We are excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025/2026 Chester Bowl Winter Program! We know that it is technically still summer, and Fall Fest is on Saturday, but we can’t help but look forward to- and prepare for- that white stuff that we hope will soon be falling from the sky.

Are you looking to rent skis or snowboards from Chester Bowl for the season? Are you requesting a scholarship to help cover the costs of a season pass and/or rentals? If you answered yes to either (or both) of these questions, you need to register by October 13.

If you are getting only a season pass this year, and are not requesting a scholarship, you do not need to register.

Registration is now open at this link:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9HLRqDu9ZkYV3zM3c7AyJZPcq4aktG8W_4YxWVU-IXWqDkA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=106215352494205236934

The start of that registration form has everything you need to know about the registration process and what to expect moving forward.

Families only need to complete this form once, so please communicate with your partners to avoid submitting multiple entries. When you register, you will identify how many season passes, how many sets of equipment, and what equipment you will be renting. If you are requesting a scholarship, you will also do that as part of this registration and will identify your family size and income range. Once you click “Submit” you are registered.

Registration is now open and will close on October 13. You can register any time in that window. After that point, if you missed the deadline to sign up, you will have to sign up for any available ski fitting appointments once we post it to our website starting on October 22, and your family will likely not have access to scholarship funding, as we expect that it will have all been awarded. We also expect that all snowboard fitting slots will be filled.

To find out more about our program opportunities, check the links under the “Winter at Chester Bowl” tab, where you can learn about season passes, season rentals, special events, and so much more. Look for a blog post on the main page for details on the scholarship fund.

If you know of any families that would benefit from learning to ski or snowboard, please share this information with them. We are looking forward to having a great winter with all of you.

Chester Bowl exists to make outdoor recreation in Chester Park available to any family regardless of their income or ability to pay. For decades, Chester Bowl has had a scholarship fund that has helped hundreds of families afford to ski, snowboard, and come to summer camp by awarding full or partial scholarships.

For the winter of 2025/2026, we have $22,882 in scholarship awards available. This is a significant amount, but it is very likely that requests will exceed the funding we have available, as requests have averaged between $40,000 and $50,000 annually.

Families will need to request scholarships during the registration period between September 17 and October 13. The request is part of the regular registration process, and you will have the opportunity to request a full or partial scholarship. We expect that anyone who does not register by the October 13 deadline is unlikely to be awarded a scholarship.

You can find out more and register now at this link.

If you are a family requesting a scholarship, we want you to ask for what you need – but only what you need. Families may be responsible for paying a portion of their program fees even if they requested a full scholarship. We are optimistic that we can spread out the awards so that most, or even all, of the folks wanting to participate this winter will be able to afford to. You MUST register by October 13 to be awarded a scholarship for the winter, even if you are just requesting a season pass.

Chester Bowl is prioritizing scholarships for new families and returning families who completed their volunteer hours last winter first, followed by returning families that did not complete their volunteer hours. Families with the lowest income will also likely receive a higher percentage of their request than those with higher income.

Your family will be notified of its scholarship award by Chester staff by October 14. If your family chooses to accept this award amount and move forward with the winter program you will watch the winter slideshow and sign up for fitting times as part of the regular process that begins on October 15.

We raise money for the scholarship fund through Fall Fest gate donations, our silent auction, grants (thank you Boreal Waters Community Foundation and Rotary Club 25 for your recent awards!) and donations from individuals and businesses. If you want to support the scholarship fund, please give generously at the Fall Fest gate, bid at our annual November silent auction and attend the Warren Miller film screening on November 14, and/or contact Dave about making your tax-deductible gift directly.

If you have any questions about the scholarship fund, you can reach out to Dave at dave@chesterbowl.org or 218-940-9378.

You are invited to a party! Ski Hut is throwing a party for Chester Bowl at Bent Paddle- and we want you to be there!

This event is raising money for Growing Up Chester, Chester Bowl’s fundraising campaign to expand and renovate the Thom Storm Chalet. Our project is over 90% funded; will you help us get to the finish line?

The event, held between 6 and 8:30 pm on Thursday, September 4th, features live music from Barefoot Bluegrass, beverages available for purchase from Bent Paddle, and food available for purchase from the Rambler.

You can also win a e-bike and more! We are raising money at this event by selling raffle tickets. Ski Hut has donated TONS of prizes including a grand prize of an e-bike! The more $10 tickets you buy, the greater your chance to win, all while giving to a good cause! Plus, buying tickets could give you BOGO cards and other perks at Bent Paddle. According to state law, tickets can be purchased by cash or check only. Bent Paddle does have a cash machine on site.

Can’t make the event? You can buy your tickets in advance from Ski Hut (available soon, but Bent Paddle perks only available at the event), and you do not need to be present to win.

In the three years of the event, we have raised over $15,000! Will you help us make our dream of a new Chalet a reality? Every dollar raised directly supports the upcoming Chalet expansion and renovation! Ski Hut has also donated $30,000 to Growing Up Chester- thank you Ski Hut for your generosity!

You can find out more about Growing Up Chester and donate directly at www.growingupchester.org.

The Chester Bowl team is growing! We are currently hiring for three positions- a Programs Manager, an Operations Manager, and an AmeriCorps Member. As Chester Bowl’s programs continue to grow, our staff team needs to grow as well. Therefore are replacing one recently vacated Manager position with two positions.  The AmeriCorps Member is a one-year placement.

You can find out all the details at this link.

Tonight’s concert (July 15) is postponed due to inclement weather, but we’re excited to announce that The Fish Heads will perform on the rain date: August 19 at Lincoln Park!

Unfortunately, this means that the concert series at Chester Bowl is complete for the year. The concerts continue for the next five weeks at Lincoln Park. The lineup is incredible, so we hope you head out there to check out the shows!

The Fish Heads haven’t played at Lincoln Park since the 80s, so let’s give them a warm welcome back this August!