As a young family living just outside Calgary, we crave convenient experiences that complement our outdoor lifestyle. Kicking Horse’s big mountain slopes offer some of my favourite style of terrain to ride, but managing with a little one can be tricky. So, when we planned a day trip to Golden, arranging daycare and an adventure lesson for our little dude, Sylas, was a no-brainer to ensure that we had the ultimate mountain day date.

From the initial phone call to our arrival at the resort, every moment along the way exceeded our expectations. Since this was our first experience with booking Sylas into a mountain resort daycare, I had lots of questions! The winter sports school navigated me through the process with finesse and grace, building trust and enriching the entire experience.

Thanks to the recent upgrades on Highway 1, the commute from Calgary was a smooth ride. If you’ve never experienced this drive, it is a must! From the iconic Cascade mountain backdrop as you drive past Banff to the remarkable engineering feats showcased in the bridges and roadways, this drive alone is worth the adventure. With upbeat tunes from the Disney Cars soundtrack filling our vehicle, our day date was off to a great start!

Reaching the resort on a snowy Sunday, we geared up in the parking and loaded up the essentials in the wagon for a smooth 3 minute walk to the daycare centre. Conveniently located inside the Mountaineer Lodge and next to the Learning & Adventure Centre, it was easy to find.

Welcomed warmly by the attentive mountain school staff, we confirmed the details for Sylas’s snowboard lesson before settling him into the daycare.

First impressions inside the daycare immediately assured us of Sylas’s safety and comfort. With his name welcoming him on his locker and an array of toys and engaging activities awaiting him, we filled out the paperwork, snapped a quick pic for security, and hugged him good-bye knowing he was in good hands.

Opting for the lunch package relieved us of the worry of timing and rushing back for Sylas’s lunch hour. Josephine, Sylas’s lovely daycare host, brought him over for lunch at Whitetooth Grill. She later shared with me that he couldn’t get enough of the hot chocolate and fruit, and ate his entire cheese quesadilla. It was such a relief knowing he was not only well-fed but also enjoying himself during our mountain adventure.

We returned for Sylas’s afternoon adventure lesson but made a conscious decision to observe from a distance. Recognizing the importance of allowing kids to thrive independently under the guidance of skilled instructors like Kurtis, our best bet was to discreetly observe the lesson without interfering.

Calmly, Kurtis began the lesson by kneeling down to Sylas’s level and communicating directly with him. Miraculously, he somehow got Sylas’s goggles on, a task that often proves to be our biggest challenge!

As they ventured out to the beginner area hand-in-hand, it quickly became evident that Kurtis was fostering an environment where growth and learning would flourish.

With every run, Sylas remained fully engaged, actively participating in the lesson under Kurtis’s patient guidance. This level of involvement from Sylas was truly the best possible outcome, reflecting the effectiveness of Kurtis’s teaching approach.

The lesson concluded with high-fives and smiles, leaving everyone stoked with Sylas’s progress.

As our day came to an end, we reunited with a content and exhausted Sylas. After swiftly returning to our vehicle and loading up, we hit the road, with our baby snowboarder peacefully dozing for most of the journey home.

Looking back, the invaluable experience offered by Kicking Horse Mountain Resort’s daycare and adventure hour lesson went beyond simply enjoying a day of snowboarding. It was about nurturing independence, fostering growth, and creating long-lasting memories for our child.