Middlebury College Winter Term (J-term) Lessons

January 10 – February 2, 2024

Wednesday through Sunday @ 2:15 p.m.

Offered to actively enrolled Middlebury College Students only – Receive a PE Credit while learning to ski or snowboard at the Snowbowl.

Registration is limited to the first 150 students!

This winter term course is offered by the Snowbowl Snow School. Students register directly through the Snowbowl online store for the course and not through Banner Web. Upon successful completion of your requirements the Snow School will communicate your eligibility for PE credit directly with the Athletic Department.

Purchase of Lessons includes

  • 5 One-hour lessons
  • 1 PE Credit upon completion of a minimum 4 of 5 lessons
    • Choose between Skiing or Snowboarding.
      • Equipment lease available at an extra cost.

Already know how to ski or snowboard?

Great, join our upper level classes and enjoy the outdoors in a group of fun loving individuals while earning your PE credit.


Student Access and Support Grant

Interested in joining the J-term Snowbowl lessons but cannot afford to? All students deserve the full Middlebury experience. In that spirit, students are invited to apply for a Student Access and Support (SAS) grant, formerly known as opportunity grant. This grant is offered on a first come first served basis to the first 50 qualifying Students.

December 2023 Update: We are experiencing a high volume of SAS grant applications. Please note that our office will not review any applications received after Tuesday, December 12 at 12noon until after the holidays. Our office will be closed Monday, December 18 to Friday, January 5 and will not review any applications during that time. 

Apply to become an Instructor. Check back again as we have filled our positions for this season.

Thank you for your interest. We have filled the positions for the 23/24 season. Please stop by the Snow School Desk if you have any questions or to express your interest. Job postings for these positions go live in September.

  • Earn PE credit – 10 hour minimum requirement
  • We will fully train you
  • Meet people from the community and beyond
  • Learn new job skills
  • Earn $ while also having fun

Program Expectations and understanding

  • Lesson include your lift ticket and are valid while with one of our instructors.
  • You must attend a minimum of 4 out of 5 lesson hours.
  • Sign up is required for each lesson.
  • Sign up for only five lesson times, all others will be deleted to make room for other students.
  • Check in at the Snow School Desk prior to each lesson for attendance.
  • Lessons are only cancelled in the event the mountain does not open.
  • NO DAY-OF cancellations.

You may only miss one scheduled lesson, a second no-show disqualifies you from the program and a $25 per missed lesson will be charged to your account.

Registration and payments are non-transferable and apply only to the current year. 

Selected J-term Lessons with Equipment? Schedule your equipment lease fitting as soon as you finish with your registration with the rental shop at the Snowbowl. They can be reached at 802-443-7603. All fittings will have to be done at the Snowbowl and must be done prior to your first lesson. Please allow time for this as the equipment is customized to you.

J-term Lesson FAQ

I have registered – now what?

Yay! Welcome you to the Middlebury Snowbowl Snow School. We are so excited you have decided to earn your PE credit with us.

After J-Term registration closes, (usually around the first week in January) you will receive an email with instructions regarding how to sign up for lessons and attendance. For Equipment please contact the rental shop directly as they will have the best information for you. The rental shop can be reached at 802-443-7603. Please make sure you tell them that you are enrolled in J-term lessons.

What to wear?

You will be outside for the entire lesson. Please dress warmly, layers are advised. Cotton and Jean fabric is very, very cold and not advised.

Windproof insulated clothing is best • Warm non-cotton base layers are great • Long underwear • Warm sweater • Windproof / Insulated snow pants and jacket • Windproof insulated gloves or mittens • Neck warmer • Helmet (helmets can be rented at the rental shop, tell them you are attending a J-term lesson) • Thin wool socks are best and give you the best fit in the boot.

No Scarves – as they are a hazard.

Lease Equipment

Contact the Rental shop to schedule a lease fitting and pick up. This must be done well before your lesson as it takes time customize the equipment to you. Give them a call at 802-443-7603.

The equipment will be signed out to you for the whole season. Returns must be done directly to the Rental Shop. You may return your equipment at the end of J-term or by the end of the Winter Season (first week in April). Once the mountain closes it becomes difficult to return as the rental shop does not stay open in the off season. Plan ahead, late fees will be charged.

Need to pick up Equipment?

The Snowbowl rental shop will have a pop-up shop on campus during November – December. You will be able to pick up your equipment there before you head off on break. After your break, you will need to come to the Snowbowl Rental shop on the mountain to pick up your equipment.

How do I sign up for my lesson times?

Just prior to the begin of lessons and after your return to campus you will receive a link to a google sheet on which you can sign up for your lessons. You can sign up for five lessons only. If you sign up for more than five lessons on the sheet we will keep the first five scheduled lessons and remove the rest.

You will be able to edit your entry on the lesson sign up sheet until 11am the day before your scheduled lesson. Please keep this information current. We rely on your lesson request to schedule the correct number of instructors.

Why do I need to check in prior to each lesson?

As this is a class for credit – your attendance is required to receive your PE credit. Please check in with the Snow School staff prior to your lesson as we keep track of your lesson progress. No attendance = no credit.

What if I cannot attend the lesson?

11AM the day before to add or remove your name from the sign up sheet. After 11AM the sheet will be set to “view only”.

In the event that you need to cancel your lesson time after 11AM all further communication must be received by 4pm the day before the lesson.

You can call (802-443-7605) or email (sbsc@middlebury.edu) the snow school before 4 PM the day before the lesson. Please note that as we also serve the general public in addition to the college community it is essential for you to clearly state your name, that you are a J-term student, and leave us a phone number for us to call you back. Any notification received after 4PM the day before the lesson may result in a “no-show”.

Sometimes there are circumstances beyond your control, should this happen then please reach out to the Dean of Students or your Dr and have them send us a letter to excuse you.

Skipping a lesson I have signed up for?

We base the number of instructors on the number of students attending lessons for each day. Choosing to be a “no-show” for a lesson will results in you forfeiting your lesson and you will be listed as a “no-show”. To receive PE credit, you must attend four out of five lessons. Any further “no-shows” will disqualify you from the program and from receiving PE Credit and you will be charged a fine of $25 per missed class.

How can I get to the Snowbowl without a car?

No car? No worries. Tri-Valley Transit shuttle bus traveling right to the Snowbowl which leaves and returns to campus from the ADK Circle all of J-Term. Click here for the Tri-Valley Transit bus schedules and choose the Snowbowl Shuttle.

The Snowbowl is located about 13 miles to the east of the campus in the Town of Hancock. Please allow sufficient time to get to the Snowbowl.

How will I receive my PE Credit?

Once you have completed four out of five lessons the Snow School will notify the PE department that you are eligible to receive credit.

What if I want to ski / snowboard more than five times?

Awesome, the Snowbowl offers Middlebury College students some fantastic options:

Purchase a MC Student Snowbowl Pass for only $99, or get a non-transferable MC Student day ticket for $20. (Valid MC Student ID required).

Please note that this does not include instruction time. Should you want more instruction, we can certainly help you schedule a private lesson or you can purchase an additional bundle of lessons called Lots of Lessons for Less. Find more information above under our Programs on our Snow School page.

Refund policy?

Refunds can only be given before J-Term registration closes.

Any J-term attendee who wishes to withdraw from their lessons, will not be issued a refund once J-Term lessons have begun.

In the event of illness, injury, or circumstances beyond your control requiring you to withdraw from the J-Term lessons, we will need a letter from your doctor’s office or the dean of students, before a refund or a partial refund can be issued. 

No refunds will be issued after April 1st.

Registration and payments are non-transferable and apply only to the current year.