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Do ski resorts let minors live in employee housing?

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cgoal_in
Posts: 89 - Karma: 366
Hey guys I'm trying to plan my post high school gap year for 2016-2017. I was planing on applying for a job at a ski resort (Alta, Whistler) and living there for the season in employee housing, except I realized that I'll be 17 and I'm not sure if they allow minors to live in employee housing? Does anybody have knowledge or experience with this?

Or, on another topic, what would you do if you were taking a gap year next year/what did you do for a gap year in the past?
Dec 23 2015 11:18PM
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Skates_skis
Posts: 210 - Karma: 681
Even though I am only a freshman I high school my plan is to buy a 4wd van and convert it in to a camper van style of thing. Save up a bunch of money during high school then ski bumb around the country. Plans might change but it sounds fun.
Dec 24 2015 2:02AM
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eheath
Posts: 61734 - Karma: 124,627
Op I don't have an answer for you but it could be an issue.

That being said, I don't advocate the whole gap year thing. Go to school while you're young, get it done then fuck around. Just personal opinion based on personal experiences.
Dec 24 2015 2:19AM
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UilyJeff
Posts: 394 - Karma: 1,482
eheathOp I don't have an answer for you but it could be an issue.

That being said, I don't advocate the whole gap year thing. Go to school while you're young, get it done then fuck around. Just personal opinion based on personal experiences.


I'm with him on this. I did a gap year, made so much money it was hard to lose that when going to college.
Dec 24 2015 5:08AM
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Craze
Posts: 1132 - Karma: 423
eheathOp I don't have an answer for you but it could be an issue.

That being said, I don't advocate the whole gap year thing. Go to school while you're young, get it done then fuck around. Just personal opinion based on personal experiences.


I agree with him I did 3 gap years and wish I went straight through after hs. One gap year snowballs.
Dec 24 2015 10:24AM
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Dddsz
Posts: 3042 - Karma: 7,326
I'm planning a gap year in Jackson hole for the 2017-2018 season. If you want to do it, go for it dude. Don't listen to the people who think college is the only option.

Gap year after college + student debt= disaster.

If you have good self-control and you know you can limit it to a year, its a great idea. My mom took a year off in Steamboat and my uncle spent a season traveling between different resorts. They are both doing great in life.

Read this article...https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/Why-Move-Ski-Town-Year
Dec 24 2015 11:25AM
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DBack1321
Posts: 410 - Karma: 485
Op.I'm planning a gap year in Jackson hole for the 2017-2018 season. If you want to do it, go for it dude. Don't listen to the people who think college is the only option.

Gap year after college + student debt= disaster.

If you have good self-control and you know you can limit it to a year, its a great idea. My mom took a year off in Steamboat and my uncle spent a season traveling between different resorts. They are both doing great in life.

Read this article...https://www.newschoolers.com/news/read/Why-Move-Ski-Town-Year



That's what I was thinking too. A gap year after college is no longer a gap year haha it's more like you're just poor with a bad paying job. That compounded with student debt is a horrible idea. If you think you can make it bumming while paying student loans, I really hope you have a hefty savings you can dip into.

I took 5 years off between high school and college. If you have the motivation to learn, going back won't be a problem. Years off in between also definitely allows you to mature and take classes seriously once you do go back if you choose to.
Dec 24 2015 1:03PM
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blazeonyia
Posts: 357 - Karma: 1,399
I did a gap year and realized that I both needed to finish school and needed to keep skiing. Decided to switch up the way I finished college: Took summer and fall semesters then went straight out to the mountains at the start of winter break and skipped spring semester. This is a slow way to finish as most colleges will only allow 12 credits max for summer semester, though your winter will be free to shred starting around mid-December.

I am with the others here advocating for you to finish school...and ski bum it. You should do all the things..
Dec 24 2015 1:56PM
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Alex_Moreno
Posts: 158 - Karma: 495
I assume it's different at different mountains. I would be surprised if many allow minors to live in employee housing. I know of mountains that let under 21 live in employee housing, but not sure about under 18. Also, getting a job at Whistler is surprisingly tough especially if you're from the states.
Dec 24 2015 11:31PM
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
eheathOp I don't have an answer for you but it could be an issue.

