‘Mountains are for Everyone’: Mt. Bachelor wins national award for inclusion and belonging
The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) named the winners of its annual awards in sustainability, safety, marketing, and beginner conversion (growth) at its National Convention and Tradeshow in Marco Island, Florida, on Tuesday.
Mt. Bachelor is thrilled and honored to have won the “Mountains are for Everyone” award, which recognizes the ski area that has made inclusion a priority through authentic programming and storytelling.
“I am so proud that our Play Forever program, which includes every department in the resort, was nominated and ultimately won this category,” said John Merriman, Mt. Bachelor’s president & general manager. “We’re excited to celebrate this accomplishment and continue to work towards a future in which people of all backgrounds and identities not only have access to the mountain but feel welcome and safe here too.”
Play Forever takes many shapes and forms, from sustainability projects and education programs to scholarships and donations. Through Play Forever, Mt. Bachelor has fostered partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and public agencies to better serve those who have been historically and systematically underrepresented and marginalized.
Play Forever has allowed Mt. Bachelor to identify obstacles that prevent people from enjoying outdoor activities, and then find solutions. Whether it's funding transportation, providing free lift tickets, lessons, and rentals, giving out lunch vouchers, hosting inclusive events, or offering winter clothing to scholarship recipients, Mt. Bachelor teams are working hard to enhance accessibility and the feeling of belonging at the resort.
“While a core pillar of Play Forever is to increase access by providing resources and support to various groups and individuals, the foundation of Play Forever is the relationships we form along the way,” said Presley Quon, communications and community relations manager. “Play Forever is more than just an avenue for scholarships and donations; it’s a catalyst for life-long connections to each other and the mountain.”
While 2024/25 season data is still being collected (Mt. Bachelor’s closing day is May 26), Quon noted that as of mid-April, they have provided:
- +200 full-ride Alpine and Nordic scholarships in partnership with 11 nonprofits
- +100 ski and snowboard lesson scholarships
- +100 ski and snowboard rental scholarships
- +250 free lunches for youth and nonprofit staff and volunteers
- +350k comped single-day lift tickets for nonprofit partner organizations
- +$5k in grants for youth to purchase ski and snowboard gear
“This year we saw the ripple effect of our collective efforts in the community: we are witnessing multi-generational, and familial engagement in our winter programs, which shows an increase of trust and growth in our program,” said Veronica Vega, youth and family programs coordinator at Vamonos Outside.
“People are inquiring about lessons, job fairs and are learning more about the benefits of working at Bachelor. Most importantly, we are inviting the community to experience the beauty of Mt. Bachelor and feel the goodness of time spent outdoors with family and friends. We are so grateful for Mt. Bachelor’s support and partnership and look forward to growing together each year.”
To learn more about Play Forever, visit Play Forever at Mt. Bachelor.
