Snow patrol

SNOW PROBLEM Little boarders get their groove on at Raging Buffalo Snowbaord Park.

Didn’t make it to Killington, Vermont, or Park City, Utah, with the kids over winter break? There’s no need to lament a lost ski and snowboard season just because you live in the mountainless Midwest. While your kids may not get the thrills that come with skiing and snowboarding the hillier terrain in parts East and West, there are plenty of places close to home where they can learn snow sports.

Boardom in Algonquin

Raging Buffalo Snowboard Park (Rt 31 and South Dr, Algonquin, 847-836-7243, ragingbuffalo.com; weekend lift tickets: $32–40). leases space from the Kane County Forest Preserve for what it says is the world’s only exclusive snowboard site (translation: There’s no skiing). The park—just a 45-minute drive from the city—offers lessons for ages three and up; one-on-one instruction is $40 an hour, group lessons cost $20 an hour. Park cofounder Keith Duck says families can get the hang of the sport fairly quickly. “Snowboarding is a lot like being a mermaid: You can’t kick your feet separately—you have to use them together,” he says. “But the learning curve is quicker than with skiing. You become an intermediate snowboarder in three days.”

Raging Buffalo also runs a school fund-raiser program that offers reduced rates for student groups, including $35 beginning packages (lift ticket, lessons and rental) or $20 lift tickets (sans lessons and rentals). The park donates 10 percent of the group’s purchase back to the school.

Mountain do

About 65 miles north of Chicago, Wilmot Mountain (11931 Fox River Rd, Wilmot, WI, 262-862-2301, wilmotmountain.com; weekend lift tcikets $40, kids $27). is home to Winter Wonderland, a ski and play area designed for kids ages four to nine, where four levels of training are supervised by ski instructors . Lessons are $30 for two hours.

Clowning around

At Alpine Valley Resort (W2501 County Rd D, Elkhorn, WI, 262-642-7374, alpinevalleyresort.com; weekend lift tickets $32, kids $30 ), 85 miles north of the city, kids can learn to ski with Mr. Bill, a professional clown, ski instructor and grade-school teacher. On Saturdays and Sundays, he dons face makeup and a big red nose and takes kids ages five to seven on a two-hour Kinder Kids ski program ($25). More advanced skiers and snowboarders, ages 8 to 12, can join one-and-a-half-hour group lessons ($25) every weekend. A minimum of four children is needed for these classes.

Devil of a good time

Further north, at Devil’s Head Resort (6330 Bluff Rd, Merrimac, WI, 800-472-6670, devilsheadresort.com; weekend lift tickets $44, kids $37), kids ages 3 to 6 learn turning and gliding in the Little Carvers program. Skiers and snowboarders ages 6 to 12 of varying skill levels can participate in the resort’s Little Carvers and Rad Riders group lessons ($15 for two hours, including snack).

It’s all downhill from here

Finally, about 380 miles away, Granite Peak (3605 N Mountain Rd, Wausau, WI, 715-845-2846, skigranitepeak.com; weekend lift tickets $52, kids $38) in Rib Mountain State Park is worth the long drive for its 60 new ski runs and high-speed lift. The Teddy Bear Program for kids ages three to eight teaches ski basics ($80 for full-day lessons). In the Mountaineer Program, skiers and boarders ages 9 to 12 get two hours of instruction ($45 for morning or afternoon lessons).

The resort’s upcoming Family Festival Weekends on February 1 to 3 and March 7 to 9 include special lodging and lift-ticket rates, plus two free days of ski or snowboard rental, horse-drawn sleigh rides, fireworks shows and bonfires.