NIMSEF accepting scholarship applications for upcoming ski season

SANDPOINT — The North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Fund is now accepting scholarship applications for the upcoming ski season. NIMSEF is a non-profit organization that exists to provide all the children of our community with an opportunity to participate in skiing/snowboarding.

The organization, which started roughly 14 years ago, recognizes how skiing/snowboarding is simply too expensive for many North Idaho families. Many local school children hear about fun weekend experiences on the mountain, but are not able to experience it themselves.

This reality is illustrated in a note written to NIMSEF by a fourth grader years ago after a free day of skiing lessons. “Thank you for the best day of my life. I probably wont ever see you again. So goodbye,” the fourth grader said.

The NIMSEF program not only teaches lessons, but engages children, allowing them to work for a portion of their tuition and participate in the fundraising. Doing this helps children value their gift, builds work ethic, and helps them learn the importance of giving back to others, board members said.

Thanks to a partnership with Schweizter, NIMSEF scholarship recipients will be enrolled in an eight-week, all-day lessons program. All children aged 7-17 who qualify based on economic need and live in Bonner and Boundary counties can receive a season pass, bus pass, and equipment rental and the lesson program via Schweitzer and NIMSEF.

The program puts children into groups of similar age and ability, and the group stays with the same coach for the entire program; all coaches are certified instructors. This all-day program takes place on either Saturday or Sunday, but the pass and equipment rental are valid all season long.

To apply visit www.nimsef.com, and visit the “How to Apply” tab.

If you have any questions, concerns or would like to get involved in the program as a corporate partner, please contact NIMSEF president Jeff Rouleau at 208-267-7010 or nimsef@gmail.com

If you would like to donate to the program, donations can be sent to PO Box 170, Ponderay, ID 83852.