Ski Trip — South Atlantic Youth Camps

“The next WELS Teen Ski weekend will be held February 6-8, 2026. Registration will open in Fall of 2025”

SKI TRIP - February 6-8, 2026

WHO: All youth ages 11-18
WHAT: An exciting weekend in the mountains of Gatlinburg! Activities include a scavenger hunt, skiing or snowboarding, games, Bible study, worship, meeting new friends, pool, hot tub, and lots of good food. See the full schedule of events and extra information below.
WHERE: Lodging is at the Edgewater Resort; Skiing / Snowboarding is at Ober Gatlinburg
WHEN: February 7-9, 2025 (Activities begin Friday night and go through Sunday afternoon). The deadline to register through your local church is December 15, 2024.
HOW: The cost for skiing and snowboarding is $200 and $125 for no activity. This registration cost covers lodging, the tram ride, breakfasts at the hotel, and the activity on Saturday. Lunch and dinner are left for each church/youth group to cover. (Each church will receive one invoice and send in one payment per group.)

Registration will open in Fall of 2025

What does the schedule look like?

Here’s last year…
Friday, February 7 - Sunday, February 9, 2025

Friday, February 7

Check-in — Check into the hotel. Matt Westra & Caleb Kurbis will be there.
8:30pm - 10:30pm — Scavenger hunt challenge, Games, Forms and Instructions
10:30pm - 10:45pm — Reflection time
11:00pm — Lights out

Saturday, February 8

7:00am — Wake Up
7:30am - 8:00am — Breakfast and meet in conference room
8:30am — Everyone leaves hotel for Aerial Tram
- Masks are required on the Aerial Tram
Time at Ober
- Lunch and dinner are left for each church/youth group to cover.
- All who leave the mountain early have to be with their church group and chaperone.
7:00pm — Leave Ober and head back to hotel
8:00pm - 10:00pm — Bible study, Games, & Devotion
10:30pm - 10:45pm — Reflection time
11:00pm — Lights out

Sunday, February 9

8:30am - 9:30am — Breakfast and meet in lobby
9:30am - 10:30am — Worship
11:00am — Check out at your leisure and lunch on your own.

More information…

Arrival & Check-In

Arrive any time at the hotel on Friday. Parking is available for guests in the first two levels of the hotel. The events will begin at 8:30pm. Please make sure to be in the conference room at that time, travel time permitting. If you arrive early you can swim in the pool and/or check out downtown Gatlinburg. Youth and chaperones can all check in at the front desk. The hotel will have your room assignments and keys available. Chaperones, please make sure you know what your youth are doing and that they know they should be in the conference room at 8:30pm on Friday.

Departure & Check-Out
The ski trip ends with the closing of worship on Sunday. Feel free to stick around as long as you would like or just hit the road. There is plenty to do in downtown Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountains are just minutes away. Pigeon Forge is about 10 miles away.

Links

Smoky Mountains: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm.

Pigeon Forge Info: http://www.mypigeonforge.com.

Gatlinburg: https://www.gatlinburg.com.

Location

We will be staying at the Edgewater Hotel all weekend. https://edgewater-hotel.com.

The winter activities will be at Ober Gatlinburg - https://obergatlinburg.com.

The aerial tram taking us up the mountain to the ski hill is within walking distance of the hotel.

Packing List:

Enough clothes and sleep wear for three days and two nights.
Swimsuit if interested in using the pool & hot tubs
Clothes for skiing or snowboarding. (Warm shoes/boots, warm layers, possible ski pants or bibs, gloves, hats, sunglasses or ski goggles, and helmets if preferred.)
- For those skiing and snowboarding, we recommend that you consider wearing a helmet. It has happened where someone hits their head on the snow or ice and has a tough time the rest of the day. We also recommend that you bring some form of sunglasses. Even on a cloudy day it is very bright. Those who forget are often left to purchase sunglasses in the gift shop at the top of the mountain.
- The original rental price through your registration covers skis, boots, and poles for skiers, or snowboards and snowboard boots for snowboarders. Renting goggles or helmets comes at an extra charge and is left up to each individual.

Emergency Contact info:

Pastor Isaac Crass (icrass434@gmail.com)

Pastor Matt Westra (pastormwestra@gmail.com)

Pastor Caleb Kurbis (pastorkurbis@gmail.com)