Atlantic City offers kids a snow day with a difference

Christina Noble, director of youth services for Atlantic City, in front of the “Great Day” bus.

A group of Atlantic City students were treated to a surprise on a snow day Monday.

Not a flake fell in town, but thanks to Big Snow at the American Dream Mall, students had their choice of skiing, snowboarding and tubing.

The trip to East Rutherford in Bergen County was the first trip of the city’s “Great Day” news bus, which Mayor Marty Small says will reduce transportation costs for youth and senior services.

The Bus refers to Small’s mantra with which he begins and ends each talk: “It’s a great day here in the city of Atlantic City. Can we say, ‘Great day’?”

Atlantic City focuses on helping youth gain experiences outside of the “48 blocks” of their hometown.

“This is monumental,” Christina Noble, the city’s youth services director, said of the maiden voyage.

She noted that no matter how small the city is, students rarely venture beyond its borders.

“We really want to expose our youth to as many different things as possible,” she said.

Mayor Marty Small has faced some criticism of the spending, but said programs like this make it worth it.

“Did the kids say they were excited?” he asked a group of reporters. “That’s the most important thing.”