From day trips in the Northeast, including some right here in Connecticut, to across-the-country snowy mountain getaways ... to stays overseas, the Newtown Winterset Ski Club provides a variety of skiing and snowboarding opportunities throughout each winter and early spring. The fun continues off the slopes with a variety of activities in the warmer months.

Kevin McNerney, longtime Winterset board member and trips director, who will be stepping down from his post, has been skiing since the middle 1980s when he was in his 30s and has enjoyed being part of Winterset for a variety of reasons.

“Being in the club reduces the cost of skiing. Half the fun is relating to other skiers and riders about different mountains, conditions, best runs down the hill,” said McNerney, adding that being involved enables people to “look forward to an outdoor winter activity rather than dreading winter entirely.”

“The club sponsors a September picnic outdoors at a local park, which is always fun. We also meet at a local restaurant for wings or pizza sponsored by our club membership funds and dues,” said McNerney, whose two children ski.

McNerney has introduced his three grandchildren to skiing through Leisuretime of Southbury’s children’s program, which collects a one-time fee and in exchange children can use equipment for a season and return it each year as they grow and need bigger boots, different skis, poles, etc, until they reach 110 pounds.

Carolyn Eiseman, who has been skiing for about two decades and has two now adult children who grew up in the club, serves on the Winterset board and runs trips for members. In late May and early June the board will make plans for next season’s excursions.

Eiseman led a trip to Heavenly Mountain Resort in California in early March. In addition to the beautiful views and great skiing, as a way to make the trip even more fun Eiseman set up a challenge for participants to be photographed with as many of the resort’s avalanche rescue dogs as possible. Sara Wernau was photographed with five rescue dogs and was the winner of the contest.

Trips have been made to Whistler Mountain in British Columbia, Canada, Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana, and to destinations in Italy. Winterset, which has been around for more than 50 years, is part of the Connecticut Ski Council and has a sister club based in Stratford, the Sterling Ski Club, which provides even more ski and snow boarding opportunities for members.

“There’s lots of savings. It’s also great to meet people who like to ski. It’s a lot of fun skiing and a fun thing to do with other people,” Eiseman said.

“Our recent trip to Heavenly Resort in Tahoe combined great skiing, exceptional value for the cost, and an enjoyable time with new and old friends,” said Mary Ann Jacob, who has been a skier for about 40 years and, along with her family, has been involved with Winterset for about a decade.

“Being a member of this club gives us access to discounts at a variety of local mountains through the Connecticut Ski Council Club days, access to amazing day, weekend, and weeklong trips each year to exciting destinations at an incredibly reasonable cost, an opportunity to meet new people with common interests, fun ski racing nights at Mount Southington, and year-round social events,” Jacob said.

Jacob encourages ski and board enthusiasts of all ages to join Winterset.

“The club is a great value for people of all ages. Adults and families alike can find something to enjoy. Having planned trips makes family skiing so much easier to manage — no worries about travel arrangements, driving, tickets, or hotels,” Jacob said.

First-time membership costs, according to the Winterset website, are as follows: $40 for first adult and $25 for second adult; no charge for participants under 22 when grouped with adult memberships. Renewal costs are $30 for first adult and $15 for second adult.

For more information, visit winterset.clubexpress.com

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.