Do you have a fourth-grader? Now is the time to get them on the slopes using the 4th-grade ski passport.
If so, this is your year to get outside, starting this winter and continuing through summer.
First: Thanks to a program by the Minnesota Ski Areas Association, fourth-graders can ski for free at member ski areas during the winter season.
Simply sign up for the 4th Grade Passport Program. Passports are accessed digitally. (You’ll need to upload your kid’s most recent report card and a digital photo for the application.)
Passports entitle fourth-graders to at least two free lift tickets (not ski rentals) at all participating resorts. Some resorts (such as Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls) are offering unlimited lift tickets for passport-holding fourth-graders.
Minnesota’s 4th Grade Ski Passport: Ski for Free at 18 Minnesota Ski Areas
If you have a fourth grader at home, this is one of Minnesota’s best winter deals! The Minnesota Ski Areas Association 4th Grade Passport gives eligible fourth-grade students the opportunity to experience skiing and snowboarding across the state with free lift tickets at participating ski areas. It’s a fun and affordable way for families to explore new hills, build confidence on the slopes, and enjoy everything a Minnesota winter has to offer.
What Is the 4th Grade Ski Passport?
The Minnesota Ski Areas Association’s 4th Grade Passport is a digital pass available to students currently enrolled in fourth grade. Once registered and approved, families receive a digital passport that can be used throughout the ski season at participating ski areas across Minnesota. The program has transitioned to a fully digital format, making it easy to access on your phone without waiting for anything to arrive in the mail. Applications are typically approved within about an hour.
How Does It Work?
Each participating ski area honors the passport with two free lift tickets for the fourth-grade passport holder. Some locations may require reservations or have blackout dates, and rental equipment and lessons are not included unless otherwise noted by the individual ski area. Families should always check each ski area’s redemption process before visiting.
Who Can Get a Passport?
The passport is available to:
- Students currently in 4th grade
- Minnesota residents and qualifying neighboring residents as outlined by the program
- Registration must be completed online by a parent or guardian
After creating an account and submitting the application, the passport is delivered digitally and is ready to use once approved.
Participating Minnesota Ski Areas
The passport can be used at all of these Minnesota ski areas:
- Afton Alps – Hastings
- Andes Tower Hills – Kensington
- Buck Hill – Burnsville
- Coffee Mill Ski Area – Wabasha
- Detroit Mountain Recreation Area – Detroit Lakes
- Giants Ridge – Biwabik
- Great Bear Ski Valley – Sioux Falls, South Dakota*
- Hyland Hills Ski Area – Bloomington
- Lutsen Mountains – Lutsen
- Mount Kato – Mankato
- Powder Ridge – Kimball
- Spirit Mountain – Duluth
- Trollhaugen – Dresser, Wisconsin*
- Buena Vista Ski Area – Bemidji
- Wild Mountain – Taylors Falls
- Welch Village – Welch
- Elm Creek Winter Recreation Area – Maple Grove
- Mount Itasca – Coleraine
*Although located just outside Minnesota, Great Bear Ski Valley and Trollhaugen participate in the Minnesota Ski Areas Association passport program.
Why Families Love It
The 4th Grade Passport is a fantastic way to introduce kids to skiing or snowboarding without paying full-price lift tickets. Since each participating hill offers a unique experience—from beginner-friendly learning slopes to larger mountain terrain—families can turn the season into a winter adventure by visiting multiple ski areas throughout Minnesota and beyond.
Whether your family is trying skiing for the first time or already loves spending weekends on the slopes, the passport makes it easy to discover new favorite destinations while making unforgettable winter memories together.
Ready to hit the slopes? Register online for your digital 4th Grade Passport and start planning your family’s next snowy adventure!
Related Article: Top Spots for Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding in Minnesota
Meanwhile: Fourth-graders — and their families — are also eligible for free entry into all national parks (and federal lands/waters) through Aug. 31.
Passes cover admission for the whole family, even at sites that charge entrance fees per person (or per car). In the case of per-person fees, the pass covers all accompanying children age 15 and younger and up to three adults.
Learn more at Every Kid in a Park and the National Park Service.
