More than 100 students with and without disabilities from seven Davis School District elementaries headed up to Solitude’s Nordic Center in Big Cottonwood Canyon last week to snowshoe in the powdery snow that fell from the recent snowstorm. As the kids navigated the one-mile course side by side, they experienced more than just snowshoeing – they made new friendships.

 The activity was intended to help expand the Unified Sports program into the elementary level. The Davis School District and the Davis Education Foundation partnered with First Lady Abby Cox for her “Show Up” initiative that included expanding the Unified Sports Program in schools around the state. 

“Unified Sports is where we do sports together to kind of help each other learn about sports and to help make new friends and have better experiences,” said Mitsue, a sixth grader at Hill Field Elementary. “It helps other people feel included and just to have a better chance at something else.”

“It’s important to have multiple friends and not exclude people for their differences,” said Hill Field Elementary fifth grader, Abigail.

“They were in single-file lines and kids were helping other kids,” said Dr. Tim Best, Healthy Lifestyles Director/Davis School District. “Some of the kids were helping the staff and it was just amazing watching them – kind of like a fish in water. They picked it up right away and there they went.”