From a Ryan Brady Photo

Winter Block at the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

Each year in mid-March students from the Northland College Outdoor Education program come to the BOEC to act as volunteer instructors in the adaptive ski program. Before their arrival, the students, juniors and seniors majoring in Outdoor Education, train with adaptive ski equipment, improve knowledge in disability awareness, and learn beginning teaching progressions for two-track and all adaptive disciplines. In addition to ski practice with all the adaptive equipment, they practice skier assessment, equipment set-up, and instructing beginning two-track skiers.

Northland College times their arrival with the visit of a large group of skiers from the St. David’s Wheelchair fitness program and Austin Adaptive Sports in order to assist the BOEC ski office with some of the busiest lesson days of the season. The Northland students receive one day of hill orientation and instruction and then spend the rest of their time as assistants or primary instructors on lessons with the ski office.

This year’s students include Justin Brewster, Jason Luthy, Derek Nellis, Kalli Swan, and Courtney Van Sandt. Cindy Dillenschneider, coordinator and professor of Outdoor Education at Northland College trains and accompanies the students each year. Cindy was an intern at the BOEC in the fall of 1980 and has maintained a 25 year relationship with the BOEC. Past students of the Northland College program who currently work as volunteers or instructors of the BOEC include Erik Kuffner, Tim Mc Gough, and Ryan Moran.

Northland College thanks the BOEC, St. David’s, and Austin Adaptive Sports, for a sixteen year relationship benefiting all three organizations.

Courtney Van Sandt assisting a skier with ski adjustments. Just like a ski boot for a stand-up skier, the way the ski fits is critical in skiing performance.

Derek Nellis (far left) and friends loading on the chairlift for a ride to the top of the slope. Tim McGough (far right) is an alumnus of the Outdoor Education program working as a full time instructor for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, here helping to train Derek Nellis.

Is that a snowball in your hand?!  Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center instructors assist a sit-skier to load on the lift.  Other sit-down skiers can load on the lifts without assistance.

Students in the Winter Outdoor Educator Professional Development Semester acclimatizing in Meuller State park with Pikes Peak in the background. Rear row- Kalli Swan, Justin Brewster, Derek Nellis. Front row Courtney Van Sandt and Jason Luthy.

From Left to Right: Justin Brewster, Ryan Moran (alumnus of the Outdoor Education program at Northland College), and Derek Nellis helping  a student transfer into the ski that he will use for the rest of his visit.

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