For the fourth summer in a row, Chill has partnered with High Cascade Summer Snowboard Camp and Timberline Lodge Resort to scholarship seven standout youth for a once in a lifetime experience at Mount Hood, Oregon.

At the close of the winter season, the Chill Foundation sent out a request for nomination letters to the nearly 1,000 youth that participated in our 2011 program. During the month of June, the Chill staff selected seven candidates to participate in this incredible opportunity based on their involvement and successes over the past season.

As a key partner, High Cascade provides an amazing opportunity for Chill youth to continue to challenge themselves, while exposing them to a completely new environment. This past summer, each youth traveled from their respective cities to Mount Hood OR, to attend camp – an eight day experience where they had the opportunity to befriend Chill youth from other North American cities, as well as other campers from all over the world.

For those who have never been, a week at High Cascade is quite an amazing endeavor. Thanks to Mount Hood’s glacier and massive winter snowfalls, snowboarders are able to ride all summer long. Throughout camp, Chill participants received advanced freestyle snowboard lessons from some of the best instructors around. By introducing these youth to freestyle aspects of the sport, they were challenged to push themselves in a new way. In addition, Chill youth also had the opportunity to experience other activities including paintball, white-water rafting, mountain biking, skateboarding, and more.

More on camp from some of our standout participants…

 “Because of High Cascade Summer Snowboard Camp, I got to snowboard in a place that I probably never would have before. It was the best experience of my life.” – Travis (Seattle-Chill)

“Through snowboard camp, I met all kinds of new people that were of different races and from all over the world. I was proud of myself for riding on a bigger mountain. And seeing a new area outside of Chicago was really cool.” – Tayvon (Chicago- Chill)

“Because of High Cascade Summer Snowboard Camp, I am motivated and will continue to snowboard for the rest of my life.” –Aaliyah (Toronto-Chill)

 “My most memorable moment was hitting the terrain park and challenging myself to ride on different features.” – Frank (Burlington-Chill)

“This was the first time I’ve ever been to Oregon. I got to meet a lot of new people and the coaches were really nice. I learned so many new things that I can take back to LA and work on next year.” – Thaysa (LA-Chill)

“High Cascade was hands down the best time I have ever had in my life. My favorite part was just waking up and getting to snowboard every single day.”  – Zion (Boston-Chill)

“While at camp I learned tricks that I never would have known how to do. Even just riding on an airplane for the first time and seeing a new place was really cool.” – Dwayne (Chicago-Chill)

Chill would like to send a very special thank you to High Cascade Summer Snowboard Camp (www.highcascade.com) and Timberline Lodge (www.timberlinelodge.com) for making this experience possible. For more information on Chill and how to get involved this coming winter, please visit www.CHILL.org.