Thank you for your interest in VASS! WE NEED YOU!
REGISTRATION FOR VOLUNTEERS STARTS ON:
Tuesday, October 1st 2024
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS : you can go straight to registering on Skiportal. If you need a reminder on how to fill in the registration system, watch this helpful video.
NEW VOLUNTEERS: if you are new to volunteering with VASS, please take 5 minutes to read this page, as it will answer many questions and provide insight into the incredible journey you’re about to embark on.
There are 4 steps:
- Register – details are below – Criminal Record check can be pending
- Double Check that you complete reference requests – This can all be found in your profile under References. Please hit SEND EMAIL on both references to complete.
- Double check you signed up for a mandatory interview. This can be easily done from the Training tab of your profile. It is a 30 minute ZOOM session.
- Do Safe Sport Training and record on Skills and Cert tab on your profile – Click here for details. Takes 90 mins.
Watch the clip below to meet a VASS student. Focus not only on their abilities, as students and instructors come with a variety of abilities, but pay attention to their joyful smiles. The mountain is a place where we all come together to explore, learn, and share laughter.
Matthew is on the Autism Spectrum. More children are being diagnosed with ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and it is now estimated that 1 in 34 kids are diagnosed with ASD. Unfortunately, many of these children don’t have the same opportunities as their peers growing up in amazing British Columbia. At VASS, we’re actively addressing this gap and making a significant impact. Your role as an instructor is crucial in teaching ski and snowboard lessons, with approximately 60% of our lessons catering to individuals with ASD.
Your First Season with VASS:
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 training to help you become a specialized snow sport instructor.
There are 5 segments to this CADS training:
- Countdown Training : online 90 minute e-course to prepare you for the CADS course. Complete at your own pace and receive a certificate at the end.
- Zoom Meeting: a few weeks prior, this meeting will provide more information about the whole training process and gives you an opportunity to ask questions
- THURSDAY Night 5-9pm: on-snow evaluation up at Grouse Mountain
- FRIDAY Night 6-9pm: meet in-person at the community centre in North Vancouver to begin training
- SATURDAY All-Day 7am-4pm: meet at the base of Grouse Mountain
- SUNDAY All-Day 7am- 4pm: meet again at the base of Grouse Mountain
These sessions are the CADS (Canadian Adaptive Snowsports) portion of your learning. By completing this specialized training, you will become a CADS Level 1 Instructor (ski or snowboard). In your first year, you’ll start by learning the basics of teaching skiing or snowboarding, including helping a student make their very first turn. We’ve partnered with the Canadian Ski Instructor Alliance (CSIA) and the Canadian Association of Snowboard Instructors (CASI) for this purpose. You will learn how to adapt your teaching plan based on the student you have the privilege of working with. We will cover techniques for motivation, communication, and pure kinesthetic teaching that will broaden your teaching horizons. Additionally, you’ll get a chance to try sit skiing, 3-tracking, and skiing with your eyes mostly closed while being guided. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice and receive feedback from CADS Course conductors, and you’ll be amazed by the knowledge and experience you gain from this intensive weekend.
AVAILABLE CADS Level 1 COURSES FOR 2024-2025:
- December 19 – 22, 2024 – $50 — ski and snowboarding courses
- January 2 – 5, 2025 – $50 — ski and snowboard courses
- January 9 – 12, 2025 – $50 — ski and snowboard courses
Upon completing this training, you will be certified to teach all types of adaptive lessons. In order to instruct these students, a CADS membership is also required and this can be purchased simultaneously when registering at our membership site.
CADS Membership includes: ($55)
- Insurance
- Pro deals on some gear
- Access to more training opportunities
Total cost to become a CADS Level 1 Instructor + CADS Membership = $105
You will also receive a mountain pass free-of-charge for the entire season!
Enrolling in CADS Level 1 training is not mandatory but highly recommended. You can still volunteer with VASS without this training course
ORIENTATION WEEK:
From January 6-12 2025, you will attend an orientation with your Program Coordinator, who will email you details about when and where to meet at the mountain. 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. During this first session, you’ll be paired with your partner instructor and have the chance to get to know each other, go over safety protocols, local mountain procedures, and review best teaching practices.
STUDENT LESSONS BEGIN:
After your orientation meeting, the student lessons will begin the following week and these run for 6 weeks, excluding the week of Invictus Games Feb 6-12, 2025. Each week, you’ll arrive early for the lesson and wait for your student to arrive at designated area. Then, in collaboration with your fellow instructors, you’ll do your best to help an amazing individual learn to enjoy the snow. 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 CADS trainer for additional support. You never know, and that’s all part of the fun and excitement. Click here to explore all the programs you could potentially volunteer for.
AFTER SEASON ENDS:
The end of the season is an exciting time. You can use this time to further your certification and explore disciplines in sit skiing, using outriggers, and learning about working with visually impaired students. To finish off the season in style, we throw an Appreciation Party in your honour… Okay, maybe not just for you, but certainly for all our volunteers!
VIDEO: watch this video for instructions on how to register
OVERVIEW: follow these written instructions on how to register
- Choose ‘I need a New Account‘
- Type in your name and email
- On the next page, type in a Snowline User ID name. You will need this every time you log into the profile. Ex: John Smith —> JSmith or use your email
- Make a password with the requirements.
- Next, you will need to choose ‘Instructor‘
- Then, join VASS (not BCAS)
- Complete the tabs on the top of the main profile page. If the information is completed, the tab will be green. If the information is incomplete, the tab will be red. If the information entered still needs approval from a Program Coordinator, the tab will be yellow. Choose a program that will fit your schedule. Choose only ONE program. If you think you can really commit to two program nights, choose a 2nd one.
- Once you have completed all of the tabs, you can purchase your $55 BCAS Membership, and this will submit your application. If for some reason the application is not accepted, this will be refunded.
- You need to initiate your own reference check. Click here to get all the details.
If you have more questions, please check out our FAQs or drop us a line at info@vass.ca
VOLUNTEERING (but not Instructing a student):
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. Here are some of the roles we recognize we need help with:
ON THE MOUNTAIN
- 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.
OFF THE MOUNTAIN
- Fundraising
- Donations
- Sponsorship
- Marketing
- Volunteer Coordination
- Website
- Newsletter
- Equipment
- Special Events
- Presentations
If you are interested in volunteering but not instructing a student, please email us a hello and we will connect with you soon. info@vass.ca