That being said, I don't advocate the whole gap year thing. Go to school while you're young, get it done then fuck around. Just personal opinion based on personal experiences.


I'm only a senior in HS right now and am not seriously considering a gap year, but I don't agree with this.

The thing is, when you graduate college, you are either (1) looking for serious employment or (more likely) (2) looking for serious employment and in a shitlode of debt.

You are 21-22 when you graduate college and all on your own. You have to support yourself financially. The year after HS however, is the only time in your life you have a specific type of freedom: one of socially acceptable bummness and financial support from parents. Sure, you should work to an extent, but the money you make is no where near as important as the necessity of getting a job after college graduation.

After HS, you can travel, work, volunteer, etc., and not worry about the repercussions of not making a living wage for 12 months. I'm sure this isn't the case for every person, many have actual jobs and save for post-college, but for the most part, people do what OP is suggesting; do something they love without too much financial worry.

Just my 2 cents.
Dec 25 2015 9:35AM
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dyyylan
Posts: 186 - Karma: 500
Nah that's not true at all unless you're trying to become an investment banker or some shit.

Taking a year off to pursue passions, or whatever, is acceptable at any time. Taking time off between jobs, taking long vacations etc etc, no big deal.

I agree with evan, just go to school and get it done, you have your whole life to fuck around and it'll be a lot harder to focus on school if you take a bunch of time off in between.

You also don't have to be super serious with school. You can take one or two classes at a time, work some, ski some, and graduate with less debt. I took a little over 5 years to graduate doing this, but was able to surf/skate a ton while working, and paid cash for my classes. Being able to graduate with no debt at all is very nice, since you can just get a real job and it's all profit.
Dec 25 2015 4:42PM
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japanada
Posts: 13785 - Karma: 1,956
most employee housing ive seen is 21 plus. You may be able to find a place that is 18, maaaybe. Honestly Id wait until your 21, b/c you may get bored when all your friends are going out and drinking after riding all day.
Dec 25 2015 5:34PM
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Alex_Moreno
Posts: 158 - Karma: 495
A well planned and ski dedicated gap year directly after high school is something I wish I did. You have your whole life to go get educated and work, but your body will only be ready to be pushed for so long. Also, to me it just makes more since to work and live on the mountain before you've worked and paid to qualify yourself for a "real" and "serious" job.
Dec 25 2015 5:48PM
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Drail
Posts: 14033 - Karma: 10,205
Unless things have changed, you can live at staff housing in whistler at 18. First summer I moved out to BC I lived in staff housing for a few months at 18. It was in the summer and I wasn't working for the hill, but if they let me live there and not even work for the hill I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue if you are staff living there in the winter.
Dec 25 2015 7:20PM
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ShredMasterPlus
Posts: 1159 - Karma: 807
I spent 3 months in Charlestown in Lake Louise when I was 17, I was the only person that age in the whole building then, not sure if that flys anymore.
Dec 26 2015 2:55PM
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Emma_Watson
Posts: 4491 - Karma: 6,799
[url=http://
Dec 26 2015 3:02PM
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Emma_Watson
Posts: 4491 - Karma: 6,799
https://www.newschoolers.com/videos/watch/803208/Gap-Yah
Dec 26 2015 3:04PM
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minihef
Posts: 813 - Karma: 781
I would be very surprised if any companies would provide staff accom to anyone younger than 18. There are too many liability issues for an employer. I can't talk for all resorts but that's my experience from having lived in ski resort staff accom and also from managing at a hotel in a ski town which provides staff accom to employees.

As for a gap year I took one and couldn't recommend it highly enough. I had an awesome time, skied a shit load, and was one year older and wiser for my university studies. After 7 months away working and living at a resort, I went to uni for four years, had an amazing time, came out with very good grades and went on to become a full time ski bum. YMMV
Dec 26 2015 10:18PM
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