News : Shellsburg students learn basics of skiing and Sundown Mountain

Instructors gave VS 5th graders their first ski lessons Monday at Sundown Mountain.

The VS fifth graders left Shellsburg Elementary Monday morning for the bus trip to the Sundown Mountain ski resort near Dubuque.

A few teachers and several parents, including some who had never skiied before, joined the 5th graders in the snow. Several ski instructors offered lessons to the participants at every level. The resort offered special school pricing, and funding for the trip came from a Vinton Community Foundation grant.

This is the first such trip for Shellsburg students. Principal Ryan Davis led similar trips when he was at a Minnesota school district.

Davis told the students the trip is part of the Physical Education curriculum.

"We hope you have fun and learn a new skill you can use throughout your life," the principal told the students before they boarded the buses.

"I am so proud of our students," said PE teacher Lucas Sears."They caught on quickly and had lots of fun. Hopefully Shellsburg Elementary can make the trip every year. I had a blast out there helping our students."

See more photos HERE.