Edward Maynard stands at the top of a mountain in his skis. He looks down over the intimidating slope, quite nervous from looking at the steep angle covered in snow and ice. He is surrounded by his friends, however, he is the only one that does not know how to ski yet.

Maynard, class of ’93 and now Director of Enrollment, went on ski trips when he attended JC and remembers not being able to ski, unlike all his friends.

“I had just learned how to ski. I remember being really nervous because I did not know how to ski, and everyone was much better,” Maynard said.

According to Maynard, the ski club was around in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The club used to go on trips to local resorts, Hunter Mountain in New York, Killington, Vermont, and even Canada. The ski club ceased to exist for a while, but then returned in 2010 when a student approached Guidance Counselor Larry Hensley with the idea of bringing the club back into existence.

In 2010, Maynard, Hensley, and science teacher Shane Lawler, class of ’00.Took students up on mini-buses to local resorts. According to Hensley, the club first consisted of day trips, but over the past three years, it has grown into a two- night trip.

“It’s just surprising that we have to turn people away,” Hensley said. “I had to turn away 15-20 kids.”

“My favorite part of trips are hanging out with Maynard, and [health teacher Tess] Gauthier,” Hensley said. “I don’t ski on the trips, but I do enjoy skiing.”

Maynard said his favorite parts of the trips are “hanging out with Hensley and Gauthier and skiing with the students. Its nice to see kids who don’t normally bond together. I like seeing students in an environment outside of school.”

Maynard has more plans for the ski club in the future. “I want to do three after school trips this year. Last year we only did one,” Maynard said. “In the future I would like to take it further, possibly even into Canada.”

Cole Alban is the Online Chief for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.