Welcome to the Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski School

Transcription

1 Welcome to the Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski School This manual is written to help you understand Challenge Alaska, Alyeska Resort and your role as a staff member or volunteer. Challenge Alaska is a non-profit 501 C3 organization, is a PSIA-A member school as well as chapter of Disabled Sports USA. DS/USA is a national organization whose goal is to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities through the use of various sports. Our ski school aspires to the same goal, but does so specifically through snow sports. The program strives to encourage independence. During preseason training you will learn more about the various adaptive ski techniques and equipment we use to help students slide down the mountain. Use this handbook as a guide and we are sure you will find adaptive snow sports coaching to be a rewarding experience. Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski School Girdwood, Alaska Incorporated 1982 EIN #

2 Challenge Alaska Adaptive Ski School Policies, Procedures & Guidelines (November, 2007) Accident Procedures: If an accident happens during your lesson/clinic get immediate help from the ski patrol. Help can be obtained from many places and in many ways. a. Send your best skier or two skiers (or a passing skier) to the bottom of the lift, or to the nearest emergency phone located inside Glacier Express and inside the Day lodge. Extension b. If under a lift, yell up to the riders to send help. Have them pass message up the line to speed response. c. Be exact as to location of incident. d. Give nature of injury (neck, leg, knee, etc.). e. Secure the scene, i.e. cross your skis above the accident. f. Stay with the injured person until Patrol arrives. Do not apply first aid or move the person as your role is to comfort the person and protect them from further injury. Never let the person move or be moved until Patrol arrives. g. If the person refuses first aid and leaves the scene, please stay at the scene until Patrol arrives. h. If you go to first aid you will be asked to fill out an incident report form with a brief statement of the accident (as you saw it). Please contact the Challenge Alaska Building at so we may send over any medical files on the student that may be helpful to the attending caretaker. You may also be asked to speak with the incident investigator for Alyeska Resort. Minor mishaps should be reported and recorded with the Director of Challenge Alaska. Accurate recording of incidents can drastically help reduce false liability suits incurred by Alyeska Resort or Challenge Alaska. If an accident happens to you: 1. You must report your injury to the Challenge Alaska Ski School manager 2. If you are injured, go to first aid. Have one of the nurses contact the office at for accountability. If you become separated from your student: 1. Before you begin your class, orient your student to what lifts you will be using and what trails you intend to ski. 2. Instruct students if lost to go to a designated spot and wait there. If more help is needed, alert Patrol and Challenge staff that your student is missing. Search parties will be formed to assist you. 2

3 Line Cutting Privileges: 1. When with a student the lift attendant will allow you to use the ski school line. When using this line you will be expected to alternate with the first row of the regular lift line. Always be courteous, as this is a privilege. 2. Persons with disabilities skiing on their own time and using the line cutting privileges should do so moderately. Try not to ride alone. Grab a single from the singles line. Please use your best judgment so we may keep this privilege. 3. Private lessons from the Alpine ski school take precedent over any other lesson. With regard for the expense the customer pays please allow them to pass you in line with ease. Scheduling Procedures 1. Sign your full name in the schedule book for the days you are available. Be aware of the amount of people already signed up for those days so we may even out the help available. 2. When signed up to instruct for the day, please be at Challenge by 9:30am for a morning lesson, or 12:30pm for an afternoon lesson to read your assigned students file and to get geared up for the ski lesson. 3. When signed up, but are unable to come or you re running late, please call as soon as you can to let us know. 4. When scheduled on the white board, follow guidelines listed under the section that applies to your particular role for the day. 5. When no lesson is assigned, a clinic may be provided. When a clinic is offered you must attend to receive commitment credit. 6. Fill out student folder and/or credit sheet. Guidelines for Instructors 1. Complete training clinics and shadowing lessons 2. Arrive by 9:30am on scheduled days 3. Get daily assignment from assignment board 4. Check in with staff 5. Review student file 6. Check on student s equipment set up 7. Meet student and set common goals 8. Teach lesson safely 9. Return equipment to proper place, noting any problems 10. Fill out skill sheet in student s file and credit sheet to receive credit toward hours Guidelines for Shop Technician 1. Attend training 2. Complete binding certification successfully 3. Arrive by 9:30am 4. Check assignment board for equipment needs for the day and make sure all equipment is safe and equipped to go. 3

