Please check the Frequently Asked Questions below before emailing me. Most questions can be answered here.

I'm in 6th Grade, can I join Senior Ski Club?

I don't have any friends who ski, can I still join ski club and who will I ski with?

I don't have skis or a snowboard. Can I rent at the mountain?

Are lessons required with the Senior Ski Club?

Am I required to wear a helmet while skiing/riding with the club?

Are other family members allowed to purchase group tickets through the club?

My parents want to join us on the bus, can they go and will there be room for them?

My friend is a student at FMS but did not sign up for Senior Ski Club. Can he/she attend a trip with me?

I am a Senior Ski Club member and I signed up too late for a trip. What can I do to guarantee a spot on the next trip?

Do I have to attend every ski trip?

Has a ski trip ever been cancelled?

What happens if I signup for a trip but I do not show up Saturday morning?

How are students supervised on the trip, on the bus, at the lodge, and on the mountain?

How will my child know where the lodge is, what trails are open, and what time to meet the bus when it's time to leave?

Ski Patrol: What if my child is injured?

What time does the bus return from the ski areas? Should I give my child a cell phone so they can contact me and let me know when the bus is about to pull in to the school?

Is there anything else that you recommend I bring with me on the trips?



I'm in 6th Grade, can I join Senior Ski Club? Top

Unfortunately a policy established in the summer of 2007 by Administration does not allow sixth graders to join the Senior Ski Club. If your parents have any questions regarding this change they are more than welcome to contact Mr. Freeman for information.

You may however join the Junior Ski Club. JSC trips are held on Thursday evenings after school. They go to Jiminy Peak. The bus leaves the school around 3:30 and arrives at Jiminy just before 5pm. After getting ready to ski, members attend a hour ski or snowboard lesson. When the lesson is over members ski or snowboard for the rest of the evening. The bus leaves Jiminy at 8:00 and returns to FMS at 9pm.

I don't have any friends who ski, can I still join ski club and who will I ski with? Top

We get this question a lot. You definitely can join ski club and we will make it our goal to find someone that skis/rides at the same ability level as you. At our meeting in December simply let Mr. Freeman or another adult know that you need someone to ski with and we will find a group of students of the same ability level as you. We'll even introduce them to you!

I don't have skis or a snowboard. Can I rent at the mountain? Top

We do not rent skis or snowboards at the ski resort. However, the FMS ski clubs have set up a deal with Planes Sporting Goods to offer a season ski or snowboard rental package for $100 for skiers and $125 for snowboarders. The best part? You keep the skis/snowboards for the entire season. So, if the ski club has an off week, you can still go with your parents or friends. This package includes skis or board, boots, poles (ski rental only), and bindings. If you are interested please call or email Mr. Freeman for details about how you can receive this offer. Please do not go to Planes without contacting Mr. Freeman first!

Are lessons required with the Senior Ski Club? Top

No, we do not require lessons with the club. Furthermore, we do not offer lessons. This club is designed for those skiers who already have skied or snowboard before and are looking to ski the entire day with friends. If you are looking for a club that offers lessons check out the Junior Ski Club.

Am I required to wear a helmet while skiing/riding with the club? Top

Although I highly recommend you wear a helmet I do not require you to wear one. If you are wondering which helmet is the safest, Consumer Reports recommends the Giro brand of helmets. FYI, we had two students on snowboards fall backward and hit their head on the snow/ice in the past. Both were wearing a helmet and one even suffered a mild concussion! Imagine what would have happened to them if they were not wearing a helmet!

Are other family members allowed to purchase group tickets through the club? Top

Yes, there is a section on the ski trip sign-up form that parents can fill out for extra tickets. The prices for the tickets are listed on the form. Parents are asked to pick up tickets from Mr. Freeman inside the lodge after he has had time to find a table and set his stuff down.

My parents want to join us on the bus, can they go and will there be room for them? Top

Parents may sign-up for a seat or seats on the bus but they are on a first come, first serve basis. Seats are reserved for Senior Ski Club members first. If there are extra seats after those students sign-up for the trip I will assign parents to those seats. Siblings may also ride the bus only if accompanied by a parent. I will post a list of those parents who have a seat on the bus by Friday afternoon, the day before the trip. Students may also contact me after 8th period to ask if their parents have a seat on the bus. Parents are asked to write two separate checks, one for the member and the other for the family. If parents do not attend the trip because the seats are filled then the check can be returned.

My friend is a student at FMS but is not a member of the Senior Ski Club. Can he/she attend a trip with me? Top

The only way your friend may attend a trip is with his/her parent or simply tell your friend to join Senior Ski Club. Once the appropriate paperwork is filled out they can attend the trips!

I am a Senior Ski Club member and I signed up too late for a trip. What can I do to guarantee a spot on the next trip? Top

Get your trip form and money in sooner! I have seen trips where we have filled the bus by Tuesday afternoon. Other trips we can't even fill a smaller bus. Please do your best to return your ski trip sign-up form to me by the Wednesday before the trip. This will give me time to plan the bus and give the ski area my final numbers by Friday. If you try to sign up for a trip and the bus is full you will be placed on a reserve list for first priority for the next trip. Please make sure you return the form for the following trip as soon as possible.

