Winter Volunteer Opportunities

The magic that takes place on the slopes of Double H Ranch is made possible through the efforts of our volunteers! Each winter, over 200 volunteers are needed to work with our winter students and families. Volunteer Opportunities include:

  • On-snow: teach adaptive ski or snowboard lessons, or volunteer as Ski Patrol (must be certified)
  • Off-snow opportunities include equipment room volunteers, lodge hosts, and Family Pals.

The Adaptive Winter Sports Program runs from January through March, with training for instructors beginning in November. No previous adaptive skiing/riding or teaching experience is necessary! If you are at least 16 years of age, we will teach you the rest. When you volunteer with the Adaptive  Winter Sports Program, we will provide you the necessary training that will help provide safe, fun, and exciting experiences for our winter students.

View Open Winter Opportunities:

Ski/Snowboard Instructor

Volunteer instructors personally commit to PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) based certified training, and teach Double H Ranch students how to ski or snowboard with the use of appropriate adaptive equipment.

Junior Ski/Snowboard Instructors

We welcome high school students who are interested in volunteering as ski and/or snowboard instructors. Jr Instructors are at least 16 years of age. They receive the same training as our other Instructors, but will always work with a more experienced instructor. Volunteer instructors will complete training in areas of their choosing offered by the Adaptive Winter Sports Program. We will also certify your volunteer hours for any high school community service requirements.

Ski Patrol

Experienced certified National Ski Patrol volunteers provide supervision and first aid for our skiers and snowboarders.

Lodge Host

Lodge Hosts greet families, serve hot soup and snacks, staff the gift shop, play with kids, and help maintain the cleanliness of our lodge.

Equipment Room Technicians

Technicians complete online technical certification course(s) and an on-site certification exam in November. Technicians are responsible for the proper setting of ski bindings based on information provided on equipment forms. ERT(s) also assist in proper protective equipment selection and fitting, equipment tracking, and provision of adaptive teaching tools to instructors. (ERTs would perform all functions of ERAs, plus binding setting).

Equipment Room Assistants

Equipment room assistants are trained to assist winter sports students with selection, fitting, and use of adaptive winter sports equipment (i.e. boots, helmets, wrist guards, etc). In addition ERA(s) also assist Equipment Room technicians with completion of equipment forms, equipment tracking, and provision of adaptive teaching tools to instructors.

Conveyor Lift Operators

A “moving sidewalk” brings students up the beginner instruction area. Students walk onto the lift and stand as they are carried up the hill. Lift operators are expected to assist with loading and unloading students and operating the conveyor lift during regular programming. Volunteers should be able to work in a cold environment and have the physical strength and dexterity to assist students on and off as well as return students to a standing position if they were to fall. Lift operation occurs between 10 am and noon and 1 pm and 3 pm on regular programming days; between 6:30 and 8:30 pm on Friday night sessions.

Family Pals

On Family Sleepover Weekends, Family Pal volunteers are matched up with a family, and accompany the family through daily programming. These weekends give students, siblings, and other family members the opportunity to participate in winter sports together. After a day of winter sports, instructors head home, and Family Pals sleep over at the Ranch to help facilitate camp activities.

You will be working closely with a family to help them to feel comfortable at camp, to have someone to entertain the children with parents/guardians, to serve as a camp liaison and to answer questions, but most of all to HAVE FUN!

Connect with us

Questions about the Adaptive Winter Sports Program? Contact Jimmer Hayes, Adaptive Sports Director, at jhayes@doublehranch.org or call 518-696-5676 x102.