WAITSBURG – Last Friday was a school day, but the slopes at Ski Bluewood were filled with students, and they weren't play hooky. Waitsburg fifth graders joined students from Dayton, Starbuck, and Jubilee Leadership Academy at Bluewood to focus on something other than the three R's – learning to ski.

Ski Bluewood General Manager Kim Clark said Bluewood offers special school rates for multi-week lessons, as well as single-day field trips, to Touchet Valley schools. They also offer special group pricing to organizations like Scouts or church groups.

"Our goal is to create skiers for life...