Join the fun!
Seasonal and year round volunteer opportunities
For more information on any of our volunteer
opportunities please contact Donna Stanley, Southern Program Coordinator at 802-786-4991 south@vermontadaptive.org, or Maggie Burke at 802-343-1193 north@vermontadaptive.org
Winter Sports
Vermont Adaptive provides daily ski and snowboard lessons from December
26 to the first week of April. Throughout the winter special
lessons are given on a reservation basis in snowshoeing, cross-country
skiing, ice skating, indoor rock climbing and dog sledding. Our winter season
is also filled with special events. We’re kept busy with a Winter
Carnival for the blind and visually impaired, Kids Winter Ski Camp,
our DSUSA Learn to Ski Weekend, Alpine Ski Team, The Diana Golden
Race Series Level I race at Sugarbush; Our fundraising event - Ski
Challenge, and our training and participating in the winter games
with our Special Olympic Race Teams.
It is our volunteers that keep these programs running year after
year. Without them, we wouldn’t exist.
Skiing and Snowboarding Instructors
The driving force behind our programs are the energetic volunteers.
• New volunteers attend training clinics to learn about adaptive
skiing techniques, teaching individuals with disabilities and personal
skiing skills.
• Returning volunteers attend refreshers on new adaptive equipment
and new teaching techniques and strategies.
Benefits include free skiing at Pico, Sugarbush and Killington;
discounts, specialized training, PSIA certification/training opportunities
and more. To be a ski/snowboard volunteer you must be a level 5
skier/rider (intermediate) or better and provide your own equipment
with indemnifiable bindings.
Equipment Technicians
Are you handy and love getting down and dirty with highly technical
equipment? Vermont Adaptive has two outbuildings full of specialized
sit down equipment and other adaptive equipment. Each winter location
has an equipment technician responsible for maintaining a weekly
safety check and repair of all equipment, completing all pertinent
paperwork and maintaining integrity of equipment per manufacturer
specs. Volunteers must commit to 2 days prior to the ski season
for pre season check, 1 day weekly during the season as well as
possibly additional days needed to repair equipment needed for lessons
immediately and 2 days post season to wrap up and put away equipment.
Alpine Race Teams
The Vermont Adaptive Alpine Race Team is heading into its
fourth season and growing every year. Coaches and assistants are
responsible for training site preparation, race course maintenance
and course safety. This physically demanding program includes transporting
equipment on lifts and trails. Volunteers must have a high level
of technical skiing expertise with previous alpine race experience
preferred. Time commitment is at least two and a half weekends per
month including travel and must be made for the entire ski season
(Thanksgiving until the end of March). Training is both weekend
days when at home.
The Vermont Adaptive Special Olympic Race Teams: We currently
have two Special Olympic race teams, located at Pico and Sugarbush.
Coaches and assistants are responsible for training site preparation,
*race course maintenance and *course safety (when a course is in
use). Weekly training consists of basic skiing skills, gate training
and technical skills. Volunteers must have a high level of technical
skiing expertise with previous alpine race experience preferred
but not required. Time commitment is one day every weekend, a three-day
weekend for the Winter Games later in the season and must be made
for the entire ski season (January to Beginning of March).
Administrative Support
Volunteers are needed at our Pico and Sugarbush offices to help
staff with various administrative projects including but not limited
to answering the phone, working the reception desk, copying, reorganizing
and maintaining files, data entry and preparing mailings. Other
duties may include organizing events and aid with various projects.
Commitment is flexible. Only requirement is a friendly and outgoing
attitude.
Winter Fundraiser: “Ski Challenge”
Ski Challenge volunteers have a wide range of job tasks. These volunteers
accomplish just about everything to make this fundraiser a success
from early planning to facilitating the event. This committee meets
in the evenings once a week, or as needed from December till the
event in March. High energy and creative flair is a plus!
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Summer Volunteer Opportunities
Though winter is our busiest season, summer is rapidly catching
up. Our summer programs run from June to mid September and there
are lots of volunteer opportunities all around the state. As with
our winter programs, summer volunteers receive specialized training
for each activity. We fill the long days with sailing, canoeing,
kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, tandem cycling and indoor rock
climbing. We rely on our volunteers as much in the summer as anytime
of year. Their energy and enthusiasm add to our programs and our
special events. Summers are filled with events: the Vermont 100
Mile Ultra Run, Martin 16 Regatta, KidZone, Adventure weekends,
The Chasing Champ Pursuit Race, VTAPTA Golf Tourney, Allen Clark
Hill Climb, Vermont 50 Mile Mountain Bike Race just to name a few.
Sailing
Sailing Volunteers help the AWP Sailing Instructor help prepare
the boats for the outing, take any equipment needed to the docks,
meet the participants when they arrive and help outfit them with
life jackets. When everyone is ready to load, the volunteers assist
everyone into the boats. Once on the water, volunteers serve as
crew for the boat captain. At the trip's conclusion, the first part
of the process is reversed. Volunteers must have basic sailing experience
and water safety skills.
A volunteer may captain a boat and lead an outing if he/she is US
Sailing Level I Certified by the US Sailing Association.
There are several sailing participants who love competitive sailing.
If you are interested in the racing program, just let us know!
Therapeutic and Adaptive Horseback
Riding
As a volunteer for this program, you may work as either a horse
leader or sidewalker. If you do not have horse experience you will
begin by sidewalking with a rider until you feel comfortable around
the horses and learn basic horse handling skills.
If you are comfortable as either a leader or sidewalker, you will
be asked to assist in either position as needed. We encourage all
volunteers to take advantage of a host of horse information available.
Canoeing and Kayaking
Paddling Volunteers help unload the equipment, get the canoes in
the water and ready for the outing, meet the participants when they
arrive and help outfit them with life jackets. When all is ready
to load, volunteers assist the clients into the boats. Once on the
water, volunteers are needed for paddling and having fun! At the
trip's conclusion, the first part of the process is reversed. Volunteers
must have basic paddling experience and water safety skills.
Tandem Biking
Volunteers are needed to captain tandem bikes. This person is responsible
for assisting the client with the bike. Preparing them for the ride
with helmet and any other necessary equipment, giving verbal direction
and guiding the bike. Volunteers should have some experience with
tandem bike riding but not absolutely necessary.
Indoor Rock Climbing
Indoor Rock climbing is done at two locations, Green Mt. Rock Gym
in Rutland and Petra Cliffs in Burlington. These programs run years
round on a reservation basis. Volunteers should be ready to assist
with belaying, lifting, climbing and lots of fun. Belaying certification
classes are held regularly at both sites.
Adventure Weekends
Adventure weekends are held intermittently throughout the year.
These weekends are filled with activities have included camping,
water-skiing, canoe treks, winter snowsports, hiking, ski trips
to other programs and much more. Volunteers are needed to assist
in every aspect of the weekend. Duties could include being a ski
buddy, water-ski assistant, canoe guide, assist around the campfire,
setting up tents, sighted guides for some of our blind or visually
impaired clients. Duties vary depending on events. Lists of event
can be found on seasonal calendar on the site.
Special Events
Special Event volunteers have a wide range of job tasks. Most event
committees are broken up into sub groups. Raffle volunteers are
responsible for obtaining raffle items, attending the raffle, setting
up the items, selling tickets, manning the tables and breakdown.
Other volunteer are needed for pre and post event responsibilities
such as: site set-up, manning aid stations, registration, assist
with timing, assembling goody bags, gathering event items, photo
copying, setting up displays, assembling goodie bags, banner set
up and break down and helping with other event details as needed.
High energy and creative flair is a plus!
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