Mad River Glen provides an amazing natural skiing experience that features some of the most interesting, varied, and challenging terrain on the east coast. This terrain combined with some of the best ski schools, racing programs, and free-ski programs on the east coast creates incredibly good skiers who are able to ski any terrain in any condition. The Mad River Valley is an amazing place to grow up with exceptional opportunities to get out and play year-round. In the winter months, the quality of skiing for kids in the Valley is second to none. Powder Magazine rated Mad River Glen as the best place to grow up skiing and generations of skiers would agree. Unfortunately, not all local students participate because of the costs associated with skiing and the timing of these programs. The rising cost of skiing at most ski areas limits access to middle and low-income families and prevents kids from being introduced to the sport.

The goal Stark Mountain Foundation is to help local Mad River Glen youth skiers develop the knowledge and skills to begin a lifelong love of the natural winter environment, Stark Mountain, and all areas beyond a ski area boundary.

In 2021, with the support of Stark Mountain Foundation, Mad River Glen created a Backcountry Program for youth skiers. The program focused on snow and ski safety while exploring backcountry terrain as well as an introduction to the natural winter environment. In its inaugural year, the program featured 2 one-day courses at an affordable rate and included equipment if needed. The Stark Mountain Foundation grant funded the equipment purchases and programming for the 2021-2022 season and programming and development for the 2022-2023 season.

In 2019, SMF and MRG created, Skiing for Scholars an after-school program on Friday afternoons for area youth (from pre-school through high school) in the Harwood Union Supervisory Union, (Waitsfield, Warren, Fayston, Moretown, Duxbury, Waterbury) and the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union (Bristol/Lincoln area). The program provided local students of all abilities access to free lift tickets, rentals, and lessons. It also offered “Fast Start” intro to racing for the more experienced skiers interested in learning basic ski race techniques and the thrill of running set courses with video analysis. In 2023 this program was put on hold due to a change in the HUUSD school schedule, dismissing students later in the afternoon.