benefit the forest. These changes to the program will help local communities be more involved in setting priorities for projects across the landscape.”