4 5. Check student folder for any details on set-up needs. Make sure students listed as having seizures go out with a harness. All students in sit down equipment must use a helmet. 6. Make sure binding waiver is completed and signed. 7. Assist volunteer in set up of student and getting them on the hill. 8. Get all equipment in, checked for condition and put away. 9. Be available for adjustments or equipment changes on hill. 10. Set equipment for the following day. 11. Fill out credit sheet. Perks Volunteers will receive a voucher good for a $10 full day lift ticket upon the completion of 8 hours. Vouchers are redeemable once a minimum commitment of, 16 hours for returning volunteers and 32 hours for new volunteers, has been completed and both the volunteer and Ski School Manager agree to continue with the volunteer agreement. Volunteers also have building privileges, ski storage and opportunities for personal skiing improvement. A limited number of season passes are also available to the first 30 volunteers who commit to 144 hours of midweek hours during the ski season. It is understood that volunteers will follow their guidelines including but not limited to: the drug and alcohol policy, Sexual harassment policy, Safety policies, Volunteer at-will and ADA. Season Pass 144 Hours of volunteering (teaching and training) A season pass is a strong commitment spread out from Mid November to April 10th. One ½ day lesson is worth 4 hours of credit, one full day lesson is worth 8 hours of credit. This equates to roughly 2 to 3 lessons a week throughout the entire season. There are a few additional responsibilities of bearing a Challenge Alaska Seasons Pass and these are lined out in a Season pass agreement that will be signed and understood by every season pass holder. New volunteers who are interested in a season pass will have to complete 32 hours before pass is issued. Vouchers Vouchers are obtainable from the ski school staff. Please try to avoid making requests for vouchers during busy operational hours. These hours include 10am to 1pm. The instructor s name is printed on each voucher and can only be redeemed by the instructor it was issued to at any Alyeska ticket window for 10$. The ski tickets for that day can then be distributed to friends and family but can not be resold for profit. Time Commitment The commitment can be from 32 hours minimum for earning vouchers to 144 hours minimum for a season pass. Each daily commitment ranges from 4 hours between 10am-2pm, 1pm-5pm or 8 hours between 10am-5pm. Credit Log In order to receive credit for your time you must fill out the credit log completely everyday! This is the responsibility of the volunteer. In the case you forget to fill out a credit sheet you can notify the office staff or other Challenge managers as soon as possible. 4

5 Clipping Tickets At the end of your AM lesson you can decide to clip your ticket or free-ride the rest of the day. If you clip your ticket put the ticket in the Ticket Can with your name on the back. Your hours for that day will be redeemable for vouchers. If you decide to free-ride for the rest of the day your hours for that AM lesson will not be redeemable for vouchers. Free-riding is dependent upon the completion of the minimum initial hours. 16 hours for returning volunteers and 32 hours for new volunteers. Parking Parking for staff and volunteers is available across the road from the Challenge building. Please leave keys with office staff when blocking someone in. Membership Volunteers are encouraged to become a member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). Membership is $75 and includes a number of benefits such as ski equipment discounts. Challenge offers certification for members annually for Adaptive Level 1. Volunteers are also recommended to become a member of our chapter of DS/USA. Membership categories are $15 individual, $35 family/group, $50 patron. Membership privileges include annual newsletter and DS/USA perks. Volunteer at will This manual, and the information herein, is not intended to establish a contractual guarantee. Our volunteer relationship is at-will. This means that Challenge Alaska may terminate a volunteer at anytime or for any reason with or without a cause. Similarly, a volunteer may leave at anytime and for any reason. The at-will nature of the relationship cannot be changed, waived or modified. Moreover, flexibility concerning Challenge Alaska guidelines and /or policies will be necessary at times to accommodate the diversity of our business and the people who comprise its success. The policies and guidelines contained in this manual may be changed at any time. As this is a business with paying customers, the quality of your commitment has a direct reflection on the safety, quality and success of our organization. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Challenge Alaska in compliance with the ADA, will not discriminate against persons with a disability in any aspect of the volunteer process. Challenge Alaska will attempt to reasonably accommodate any person with a disability who may need such accommodation. Additionally, if a disabled guest requires special assistance with any of our facilities, management or guest services should be contacted for assistance. Confidentiality policy Volunteers and staff can not reveal personal information regarding their students that is not directly relative to their lesson. A student s file is confidential and is not meant to be shared with anyone outside of the Challenge Alaska program. Challenge Ambassadors 5

6 As a Challenge representative, volunteers and staff are expected to act professionally and respectfully. This applies not only while on a lesson but also when skiing on a Challenge ticket and in their interactions in the public eye. Harassment Policy Challenge Alaska expressly prohibits any form of unlawful volunteer harassment based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, sexual preference, marital status, disability or any other protected characteristic. Improper interference in the ability to accomplish the goals and objectives of Challenge Alaska by any person to perform their job duties is not tolerated and will have action taken in the appropriate manner as decided by the Ski School Manager in accordance with Challenge Alaska s Policies and Procedures. Challenge Alaska prohibits: Sexual Harassment is expressly forbidden. Sexual harassment is defined as: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, all other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual or otherwise offensive nature. Any and all forms of verbal, visual or physical harassment including: offensive comments, jokes, innuendos, sexually oriented statements, expressions, gestures, telling lies or spreading rumors about a person s sex life, suggestive photographs, pin-ups, cartoons in print or other media, threats, stalking, and any unwanted propositions, compliments, touching or physical contact. Participation in sexual harassment of any kind will result in disciplinary action and may result in dismissal. Drug and Alcohol Policy The use of alcohol while volunteering is prohibited. Volunteers are prohibited from being under the influence of illegal drugs, alcohol or other controlled substances while volunteering for Challenge Alaska. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in immediate dismissal. Building Use Guidelines: The Challenge Alaska building located at the base of chair 3 at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, AK. The building is available for volunteers during normal operating hours December thru March between 10am and 5:30pm when the mountain is in operation. The building is available to the general public for private functions. For more information on renting the building for your private function contact Challenge Alaska. The following Building Checklist is designed to give a clear understanding of what is expected from those who rent the building. Dog Policy For the benefit and comfort of our clients, animals will not be permitted in Challenge Alaska facilities and/or vehicles, with the exception of service animals. No dogs are allowed inside the Challenge building, on the deck, porch, walkways or in the main parking lot. All dogs need to be leashed or kept in vehicles. 6