Our Wonderful J-1’s, they are your hosts and bussers in Rumble’s, the Castlerock Pub, The Green Mountain Lounge, Allyn’s Lodge and Walt’s. They loaded you on the chairs at Lincoln Peak or Mt Ellen, sold tickets and passes, helped you park your car or watched your children at the Day School. They are the 84 Work & Travel Exchange students, J-1 visa holders, that help run the resort during the three months they work at Sugarbush. They hail from Argentina, Chile, Peru, Brazil and Malaysia. This group of college students choose to spend their summer break working at Sugarbush. They stay at the Sugarbush Inn, Sugar Tree Inn, Swanson Inn and other properties Sugarbush rents around the Valley. A curious group, they travel by car, bus, Sugarbush shuttles and the Mad Bus to shop for groceries and during their time off, visit distant cities to see more of the United States.
Last winter, a group of Sugarbush passholders decided that J-1’s would benefit from experiencing a home cooked meal and some local Valley hospitality. Volunteers were recruited from the Sugarbush Ambassadors and members of the Sugarbush Racing Club to host small dinner parties with international students, launching what has become a highly successful program. Many students reported these dinner parties were one of the highlights of their J1 experience.
During the 2026 season, so far 16 local hosts welcomed 81 students into their home. They served everything from all-American chicken pot pie to sushi prepared with the help of Malaysian students. The fare was appreciated but it was the connection to our community and each other that was the favorite take-away. It was a chance to learn some Spanish, see an iconic Vermont window, a very modern home up a long unpaved road, play ping pong in the basement or” Left, Right Center” around the dining room table. Questions, shared stories, laughter and end of the evening hugs abounded.
Sugarbush Human Resources oversees this program and coordinates sign-ups and logistics. The international dinner parties are one more way the magic, adventure and camaraderie of our amazing Sugarbush community is shared throughout the world.
