Here is one of the best deals in Western skiing, and it is back for 2026-27: the Ski Idaho 5th and 6th Grade Peak Season Passport gives fifth graders three free ski days and sixth graders two free days at each of 18 participating Idaho resorts, including Schweitzer. Registration opens in October at Skiidaho.us.
Do the math and the value is staggering. A fifth grader's passport unlocks three free days at Schweitzer, three at Silver Mountain, three at Lookout Pass, three at Sun Valley, three at Bogus Basin, and so on across all 18 participating hills. Sixth graders get two free days at each stop. The program's organizers have estimated the total value at more than $2,600 for fifth graders and around $1,800 for sixth graders. It is open to kids from any state or country, not just Idaho residents.
There is new tiered pricing this season, so timing matters. The passport costs $29 if you register before December 20, and $49 after that date. Either way it is a rounding error compared to what the free days are worth, but there is no reason to pay the higher price. Register in October or November and lock in the lower fee.
Redemption is simple: show the passport, with a parent or guardian present, at the ticket window to receive the free lift ticket. You can print the passport or pull it up on a smartphone. One caution: blackout dates vary by resort, so check with each mountain before you plan a trip around the passport, and confirm that the passport is valid for the dates you want.
Each passport also includes a complimentary family subscription to AirFlare, a mountain safety app endorsed by ski patrol directors across Idaho, a thoughtful add-on for families exploring unfamiliar mountains.
For a Schweitzer family trip, the passport is the rare win-win: kids ski free while parents plan around it. If you have a fifth or sixth grader and a winter trip on the calendar, this is the single highest-value move you can make before the season starts.