Since the community banded together and took ownership of the mountain in 1992, the nonprofit Mt. Ashland Association has committed to providing a greater impact on the Rogue Valley beyond the stoke of turning and burning. With the support of local donors and sponsors, the longstanding After School Youth Program has taught over 30,000 local elementary and middle school students how to ski and snowboard since the program began over 20 years ago. Southern Oregon University’s proximity to Mt. Ashland not only means students can sneak turns between classes, but they also use the ski area as a lab for their environmental restoration studies, hospitality management projects, and interpretation programs. These education initiatives are grooming stewards of the mountain for generations to come.