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Content
- Why Volunteer?
- How to Register
- Prices & Membership
- Your First Season
- Other Volunteer Opportunities
- FAQ
Contact Us!
604-646-8277
info@vass.ca
SPACER
REGISTRATION for On-hill VOLUNTEERING IS NOW CLOSED. There are off-hill opportunities at the bottom of the this page, otherwise, please visit the site October 2026 to join VASS.
Welcome!
Thank you for considering volunteering with Vancouver Adaptive Snow Sports (VASS)!
VASS provides ski and snowboard lessons to individuals with disabilities at the three North Shore mountains — Grouse, Seymour, and Cypress. We’re proud to be the largest adaptive snow sports organization in Canada, and it’s all thanks to our dedicated volunteer instructors, many of whom started out right where you are now.
Our foundation is grounded in the national ski and snowboard organizations, particularly the Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS) training programs. Through these valuable partnerships, we offer world-class training to help you become a specialized snow sport instructor. In your first year, you’ll be paired with another volunteer, so you can learn, grow, and teach as part of a team. Our goal is to support you every step of the way so that both you and your students can succeed on the mountain.
Each season, demand for lessons exceeds our capacity!
Currently, VASS does not engage in active advertising to attract students – more than 50 students are turned away every year. We’re continually striving to meet this demand, and your decision to join us brings us a step closer. By joining us, you’re not only gaining new skills and experiences, you’re helping open the mountains to more people who deserve the chance to enjoy them. You’re about to take part in one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.
Additional health benefits...
Additionally, volunteering with VASS offers a range of health benefits. While physical health is an obvious outcome of engaging in snow sports, the positive impact on mental health should not be underestimated. Engaging in outdoor activities, aiding others, enhancing social interactions, and acquiring new knowledge are all endorsed by leading psychologists for improving mental well-being. Discover more about enhancing your mental health.
Watch the clip above to see the joy our students bring to the slopes. At VASS, every lesson is about more than skiing or snowboarding — it’s about laughter, confidence, and shared experiences. Many of our students, like Matthew who is on the autism spectrum, wouldn’t otherwise have access to these opportunities. With nearly 60% of our lessons supporting individuals with ASD, your role as an instructor truly makes a difference.
How to Register
Registering as a volunteer with VASS is straightforward, and we’ll guide you through each step. If you’re a returning instructor, it’s just a quick update to your profile. If you’re new, there are a few extra steps to help get you ready for the season — but don’t worry, we’ll walk you through them and support is always available if you need a hand. Select the option below to see what applies to you.
PROGRAMS you can volunteer in
| MONDAY | Grouse Monday Night Learn-to-Snowboard Grouse Monday Night Learn-to-Ski January 19, 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23 2026 6:00 – 8:30 pm |
| TUESDAY | Grouse Tuesday Night ASD Learn-to-Ski Cypress Tuesday Night Intermediate Ski January 20, 27, February 3, 10,17, 24 2026 6:00 – 8:30 pm |
| WEDNESDAY | Grouse Wednesday Afternoon – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ski & Snowboard Grouse Wednesday Learn-to-Ski Seymour Wednesday Night Learn-to-Sit Ski January 21, 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25 2026 6:00 – 8:30 pm |
| THURSDAY | Grouse Thursday Night Intermediate Sit Ski January 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26 2026 6:00 – 8:30 pm |
| SATURDAY | Grouse Saturday Morning Learn-to-Ski January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28 2026 8:30 – 11:00 am Seymour Saturday Morning Learn-to-Sit Ski Seymour Saturday Afternoon Learn-to-Sit Ski January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28 2026 (choose 3 days only) 10:00 – 12:00 pm & 1:00 pm-3:00 pm |
| SUNDAY | Grouse Sunday Morning Learn-to-Ski Grouse Sunday Morning Learn-to-Snowboard January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1 2026 8:30 – 11:00 am |
RETURNING VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS : you can go straight to registering on Snowline. If you are trying to figure out if you have completed your Safe Sport or CADS certifications, watch this helpful video. And if you need a reminder on how to fill in the registration system you can check out the NEW VOLUNTEER section just below.
NEW VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS
NEW VOLUNTEERS: if you are new to volunteering with VASS, please take the time to carefully look at the mandatory steps, as it will answer many questions and provide insight into the incredible journey you’re about to embark on.
Mandatory Steps:
1. Make a profile on Snowline as an ‘Instructor’
Snowline is where your volunteer journey begins. Do not sign up as a ‘Volunteer’.
It’s the national registration platform used by adaptive snowsport organizations across Canada. Snowline stores your contact information, tracks the lessons you’ve taught, records any courses or certifications you’ve completed, and lets you register for upcoming programs or training events. Each season, you’ll update your profile, and select your program schedule.
2. Provide 2 references
All new volunteer applicants must submit two references through their Snowline profile. Simply enter each referee’s name, relationship, email, and phone number, then hit SEND EMAIL. The system will send them a form with instructions, and once completed it will be uploaded automatically to your profile. At least one reference should be professional (e.g., a coach, work supervisor, professor, or volunteer manager) who can confirm your reliability and attendance. The second reference may be personal.
3. Criminal Background Check
You have 3 options. Complete only one:
1. If you have a previously completed back ground check that is not more than 3 years old, you can load this directly to your Snowline profile under the ‘Crim Check’ tab.
or
2. Click on the blue button named ‘Sterling’ under the Crim Check tab on Snowline. Be sure to follow the instructions that pop up, and complete the $25 fee. The background check will be done within 24 hours, be delivered to your profile, and be verified afterwards.
or
3. Download and print the letter below (also found under the ‘crim check’ tab on your profile) and take it to your local police station. This is free, and you can pick it up after about 5 days at the police station. Otherwise, it will take 2-3 weeks via mail.
