Volunteer as a National Ski Patroller: training, commitments, and perks

national ski patrol

Volunteer as a National Ski Patroller

Training, commitments, and perks..

This blog article was written by Rick Bulan who’s a 10 year veteran ski patroller at Sierra at Tahoe Mountain Resort

Did you know that if you ski or snowboard on the weekends, most of the ski and snowboard patrollers you see are volunteers?

Most resorts have a small paid “pro patrol” and utilize volunteers on the
weekends.

To become a ski/snowboard patroller you need:

1) “Ski Check” at the resort you are interested in (to verify you can ski/ride every run on the
mountain)
2) Outdoor Emergency Care class (80 hours)
3) CPR for health care professionals (AHA approved)
4) Candidate season at the resort to learn locations, equipment, and radio protocols
You will have to commitment to:
1) $98 NSP annual membership
2) 2 days of off-season skills refresher
3) 14 workdays at your resort

Some of the perks you will receive:

1) Discounts from ski and snowboard companies
2) Season passes from your resort

Why do I do it?

What does your typical ski day look like?

Do you do laps, eat, do more laps, then go home?

Now imagine your ski day getting first tracks in the morning, being able to help others, going
straight to the front of the line, getting deep discounts on food, accessing restricted areas of the resort,
hanging out in the patrol room at the top of the mountain with your fellow patrollers, and being the last
person on a previously busy run at the end of the day as the sun goes watching the alpenglow of last sunlight are memories that never get old. If you enjoy adding to your skiing, first aid and Avy skill-set and like to help people, consider joining.

Author: Rick Bulan www.goldengatefurniture.com
Contact Rick at im [@] richardbulan.com if you still have questions after checking out
www.joinskipatrol.com and https://www.nsp.org

Upcoming Event

Attend our meetup event to learn the ins and outs of volunteering with the National Ski Patrol in Berkeley; here’s your chance to ask veteran ski patrollers why they like what they do and get the 411 on the pros and cons of volunteering, the perks of getting freshies first tracks while helping to keep skiers, snowboarders safe at the resort.

Know of family or friends who would be interested? . Thanks!

New to SnowPals? Join us to meet San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento Area skiers and snowboarders, snow sports Alpine and Nordic backcountry skiers/split-boarders for Lake Tahoe ski trips and powder snow travel destination trips to Epic, Ikon Pass resorts to make the most of your ski season pass.

Non-profit Spotlight: The League to Save Lake Tahoe

keep-tahoe-blue-the-league-to-save-tahoe

Our spotlight feature for the month of February goes to the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

You’ve seen the slogan everywhere – Keep Tahoe Blue. What’s behind the sticker?

Since 1957, the League to Save Lake Tahoe has worked to protect and restore the environmental health, sustainability and scenic beauty of the Lake Tahoe Basin. We focus on water quality and its clarity for the preservation of a pristine Lake for future generations.

We are a solutions-oriented team of Tahoe advocates who use innovation, boots-on-the-ground action and a unique, holistic approach to solve the environmental challenges threatening the Lake we love.

Together with our community of residents and visitors, we KEEP TAHOE BLUE.

Support the League’s important work today:

DONATE | SHOP | VOLUNTEER

Your gifts help us Keep Tahoe Blue. The League to Save Lake Tahoe is a 501c3 private nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. All donations are tax deductible.

The League’s Work: We A.C.T. to Keep Tahoe Blue

In order to protect and preserve our Jewel of the Sierra, the League focuses on three campaigns.

We Advance restoration to ensure Tahoe is resilient in the face of the climate crisis.

We Combat pollution to keep Tahoe blue, healthy and pristine.

We Tackle invasive species to protect and restore the delicate ecology of Lake Tahoe.

The League’s History

Since its founding in 1957, the League has been the strongest and most influential advocate for the protection of Lake Tahoe. We work with lawmakers, governments, members of the business community, visitors and residents to protect Big Blue through advocacy, engagement, collaboration and direct action.

The organization formed in response to plans for massive development to encircle the Lake, capped off with a bridge across Emerald Bay. Defeating that proposal for a “city with a hole in the middle” set the tone for all the League’s pioneering work for the next six decades. More recently, in 1998, the League spearheaded the effort to launch the Environmental Improvement Program, which has leveraged over $1 billion in public and private funds to protect and restore Lake Tahoe.

