Play Forever
Play Forever
Community
In it together.
Snowbird supports our communities through financial and in-kind contributions. We also prioritize direct engagement activities within our local community and around our interconnected world.
Investment
The communities surrounding Snowbird are an integral part of what makes this place so special. When COVID-19 struck, Snowbird saw a need for assistance in the surrounding community and worked to help meet it via a $100,000 donation to the Utah Food Bank. Since then, local relief has become a pillar of our Play Forever initiatives, partnering with dozens of trusted local organizations to help make a difference.
One of the biggest ways Snowbird invests in our community is through Play Forever Wednesdays—Snowbird's weekly give-back program–which donates $5 of every lift ticket sold on qualifying Wednesdays to a local non-profit. In the 2023-24 season, Snowbird partnered with 21 organizations, all of which received a minimum of $2,000. Snowbird has donated over $133,000 to participating non-profits in the program's lifetime.
Access
Snowbird is proud to work with a number of local and national organizations to provide resources and opportunities that increase participation in winter sports and outdoor activities—from adults to children to those with adaptive needs.
One such organization is Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS)—which is based out of Snowbird. This non-profit organization was founded by a Snowbird ski instructor in 1977 and provides recreational services to children, adults and veterans with physical and intellectual disabilities, often times at little to no cost.
Additional Snowbird partners that are committed to the Play Forever mentality include Ski Utah’s Discover Winter program, High Fives Foundation, Snowbird Sports Education Foundation and SOS Outreach.
Action
Whether it’s organizing the Annual Little Cottonwood Canyon Clean Up Day, participating in Ski Utah’s Discover Winter program, lobbying with our state and local governments or working to protect the Little Cottonwood Canyon watershed, we believe our actions speak louder than words.
Did you know? Snowbird helped start the Ski Conservation Fund in partnership with the National Forest Foundation (NFF). A donation is made to the Ski Conservation Fund for every booked hotel room at Snowbird—a practice now adopted by many ski resorts. Since 2005, the NFF has matched Snowbird's contribution 50 cents to the dollar, resulting in nearly $1.2 million going to organizations doing conservation work on National Forest land.
Awards & Accomplishments
Snowbird has received dozens of state and national awards in environmental sustainability. Snowbird’s ongoing commitment to Play Forever has helped Snowbird become an industry leader in sustainability efforts.
Recognition for Sustainable Design 2026
Ski Area Management Magazine recognized The Nest’s innovative approach to waste reduction, energy efficiency and electrification at the new mid-mountain restaurant. Efforts include 100% food-waste separation, an all-electric kitchen and heating systems, and design strategies that balance environmental stewardship with high-alpine operations.
Utah Association of Energy Users Award 2023
Snowbird Power Systems was awarded the Utah Association of Energy Users Award in 2023 for outstanding leadership in energy efficiency and conservation.
National Recognition Award 2023
Awarded to Snowbird Power Systems by the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Recognition Award is a prestigious distinction honoring projects demonstrating exceptional engineering excellence at the national level.
Climate Advocacy Badge 2023
Excellence in climate advocacy through supporting climate policy and innovative solutions that further the transition to a clean energy economy from NSAA.
Climate Action Badge 2023
Excellence in climate action for satisfactory tracked and reduced carbon emissions awarded by NSAA.
Gold RCI Green Award 2020
Third-party eco-certification expert GreenCircle Certified, LLC selected Snowbird as one of their winners based on our innovations in energy and water conservation, waste management, community outreach and environmental management.
Climate Action Badge 2020
Recognizing our commitment to track, target and reduce carbon emissions by NSAA.
Climate Advocacy Badge 2020
Recognizing our commitment to support climate policy that will result in broad-scale carbon emission reductions, promote energy innovation and support the transition to a clean energy economy by NSAA.
POW Day Award 2017
Awarded by Protect Our Winters for encouraging skiers and riders to carpool, take UTA or ride-share to help lower CO2 emissions, reduce traffic congestion and increase the overall awareness around environmental accountability.
"A" Grade 2008
The Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition awarded Snowbird an “A” grade after surveying the resort’s environmental commitment to a number of categories, including its footprint, development plans, protection of local species and environment, water and energy conservation, transportation and other key areas.
1st Private Mining Cleanup in Utah
With partners Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service and Tiffany & Co., Snowbird made history by becoming the first private landowner in Utah to help fund a mining-era clean-up effort to eliminate tailings that were affecting the American Fork watershed.
Recognition for Sustainable Design 2026
Ski Area Management Magazine recognized The Nest’s innovative approach to waste reduction, energy efficiency and electrification at the new mid-mountain restaurant. Efforts include 100% food-waste separation, an all-electric kitchen and heating systems, and design strategies that balance environmental stewardship with high-alpine operations.
Utah Association of Energy Users Award 2023
Snowbird Power Systems was awarded the Utah Association of Energy Users Award in 2023 for outstanding leadership in energy efficiency and conservation.
National Recognition Award 2023
Awarded to Snowbird Power Systems by the American Council of Engineering Companies, the National Recognition Award is a prestigious distinction honoring projects demonstrating exceptional engineering excellence at the national level.
Climate Advocacy Badge 2023
Excellence in climate advocacy through supporting climate policy and innovative solutions that further the transition to a clean energy economy from NSAA.
Climate Action Badge 2023
Excellence in climate action for satisfactory tracked and reduced carbon emissions awarded by NSAA.
Gold RCI Green Award 2020
Third-party eco-certification expert GreenCircle Certified, LLC selected Snowbird as one of their winners based on our innovations in energy and water conservation, waste management, community outreach and environmental management.
Climate Action Badge 2020
Recognizing our commitment to track, target and reduce carbon emissions by NSAA.
Climate Advocacy Badge 2020
Recognizing our commitment to support climate policy that will result in broad-scale carbon emission reductions, promote energy innovation and support the transition to a clean energy economy by NSAA.
POW Day Award 2017
Awarded by Protect Our Winters for encouraging skiers and riders to carpool, take UTA or ride-share to help lower CO2 emissions, reduce traffic congestion and increase the overall awareness around environmental accountability.
"A" Grade 2008
The Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition awarded Snowbird an “A” grade after surveying the resort’s environmental commitment to a number of categories, including its footprint, development plans, protection of local species and environment, water and energy conservation, transportation and other key areas.
1st Private Mining Cleanup in Utah
With partners Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service and Tiffany & Co., Snowbird made history by becoming the first private landowner in Utah to help fund a mining-era clean-up effort to eliminate tailings that were affecting the American Fork watershed.