4. Choose an interview time
There will be many times and days to choose from and these can be chosen within your Snowline profile. Interviews are group-style and done via Zoom.
5. Sign up for a CADS Level 1 course and ZOOM session
To instruct with VASS, all volunteers must complete a CADS Level 1 certification course. In your registration, under the training tab of your profile setup, please select both a CADS 1 SKI or SNOWBOARD and a corresponding Zoom session. Our training takes place over a Zoom session, two evenings and two full days and combines both classroom and on-snow learning. The focus is on building your skills as an adaptive ski or snowboard instructor, including teaching basics, safety, and student-centered adaptations. The course has a very high success rate, and you’ll be fully supported by experienced CADS Course Conductors and fellow instructors throughout the weekend. Once completed, you’ll be certified to teach adaptive lessons anywhere in Canada. If you do NOT complete this course, you will not be able to volunteer with us this year. If all of the courses are full, please signup for the waitlist CAD course and we will do our best to expand the classes.
Watch this video for instructions on how to register:
Price & Membership
- $50 – price of a CADS Level 1 course
- $57 – CADS/BCAS Membership fee (includes liability insurance and perks)
- $25 – if you choose to get your criminal background check through Sterling. Your local police station will provide it for free though.
- Included – a season lift pass for either Grouse Mountain, Mt. Seymour, or Cypress Mountain
- Not Included – rental equipment such as skis, boots, helmets, or snowboards
What happens next?
INSTRUCTOR ORIENTATIONS – mid-January
Program Coordinators will email you details about when and where to meet at the mountain. The orientations take place exactly 1 week before lessons begin. You will discover which student you’ll be paired with, which instructor you’ll be paired with, and explore Grouse Mountain in this 2 hour orientation. We always pair first-year instructors with more experienced returning instructors, and all of our lessons have at least two instructors, so you’re never alone in this adventure.
STUDENT LESSONS BEGIN – End of January
Student lessons begin the following week and these run for 6 consecutive weeks for 2.5 hours per lesson. Each week, you’ll arrive earlier for the lesson and wait for your student to arrive at the designated area. Then, in collaboration with your fellow instructor, you’ll provide an amazing lesson for a student! At VASS, a good ski lesson might be learning how to walk on snow in ski boots, and that could be the entire lesson. Or maybe you’re learning how to be a better teacher because your student is advancing so quickly that you need to call in a trainer for additional support.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
If you’re not a skier or snowboarder and still want to help VASS, we need you too…Thank you for your heart and time. You are some of our most valuable volunteers, as you often have the ability to help the VASS machine run smoothly. For those who are interested, it is always a place to exercise and grow your leadership skills, while learning from an incredible network of people. If you are interested in volunteering but not instructing a student, please email us at info@vass.ca
Program Coordinator
Each program has a small group of Program Coordinators who manage the daily operations for that days program. This role involves meetings (generally via Zoom) to help organize pairings of students and instructors and help answer inquiries from parents and students. You lead the orientations for instructors, check in participants and instructors on the day of the lesson, and act as a resource and a safety net for everyone involved. It’s a rewarding role with plenty of development opportunities. There are opportunities to be a program coordinator in any of the programs.
Program Assistant
-assisting the Program Coordinators organize lessons, on and off the snow Most of the programs begin mid-January and run for 6 weeks, but require a lot of pre-lesson organization.
Fundraiser
help lead and create fundraising initiatives, especially for the auction in November and VASS-a-THON in February. Tasks include contacting potential donors, helping to manage the auction website, and distributing won items. This position lasts around 2-3 months, depending on how early you wanted to contact potential donors.
Donor Liason
manage donations and communicate with supporters for the yearly auction in November
Sponsorship Lead
help secure and maintain sponsor relationships throughout the year
Marketer
promote VASS programs and events through emails, newsletters, and social media posts
Writer
for newsletters, blog posts, or social media content
Equipment Coordinator
Help the Grouse Mountain crew set up skis, boards, boots and helmets for the students’ lessons for 6 weeks
Presenter
share VASS’s mission with schools and community groups
Event Planner
plan and execute special events
Web Designer
oversee website content and updates
FAQ
Do I need previous instructing experience to volunteer?
No – we provide training and support. Many instructors join with no teaching or adaptive background.
Do I need to be an advanced skier or snowboarder?
You should be confident on green and easier blue runs, but you don’t need to be an expert. Our CADS training focuses on adaptive teaching skills, not elite performance.
How do I get a CADS/BCAS Membership?
You can purchase a BCAS/CADS membership when you create a profile on our registration system, Snowline.
What if I can’t complete my CADS Level 1 course this year?
CADS Level 1 is mandatory now, and if you are unable to attend one of the courses, please give us a call or email us.
What is the minimum age to join as an instructor?
A volunteer can join us at age 15 and they can also gain their CADS 1 certification in the first year at age 15.
What is the time commitment for a volunteer instructor?
Initial training for new volunteer instructors is the CADS Level 1 course, and this is a 2-night, 2-day course. There is also a 2-hour orientation on the mountain for all volunteer instructors a week prior to the 1st lesson week. Finally, the program then runs for 6 weeks of 3-hour lessons per week with your student.
Why do I need a CADS/BCAS Membership every year?
BCAS and CADS are our provincial and national bodies and they hold our liability insurance. Furthermore, supporting these organizations ensure that adaptive snow sports continues to grow in knowledge acquisition and reach locally, provincially and nationally.
Will I be alone with a student during a lesson?
Our students are assigned 2 instructors, with a new instructor always being paired with an experienced instructor. There are always program coordinators available on-mountain during lessons, as well.
Making the mountains accessible to all
