This may sound weird, but at Mt Bachelor they have a "Kiddie Park" (KP) where there is a variety of rails, boxes and jumps -- all small.  I don't know if other areas have a KP, but ir REALLY is a great place to learn and get the feel for things.

i like the kiddy parks, i know exactly what you're talking about. best place to try tricks that you have no idea
what the outcome will be.

another good place is to take it to the streets if you get decent snow fall. those parking blocks they leave in
parking lots are a really good place to start too. they're usually waxed if you find ones without the pins that
hold them into the concrete, but if not you can pack ice on the top of them. instant easy rail.

speaking of street, thats a great place to learn jumps too. one of my friends i ride with is trying jumps for
the 1st time this season, and we're going to set her up jumping gutters. its a 4 ft gap at most and you dont
have to build a landing ramp.

made some jumps on the front lawn, which is slighly sloped, moved the picnic table down there, and was making some sort of a rail out of a tree

That sounds like an awesome setup