Click to learn more about the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

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SkiDuck seeks advance level skiers, boarders to teach urban youth: free skiing and riding at Squaw Valley

SkiDUCK-logo

SnowPals‘ October snow-sports nonprofit HERO AWARD goes to SkiDuck, a nonprofit organization, whose mission is full of heart; since 2010, they offer a free program to bring disadvantaged and financially underprivileged youth to the snow to teach them the joys of skiing and snowboarding.

“SkiDUCK (Skiing and snowboarding for Disabled and Underprivileged Children and older Kids) is a volunteer-based non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of disabled and underprivileged children by bringing them to the snow to share the joys of skiing and snowboarding! (Launched in Lake Tahoe and growing to other ski communities to serve local disadvantaged youth!)

SkiDuck is ENTIRELY volunteer-based (NO paid salaries!) so ALL donations received go directly to support children’s ski and snowboard programs!

SkiDUCK TURNS 9 and is seeking volunteers to teach DISADVANTAGED kids how to ski and snowboard. If you are an advanced level skier or snowboarder, you will most likely have the skills to teach so please submit the volunteer form below if you are interested.

No instructor certifications required since we are teaching the bare basics.

“The best and most beautiful things in this world cannot be seen or even heard, but must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller

“Each season SkiDUCK provides around 1,000 youth (ages 7-18) with nearly 2,000 FREE days of skiing and snowboarding; including free lift tickets, rentals and lessons!

Our home-base is Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in beautiful North Lake Tahoe, CA.

And we’re so fortunate to also have the support of several other Lake Tahoe area resorts as well as partnerships with resorts in several other states!

We’re committed to partnering with local organizations with similar goals of serving underprivileged youth. If your community or organization is interested in partnering with SkiDUCK to establish a program to introduce disadvantaged youth to the slopes, give us a QUACK!” – SkiDUCK

We provide free lift pass / equipment use / instruction to mostly Stockton middle school and high school students.

Our schedule for this season are non-holiday Sundays.

Jan 26

Feb 2, 9, 23

Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Apr 5, 19, 26

SkiDUCK provides free lift pass / equipment use / instruction to mostly Stockton middle school and high school students.

Thank you perks for volunteering:

We can provide Squaw lift ticket comps in return for your volunteer service. We need beginner level instructors for snowboard and skiing. Group lesson is 1.5 to 2 hours in the morning. As a thank you, we will comp you a lift ticket for the day. If you already have a season pass, we can comp a friend or family member of your choosing.

We also need someone to help us find and book a bus suitable for trips to Squaw Valley from the Stockton area.

Interested in volunteering?

Submit your volunteer form and waiver at https://skiduck.org/participant-forms

Please bring a signed Liability Waiver to your first on-slope event of the season and give to the SkiDUCK Resort Lead. (We don’t want any kids or volunteers sitting on the sidelines due to paperwork!)

Also, please be sure to print a copy of the Event Day Itinerary for Squaw Valley resort you’ll be visiting to see the start time and day’s schedule.

After submitting the Liability Waiver, please contact a SkiDUCK representative by emailing to follow-up.

Thanks so much,

Clint Lunde
Executive Director
SkiDUCK (Skiing and snowboarding for Disadvantaged and Underprivileged Children and older Kids)
www.SkiDUCK.org | Facebook.com/SkiDUCK | First Season Kick-off Video | Season Wrap-up Video | 775-287-6464

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman

SkiDUCK is an IRS-approved 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
(Federal Tax EIN: 27-0798499)

All contributions are fully tax-deductible.

By phone: 775-287-6464

Reno Nevada Address:SkiDUCK
152 Mule Creek Circle
Reno NV 89511

Redmond Washington Address:SkiDUCK
3834 175th Ave NE
Suite C506
Redmond WA 98052

To donate funds, go to https://skiduck.org/donate

To donate skis, snowboards, boots, gloves, winter clothing, ski/snowboard helmets to SkiDuck, email for drop-off information.

Purchase merchandise at https://www.cafepress.com/skiducks which will also help fund their program.

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