Environmental Education at Bogus Basin
For more than 20 years, Bogus Basin has been at the forefront of winter environmental education through SnowSchool — a program that began right here. Developed in partnership with Winter Wildlands Alliance, SnowSchool was first piloted at Bogus Basin and has now entered its 21st winter season. What started as a local initiative has grown into a nationally recognized model, operating at more than 70 sites across 17 states — with Bogus Basin proudly remaining its original home.
Each SnowSchool day begins with a simple moment: a school bus arriving in a snowy parking lot, students stepping out bundled in winter gear, many experiencing a full day in the snow for the very first time. From there, the mountain becomes their classroom. Guided by expert instructors and dedicated volunteer leaders, students strap on snowshoes and explore the winter landscape — digging snow pits, examining snow crystals, tracing how water moves through the watershed, and discovering how plants and animals survive and adapt in cold conditions.
And of course, there’s plenty of fun along the way, from belly sliding down snowy slopes to exploring igloos built in the snow.
SnowSchool is designed to be both affordable and deeply impactful. The program is offered at just $7 per student, with all Title I schools fully supported through scholarships. During the 2024/25 winter season alone, Bogus Basin welcomed more than 3,000 students from 64 schools across the Treasure Valley. Nearly half of these participants received scholarships, ensuring that learning about mountain ecosystems is never limited by financial barriers.
The Environmental Education team also continues to innovate and adapt as conditions shift from season to season. Even in warmer-than-average winters, programming continues with flexibility and purpose.
“We are making the most of this unusual winter and will continue to run programming while finding plenty of teachable moments.”
Josie Meyers, Environmental Education Coordinator
Bogus Basin is also expanding access through key partnerships. A collaboration with the Challenged Athletes Foundation allows SnowSchool to incorporate adaptive equipment, opening the experience to students with disabilities and ensuring more young people can fully participate in learning on the mountain.
SnowSchool is more than a field trip — it’s a lasting connection between students, science, and the winter landscapes that make Bogus Basin such a special place.
Guided Snowshoe Tours
Winter environmental education isn’t just for kids. Guided Snowshoe Tours give community members a chance to slow down and experience the mountain in a new way. Offered on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the season for participants ages 12 and up, these tours explore topics ranging from forest health to wildlife behavior. Guests are encouraged to sign up in advance through the Bogus Basin Events Calendar.
For those looking to dive deeper, themed snowshoe tours are offered on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays for participants ages 16 and older. These outings focus on specific topics and are listed on the Events Calendar with full descriptions and sign-up details.
Thanks to a grant from a generous donor supporting environmental education at Bogus Basin, all guided and themed snowshoe tours are free of charge. Participants need only a valid trail pass ($10) and snowshoes, which are available to rent at Frontier Point Lodge for $10.
Learning, All Winter Long
Together, SnowSchool and Guided Snowshoe Tours make Bogus Basin a year-round classroom. By pairing hands-on learning with access for students and community members alike, these programs deepen understanding of the landscape while inspiring care for the mountain. And as with every day at Bogus Basin, there’s plenty of fun along the way — whether discovering wildlife tracks in the snow or simply enjoying the crisp winter air with friends and family. It’s another way Bogus Basin brings people closer to the mountain, one snowy adventure at a time.
About Bogus Basin Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to engaging the community to provide accessible, affordable, and fun year-round mountain recreation and education. Opened in 1942, Bogus Basin offers 2,600 acres of daytime skiable terrain and 200 acres for night skiing, seven chairlifts and three conveyor lifts, and an 800-foot tubing hill. The Nordic Center offers 37 kilometers of groomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Environmental education and community outreach programs, primarily youth, serve over 20,000 individuals annually. Summer activities include The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster, The Mine Shaft Challenge Course, mountain biking, events, hiking and chairlift service for hike and bike transport. Bogus Basin is located 16.5 miles north of Boise, Idaho, and operates under a special use permit with the Boise National Forest. www.bogusbasin.org