Do I have to attend every ski trip? Top

While we would love to have you go on every trip, you are not required to.  We need members to sign up so we can pay for the bus as well as receive a group rate at the ski resort. The bus accommodates 51 students. If interest is lower than 43 we will take a smaller bus to save money. 

Has a ski trip ever been cancelled? Top

Yes, three years ago. April 1st. It poured! Last year we had to cancel the last trip because of a lack of interest. I believe we had 20 people sign up for the trip. Ski trips usually run rain, snow, or shine. The exception to this is if every weatherman in the area predicts heavy downpours or if the bus company refuses to send a bus. For the past nine years I have only seen one trip cancelled due to weather. Trips could also be cancelled due to lack of  interest. If only a few students sign up for a trip then we will cancel because we cannot pay for the bus or receive a group rate. All cancellations will be posted on the website as well as on the Times Union SourceLine (446-4000 x7233). Your money will be credited toward a future trip. If it happens to be the last trip of the season I will return your check.

What happens if I sign up for a trip but I do not show up Saturday morning? Top

When you sign up for the trip you reserve your seat on the bus. By Friday afternoon the bus will have been paid for, and the money cannot be refunded. The lift ticket is another story. You will receive credit for the ticket and may use that on a future trip. If a larger bus cannot be used due to cost then we will drop to a smaller bus. If that is the case some members will not be able to attend the trip. If we can fill your seat with another member then we can refund the entire amount. Unfortunately that is not always the case since people make other plans if they know the bus is full.

How are students supervised on the trip, on the bus, at the lodge, and on the mountain? Top

While on the bus students are supervised by 3 or 4 chaperones who often walk the aisle and make sure students are behaving. If seats are available on the bus other teachers may join us and help out. Students are given a lift ticket and told to affix it to their jacket before leaving the bus. Once in the lodge chaperones circulate through the area that the students are getting ready to make sure they have what they need. While on the mountain students are skiing/riding in groups of 3 or more with other skiers of the same ability. Chaperones ski a variety of terrain and stop frequently when they see groups of students. Students are told that chaperones will be in the lodge at certain times of the day, especially during the lunch hour, to speak with skiers and make sure that everyone is doing enjoying their day.  Attendance is taken on the bus (and double-checked), before we leave the ski area.  When we arrive back at FMS, chaperones will stay with the students until they are picked up by a parent or guardian.  

How will my child know where the lodge is, what trails are open, and what time to meet the bus when it's time to leave? Top

On the way to the ski resort we will hand out a map to each skier and Mr. Freeman will go over the trails as well as point out where the main lodge and ski patrol/first aid rooms are. He will also let skiers know how the skiing conditions are and give suggestions on how to dress for the day based on the weather forecast and conditions. In most cases we will be boarding the bus at 3:30pm after each trip. There may be some exceptions to this time so skiers need to pay attention on the bus. We do not leave the ski resort until all students and chaperones are accounted for!

Ski Patrol: What if my child is injured? Top

After handing out tickets and making sure skiers are out of the lodge, Mr. Freeman will check in with the Ski Patrol at the base lodge. He gives the ski patrol a list of all students and chaperones on the trip as well as his cell phone number which works at most ski areas. Chaperones check in at the ski patrol several times a day and watch the information boards at the bottom of the ski lifts. If a skier is injured we first make sure they are comfortable. The skiers medical form is provided to the ski patroller in the first aid room. Once the severity of the skiers injury is determined by the patroller they recommend whether the skier needs to be taken to the hospital. At that point Mr. Freeman or a chaperone contacts the parent to inform them of the injury. If the ski patrol feels that the skier can ride home on the bus and then be taken to the doctor or hospital by the parent then we usually do so. If the ski patrol says that the skier should be taken to the hospital then a chaperone rides in the ambulance to the closest hospital with the skier. Please be advised, if a student is transported to a hospital it is the parents responsibility to drive to that hospital and pick up their son/daughter as well as the chaperone who escorted the skier. Please keep this in mind as you plan your day.

What time does the bus return from the ski areas? Should I give my child a cell phone so they can contact me and let me know when the bus is about to pull in to the school? Top

Typically our trips return by 5:30pm. On the trip signup sheet I always list the time to board the bus and the time we return from the mountain. We make it a point to be on time and would request that you do not rely on your child to call and tell you where we are or how long before we arrive at the school. I would ask that you call the Times Union Sourceline (446-4000 x7233) to find out if we are on time or if we are delayed. I will update the Sourceline with our estimated time of arrival approximately one hour before we are to arrive. Please be on time, the chaperones will have had a long day and would like to spend the evening with their families rather than standing in the cold waiting for you to pick up your child. It does get rather cold standing outside in the middle of winter.

Is there anything else that you recommend I bring with me on the trips? Top

Yes, a lock for your skis or snowboard. Nothing ruins a day more than having your skis or board stolen after you just put your boots on! Locks are $15. Skis/snowboards are much, much more than that. And get one even if you are renting! You will wind up having to purchase the skis/snowboard if stolen!

I would also recommend a change of socks and possibly extra clothing. Remember, you will be on the top of a mountain. The wind often blows much, much harder and the temperature at the mountain often is a lot colder than at home. Dress for the worst. You can always take a layer or two off. If you do not have extra clothing you are stuck. Oh, and if you don't have a helmet bring a hat! A head band doesn't always keep your head warm. Goggles would be very helpful too.