SCHOOLS SET TO HIT THE SLOPES FOR THEIR ‘FIRST TRACKS’

After months of anticipation after an exceptionally busy winter season, the First Tracks Programme, in collaboration with Austria Tourism, is finally getting underway, bringing snowsports opportunities to pupils across the country.

As the winter season draws to a close, the initiative is beginning to take shape with two schools already confirmed to participate.

Stanley School, located in Ardrossan on Scotland’s south-west coast, will send 50 pupils to Peak Park Snowsports Centre in Newmilns. The programme will run across six two-hour sessions, giving each student a total of six hours of tuition.

Meanwhile, Kaimhill School in Aberdeen has also signed up, with approximately 50 pupils set to take part at Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports Centre. Students there will receive a similar six-hour learning experience on the slopes.

Organisers are also awaiting confirmation from two additional schools in Glasgow, which could bring a further 50 pupils into the programme.

The initiative will achieve a strong geographic spread, reaching communities from the south-west through central Scotland and into the north-east, spanning both rural and urban areas.

Beyond skiing instruction, the programme also incorporates a cultural education component. Participating schools have committed to projects exploring Austria (its culture, cuisine, and language) using specially designed booklets provided in advance - along with some tasty Austrian snacks! These resources will also support a related competition (coming soon!), helping pupils engage more deeply with the international roots of snowsports.

There are also plans for participating centres to integrate Austrian themes into their sessions, further enriching the experience.

To find out more about the initiative you can visit our First Tracks webpage.