Winter interns make a six-month commitment, from early November to late April, working primarily for an Adaptive Ski Program. After an intense month long training the interns become an integral part of the ski office, first as assistant instructors, and quickly advancing to primary instructors for people with various disabilities and special needs. This job, although incredibly rewarding and educational, is physically and mentally demanding. Interns may spend their day helping students with physical challenges get on and off the lift, as well as introducing them to adaptive skiing or helping them improve their current skills. After a long day at work, interns may return home to daily chores of wood chopping or snow shoveling, which are some of the many duties needed to maintain the wilderness site where they live. Another responsibility that may keep interns from returning home right after the full work day is driving groups of participants to and from our ski office to ensure their ability to participate in our unique program.

During the winter, interns also facilitate wilderness courses with various groups ranging from the siblings of people with cancer, to groups with brain injuries or epilepsy. These courses require interns to be involved in preplanning, such as course design and food shopping, as well as group facilitation, team building exercises and participation on the ropes course or high and low elements. When on course,interns and other staff remain with participants twenty-four hours per day, as most winter courses take place at our wilderness site.

Although the winter internship requires a long commitment and hard work outdoors during the cold months, many former interns have used this experience to further their careers in experiential/outdoor education and adaptive skiing. Opportunities exist for interns to become certified through the Professional Ski Instructors of America in adaptive teaching.