A Free Ride

Fifth grade is like a yearlong graduation from childhood. It's senior year for elementary school students. It's also a great time to be a skier or snowboarder in Vermont.

The Vermont Ski Areas Association, along with nearly every alpine and Nordic ski area in the state, offers absolutely free skiing and riding to fifth-graders. Only a few blackout days apply. Applications are available at VSAA kids page or by calling (802) 223-2439.

More than 700 students have signed up so far. Up to 1,000 have participated in year's past. The "Fifth-Grade Passport" program, as it's called, has been ongoing for eight years.

As a bonus, participating fifth-graders get a voucher for one day on the lifts at ski areas in New York, Utah, Colorado, New Hampshire and other participating locations.

Just a few attached strings: A $10 application fee applies, there is a three-day limit for each of the participating ski areas and fifth-graders must be accompanied on the hill by a paying adult.