Let's Go Skiing celebrates 25 years of lessons

Program teaches Bottineau County students how to ski at Bottineau Winter Park

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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For the past 25 years, the Let's Go Skiing program has been teaching third graders in Bottineau County, North Dakota how to ski at Bottineau Winter Park. The program was started in 2001 by physical education teacher Gale Wondrasek-Lane to give students an opportunity to learn a winter activity they could use throughout their lives.

Why it matters

The Let's Go Skiing program provides an affordable way for students who may not otherwise have the chance to learn how to ski. It also gives former students the opportunity to mentor new participants, helping them develop leadership skills. Over the past 25 years, the program has taught over 1,200 students how to ski.

The details

The Let's Go Skiing program takes third graders from Westhope and Bottineau schools for a day of skiing lessons at Bottineau Winter Park. Students learn the basics like how to go fast, stop, and turn on skis. Former student Ryder Peterson said the program taught him how to ski, which led him to start competitive skiing. Certified instructor Katie Ogaard has seen her own three children learn to ski through the program. The $25 cost per student is subsidized by local businesses and organizations so that all students can participate regardless of their financial situation.

  • The Let's Go Skiing program started in 2001.
  • The program is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026.

The players

Gale Wondrasek-Lane

The physical education teacher who started the Let's Go Skiing program in 2001 to bring a new winter activity to her students.

Ryder Peterson

A former student of the Let's Go Skiing program who is now a mentor, helping teach new students how to ski.

Katie Ogaard

A certified ski instructor who has seen her own three children learn to ski through the Let's Go Skiing program.

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What they’re saying

“How to go fast, and how to stop, I learned how to turn, I learned that skiing is a fun thing to do.”

— Ryder Peterson, Former student and mentor

“It does allow opportunity for kids that might not have an opportunity, and it is more than skiing.”

— Katie Ogaard, Certified instructor

“An activity to do that the kids could do later in life, and that was a real big push back in the day.”

— Gale Wondrasek-Lane, Founder of Let's Go Skiing program

What’s next

The Let's Go Skiing program plans to continue offering skiing lessons to third graders in Bottineau County for years to come, providing an affordable way for students to learn a lifelong winter activity.

The takeaway

The Let's Go Skiing program's 25-year history demonstrates how a community-driven initiative can provide valuable opportunities for young people to learn new skills and develop interests that can last a lifetime. By making skiing accessible to all students regardless of their financial background, the program has had a lasting impact on generations of Bottineau County youth.