Mission

No child will be denied the opportunity to ski or ride. In 1998, Cochran’s Ski Area became a non-profit organization with a mission “to provide area youth and families with affordable skiing and snowboarding, lessons and race training, in the Cochran tradition.” Cochran’s is the nation’s first IRS 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt ski area.

Starting in 1961, Mickey and Ginny Cochran operated their backyard rope-tow with the support and commitment from the local community. Working together as a community, each year they were able to introduce countless kids to a favorite Vermont winter pastime. “It was always a non profit,” Mickey’s son Bobby likes to joke, “becoming a 501(c)(3) just made it official.”

Today, the legacy of Mickey and Ginny and their passion for recreation continues on this Vermont hillside. Cochran’s Ski Area hosts 2,000 kids from school programs, facilitates races/training for the next generation of Olympic hopefuls, and provides a welcoming place for thousands of families and youngsters to learn to ski.

Learn more about donating or volunteering here.

Please be in touch! Write us a skiarea@cochranskiarea.com or stop by the ski area and say hi.