With skates laced and helmets on, Gunnison Valley first graders are stepping onto the ice for the first time through the West Elk Hockey Association (WEHA)’s Skate for PE program.

WEHA might be best known for running youth programs and adult recreation leagues that draw hundreds of participants ranging from 3 to 80 years old. But Skate for PE focuses on something different: exposure.

The program, created by WEHA Executive Director Bill Frame, gets every first-grade student in the school district on ice once a week for three weeks. It emerged from partnerships among WEHA, the RE1J School District, the City of Gunnison and the Town of Crested Butte. The municipalities provide ice time during the school day while WEHA supplies equipment, instruction and fun.

The program is part of WEHA’s effort to make winter recreation welcoming and financially feasible for more participants and families in the valley.

“Half this class would never come to the rink if it wasn’t for this program,” Frame said. 

Expanding the program to Gunnison two years ago marked an important step toward reaching more students across the valley. Roughly half of the students in the Gunnison classes are bilingual, and the program often introduces families to the ice rink for the first time.

“It’s grown beyond getting kids involved in hockey,” Frame said. “It’s more about giving kids an experience.”

To launch the program, WEHA invested about $15,000 in youth gear, ensuring every student can learn safely at zero cost to their families. Today, the organization maintains about 35 sets of kids’ gear including skates, helmets, elbow pads, shin guards and hip pads.

Frame said the protective equipment helps new skaters feel secure as they learn, a process that often involves a lot of falling.

“It’s not just hockey gear,” he said. “It’s protective equipment so they can enjoy the experience and not hurt themselves.”

Frame even designs ice time to center fun. Instead of traditional drills, Frame uses games to help students build skating skills without overthinking. Activities like Sharks and Minnows, Freeze Tag and ice soccer keep kids moving, laughing and practicing.

“It’s always about the fun,” he said.

The approach reflects Frame’s philosophy after more than 30 years of coaching youth hockey in the valley: instill in kids the joy of trying hard things. He uses ice time to emphasize growth mindset with the young skaters, encouraging them to view challenges as opportunities.

“These kids, all they have to do is try,” he said. “I’ve always set high expectations for kids, and they meet those. Everybody wants to feel good about themselves. If they can get out there and try and see some success, it’s a good thing. And not just in this program, in life.”