Our organization could not exist with the support of our amazing volunteers. Not a day goes by that we don’t thank our lucky stars for this fantastic crew!
Interested in Joining?
Folks looking to join ASF as volunteers have to first ask themselves “which role is right for me?” At ASF, we have volunteer ski and snowboard instructors, but also shuttle drivers, kitchen staff, equipment room volunteers, and lodge volunteers. It takes a village to keep this program running! If you are interested in joining ASF as a volunteer, please read on and fill out the application at the bottom of this section.
The volunteer commitment for the winter season is 8-14+ days. ASF is open Wednesday through Sunday from December through March with lessons going out every day that we are open.
In order to volunteer, you must attend and pass New Volunteer Training in the Fall. There are two days of “Off-Snow Training” which consists of discussing lodge volunteer roles, the flow of a day at ASF, adaptive equipment, safety training, teaching methodology, disability training, and general onboarding. There are also two days of “On-Snow” training which put to use some of the equipment and teaching training from the off-snow session, and will also teach the skiing and snowboarding fundamentals, beginner progression, and will include a short evaluation of your personal skiing or riding. Off-snow volunteers (shuttle drivers, kitchen staff, equipment room volunteers, and lodge volunteers) need only to attend Days 1 & 2 of training.
We appreciate anyone who wants to volunteer at ASF, but unfortunately we cannot always take everyone who wants to join. There are some minimum requirements in technical skiing/riding, teaching, and people skills that need to be met in order to volunteer.
Skiing Skills – Ski Instructors must be able to ski parallel and sideslip on blue terrain and ski backwards on green terrain.
Snowboarding Skills – Snowboard instructors must be able to ride where the tail of the board follows the nose through the arc of the turn consistently on blue terrain and must be able to ride switch on green terrain.
Teaching Skills – Instructors must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with a group or individual.
People Skills – Instructors must demonstrate appropriate behavior for interacting with students, parents, and resort guests.
Sign up TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE 2024-25 SEASON
For more information on volunteering, please contact Tony Vasile, Program Manager at tony@adaptivesportsfoundation.org or call our office at 518-734-5070.
*note – Volunteers must be 16 years of age by 12/31/2024 to volunteer for the 2024-2025 season. If you are under 16 years old, consider joining the ASF Junior Instructor Training Program.
2024-25 Junior Instructor Training Program
The Junior Instructor Program is for teenagers who are 15 years old by 12/31/24
This program will meet 6-7 Sundays throughout the winter season. Junior Instructors participate in on-snow training with two ASF Trainers. Each week is a training module consisting of nearly all aspects of Adaptive Snowsports Instruction and are consistent with Professional Ski Instructors of America training content. Junior Instructors will learn how to teach skiing to a neurotypical and able-bodied population, and then will learn how to adapt those skills using adaptive equipment and adaptive teaching techniques.
Each session is planned to begin at 9am and run through 3pm with an hour lunch break partway through the day (this time will vary session to session depending on what is being taught). Junior Instructors are expected to stay for the whole day each session. After attending 6 sessions and completing each module, the participants will “elevate” to become assistant instructors. Once elevated, they can assist on ASF lessons for the remainder of the season.
The program aims to run for 7 sessions (6 modules plus a make-up session in case folks miss a day), finishing around President’s weekend. This gives Junior Instructors 3-4 weekends after elevating to volunteer as assistants before the season wraps up.
There is a $200 fee for joining this program.
Dates for our Junior Instructor Program for Winter 2024-25
12/7 – In-person orientation meeting with Trainers and Program Director. 3:00pm-4:00pm
12/15 – On snow with trainers, 9:00am-3:00pm
12/22 – On snow with trainers, 9:00am-3:00pm
1/5 – On snow with trainers, 9:00am-3:00pm
1/12 – On snow with trainers, 9:00am-3:00pm
1/26 – On snow with trainers, 9:00am-3:00pm
2/9 – On snow with trainers, 9:00am-3:00pm
2/16 – Makeup session with Trainers on snow for anything missed, 9:00am-12:00pm. Volunteer paperwork, portal, and Neurodiversity training with Program Director, 1:00pm-3:00pm