The Mini-Mayor program at Colorado’s Sunlight Mountain Resort gets kids involved. It’s a fun, easily replicated, way to interest kids in skiing and snowboarding while building community involvement.
At last! An election we can all get behind and feel great about.
For the third season running, Sunlight Mountain Resort near Glenwood Springs, Colorado is electing a Mini-Mayor.
What you might ask is a Mini-Mayor? Good question.
What is a Ski Area Mini-Mayor?
The Sunlight Mini-Mayor is an enthusiastic skier or snowboarder who wants to be more involved with this Western Colorado ski area.
To run for Mini-Mayor, a candidate has to be 12 or younger and willing to help make this family friendly ski area even better for kids.
The perks of the job include a seat at the cafeteria Executive Table, where the Sunlight Mini-Mayor can meet with his or her constituents, enjoy lunch (and make recommendations regarding the menu’s appeal to hungry young athletes) or just relax with family and friends.
As a representative for grade school age guests, the Sunlight Mini-Mayor can help with such things as sticker design and special events at the resort. Sometimes the Mini-Mayor is also called upon to make public appearances, such as walking or riding in a parade.
In exchange for his or her commitment, the MIni-Mayor receives a complimentary season pass and a new pair of skis or snowboard.
Six Candidates Vying for the Position
This year, six candidates are running for office, including incumbent Gabby Noyes of Silt, Colorado. Ms. Noyes won the 2016 election over then incumbent Mini-Mayor Elijah Mattson by just 26 votes out of over 10,000 cast.
To enter the race, candidates must have an adult campaign manager and prepare an online profile. You can read up on all the candidates, and meet the Sunny Yeti, here.
The 2017 campaign kicked off on September 1. All voting is online and anyone visiting the Sunlight MIni-Mayor campaign website can vote. Election results will be announced on November 7, 2017.
Good luck to all the candidates!
Why You Should Care About Sunlight’s Mini-Mayor Election
While this is a local story, unique to Western Colorado, I want to share the Sunlight Mini-Mayor program with parents (and ski resorts) everywhere.
Why? Because it’s a unique, fun (and easily replicated) way to get kids more involved with their local ski areas and resorts.
Sunlight has done a good job of making the Mini-Mayor position meaningful. While the free season pass and skis or snowboard are definitely a draw (especially for adult campaign managers), the position can be whatever a child chooses to make of it.
Most importantly, it’s a great way to say “we’re a family friendly ski area” and mean it.
Or as you’ll hear from the resort, the office of Sunlight Mini-Mayor “gives voice to a previously underrepresented but vitally important demographic of young powder hounds.”
Indeed.
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Awesome idea!
I think so too! Of course, your family, working with Marble Mountain, Newfoundland have taken this idea even further with an entire homeschooling curriculum! So proud of you!