Killington, VT – Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, the largest nonprofit organization in the state to provide sports and recreation to people with disabilities, is seeking new volunteer ski and snowboard instructors for its winter programs at Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Bolton Valley in Bolton and Pico Mountain in Killington. This rewarding opportunity allows members of the Vermont community to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities seven days a week. Vermont Adaptive relies heavily on its more than 400 volunteers to provide and support more than 2,000 lessons to people with physical, cognitive and emotional or behavioral disabilities on an annual basis.

Volunteers are required to attend an off snow orientation at the mountain of choice in November as well as two days of on snow training in early December. Trainings are held on weekends. The off snow trainings are slated for: Saturday, Nov. 12 at Bolton Valley, Sunday, Nov. 13 at Pico Mountain, and Saturday, Nov. 19 at Sugarbush. Junior volunteers, ages 14 and up, also are welcome to attend training and volunteer.

Volunteers will be taught about disability awareness, how to teach a ski or ride lesson as well as how to teach a specific type of lesson such as blind guiding, sit down skiing or working with participants with cognitive disabilities. Volunteers are not asked to volunteer for a specific number of days after attending training, but it is expected that they be a competent skier or rider prior to training. The program begins at all three locations on Dec. 26 and run through the end of ski season at each mountain, typically the end of March or early April.

There are many benefits to volunteering including opportunities to train with the Professional Ski Instructors of America, complimentary ski time at the resorts during the day when volunteering, making new friends, and being a part of life changing accomplishments for people with disabilities. Vermont Adaptive also has internships available for students interested learning more about adaptive sports.

To sign up to volunteer visit www.vermontadaptive.org/volunteer.php or contact Dave D’Angelo, program supervisor, at (802) 353-3178 or email at truenorth@vermontadaptive.org.