BOYNE Expands Student Freeride Program for 2011/12 Season

12/14/11

Boyne Falls, Mich. (December 14, 2011) – The ski industry is full of innovators, entrepreneurs and stories of success.  This entrepreneurial spirit was the motivation that led Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain to expand upon their popular Student Freeride Program to include an initiative called Beyond the Slopes.  Beyond the Slopes encourages and further incentivizes students to benefit their academic future while making a positive difference in the lives of others. 

BOYNE’s Student Freeride, launched in 2005, and the Beyond the Slopes programs are available to grades 6 through 12 within a five county area surrounding the resorts and includes Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet and Otsego.  While the Student Freeride Program is based on GPA performance and provides students with reduced price season passes, the Beyond the Slopes initiative, which is not a requirement of the Freeride Program, focuses on launching a positive idea.  Students can participate by submitting a project idea, outlining the benefits and/or positive impact, identifying a to-do list of manageable steps and selecting a mentor.  Projects can be registered now through February 1, 2012.  Students then provide an update by May 15 reviewing how successfully the idea was implemented, the impact, benefitting parties, and what if anything the student would do differently. 

Beyond the Slopes projects are evaluated 50% on quality of idea, and 25% each for implementation and impact.  The first place project receives a $1,000 BOYNE gift card, and second and third place receives a $500 card and $250 card, respectively.

“Our Student Freeride Program has proven to be a huge motivator for area youth to improve in their academics,” said Brian Main, director of BOYNE’s Student Freeride Program.  “With Beyond the Slopes, we hope to continue opening the door of possibilities for students and inspire creative thinking.”

For more information the programs, visit BOYNE.com/freeride or email Brian Main at bmain@boyne.com. 

BOYNE is a collection of mountain and golf resorts, retail stores and real estate opportunities based in Michigan.  Each of the collection is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions and includes Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls; Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs and The Inn at Bay Harbor - A Renaissance Golf Resort in Bay Harbor as well as Bay Harbor Golf Club, Crooked Tree Golf Club, Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, Boyne Country Sports and Boyne Realty.  The attractions feature lodging and meeting facilities, premiere snowsports terrain, nine championship golf courses, two spas, distinctive dining, spectacular events and Michigan's largest indoor waterpark.  For more information on BOYNE, visit BOYNE.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin Ernst
231-549-6832
eernst@boyne.com