Snow Business: Mount Southington Proves An Old Adage On New Year's Day

SOUTHINGTON, CT — There is an entry in the Middle English snow sports scrolls that goes something like this:

"Ye shal skie and ryde on Newe Yeres Day to seke mirthe and refut, whil the revelours of yestir-nyghte slepen out hir dronkenesse."

In other words, go to bed early on Dec. 31 and go ski or ride on New Year's Day morning because the partiers will be sleeping it off and you'll have the mountain to yourself.

That was certainly the case Thursday at Mount Southington.

Let's start from the beginning. When the alarm went off at 6 a.m. Thursday, Mother nature was adding an extra bonus with a light, powdery snow that was coming down not at the pace of a paltry inch as forecast, but in an amount that could be shoveled.

I was the only creature stirring at the moment, and it seemed the same when the vehicle pulled into the parking. lot in Plantsville.

One look at the hill and it was obvious that Mount Southington, especially with its upgraded snowmaking system, had taken advantage of the cold temperatures as of late.

"Yeah, this place doesn't fool around," one skier said.

With every trail open and base depths at between 18 inches and 2 feet, things were good from the greens to the blues to the black diamonds. And the lines were non-existent. The morning was pure paradise.

OK, even after noon, when more skiers and riders started waking up and arriving, things were stellar. It was the correct decision.

Of the smaller mountains in the area, Southington always seems to be the right destination and it seems to go back to the pandemic when, rather than complaining, it steadily increased its offerings while building its infrastructure. So, on a day like Thursday, even the advanced crowd felt satisfied.

New for this year are a new patio area at the base and a new learning area, which retains the terrain-based teaching philosophy while adding more elements.

During the offseason, Mount Southington received a Golden Eagle Award from the National Ski Areas Association for a community partnership.

In April, Snowball Effect and Mount Southington teamed up to launch ON BOARD, a breakthrough initiative that connects sport, sustainability, and education to create real impact for local families.

With a focus on environmental stewardship and youth engagement, ON BOARD is reinventing how ski areas and resorts connect with their communities, starting right here in Connecticut.

“ON BOARD is about inspiring the next generation to take action for the planet,” Snowball Effect Founmder Jeff Boliba said. "We’re using the joy of movement and the power of play to help kids build climate awareness, connect with their communities, and gain confidence. Whether in the school gym, at local events, or on the slopes, young learners are discovering that sorting waste, composting food scraps, and caring for nature are fun, powerful ways they can make a real difference—one small action at a time."

What began as a simple idea to inspire young stewards of the mountain has grown into a model
of community-driven sustainability. In partnership with local schools, composting innovators, and
families, Mount Southington has already diverted over 2,947 pounds of food waste, prevented
618 pounds of CO2 emissions, and generated 386 kilowatt hours of clean energy — all while giving local students hands-on lessons in recycling, composting, and snowboarding fundamentals through
the Snowball Park experience.

"ON BOARD has helped us strengthen our commitment to the community in new and exciting ways," Mopunt Southington General Manager Jay Dougherty said. "We brought the mountain to local schools — introducing kids to winter sports through interactive activities, while weaving in fun, hands-on lessons about composting, clean energy, and recycling. It’s opened up a whole new way to connect with families, inspire young athletes, and take real environmental action. And this is just the beginning."

As part of ON BOARD, Mount Southington is bringing winter sports and sustainability into
schools and communities in creative new ways. At the heart of the initiative is Snowball Park — that aforementioned mobile, kid-friendly environment where children learn about composting, recycling, and environmental stewardship through movement, interactive play, and storytelling from Snowball the Mascot.

With a unique gym-to-slopes progression, students build confidence in physical education settings before hitting the mountain. Powered by partnerships with Blue Earth Compost and Quantum Organics, the program turns food waste into clean energy and healthy soil, making the connection between small actions and big environmental impact.

What’s next?

Mount Southington has expanded its PE curriculum into more Southington elementary schools, by launching the Snowball Park Treehouse for year-round engagement, introducing an interactive education experience at the resort entrance, and growing sustainability messaging across digital and community platforms. On-site improvements like reusable dining ware, EV charging stations, efficient snowmaking, water refill stations, and composting bins at the Red Barn are turning values into action. With ON BOARD, Mount Southington is redefining what a Ski Area can be — a hub for learning, community connection, and climate action.

The ON BOARD initiative — developed with leadership from Snowball Effect in collaboration
with Mount Southington, and powered by community partners Quantum Organics, Blue
Earth Compost, and Southington Public Schools

The NSAA Golden Eagle Award for Community & Partnerships award honors
innovative programs that leverage local partnerships to drive environmental impact and inspire
climate action.

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Chris Dehnel is a Patch Editor who has been writing about skiing and snowboarding since 1999. He has been featured in several books about snow sports and is both a past-president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association and a past board member of the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. His Snow Business column runs periodically during the season.