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CommentsHelping Kids Learn to Ride
Project Snow finds footing in Tahoe
Published: February 8, 2010by Eric Wallis
Some of the best ideas in Tahoe stem from conversations on the chairlift. Such was the case for Project Snow. In the winter of 2009, riding with my friend, snowboard icon Travis Parker, we were discussing his recent trip to Portland, OR, to work with the Snowdays Foundation, an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the empowerment of youth through snowboarding. Parker was a co-founder of Snowdays, and we wondered if there was a program like it in the Reno/Tahoe area. If not, we felt we needed a local chapter or similar organization.
Lacking the resources to identify and locate the right group of kids, we clearly needed help organizing. To most of the kids I knew in the area, hardship meant having their ski pass blacked out on holidays, or having to go the DMV and the Post Office in one day. Enter Penny “Public Health” Pritchard. We would soon realize that if you are looking to make any positive change or social progress, Pritchard is the first person to call. A former competitive snowboarder herself, Pritchard was finishing her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Community Health Science in Reno, and interning with the Washoe County Health District.
After contacting Snowdays, we learned that due to various regional differences and the resulting legal inconsistencies, it would be easier to start our own program from scratch. Through her internship, Pritchard had been working with foster children, and it seemed they would be a great group of kids to get involved with Project Snow. After spending months tutoring these kids it became clear to Pritchard that they needed more than just help in school — they also needed an outlet to release energy and some of life’s frustrations. The challenges that most foster kids face are extremely tough, and we sought to encourage them to also live active healthy lives. We realize that yes, these are ambitious goals, many of which are hard to adhere to even for those of us with the means. But as with any program with good intentions, we also realized the importance of starting with realistic, measurable goals in order to affect change.
Our next step was to tap into our relationships in the snowboard industry, looking for general support, as well as new and used equipment for the kids. We also began building the Project Snow family of volunteers to help instruct and assist on and off snow. The Project Snow volunteer group has grown to include some of the area’s top professional snowboarders, instructors, and community leaders. Mt Rose Ski Area became one of our first and most enthusiastic partners, stepping up with an amazing offer, furnishing Project Snow with lift tickets, group lessons, and rental gear.
As our concept of the program progressed, it became clear that we needed to look at the bigger picture, and really think about what snowboarding has done for us. With the alarming rate of child obesity and the resulting conditions, we wanted to do more than just take kids snowboarding. We decided that we needed to show kids that they have one of the best outdoor gyms in the world, right in their own back yard. Rather than just share our passion for snow and the mountains, we wanted to encourage youth to be active through snowboarding. We sought to show kids that the benefits of physical activity are not limited to just the physical, but can also contribute to your mental state and just help you cope. It was also important for us to emphasize that being active does not always have to be complex and involve competition.
As Pritchard explains, “Participants of Project Snow will learn firsthand about the benefits of physical activity while being taught the basics of snowboarding. They will be introduced to stretches that help increase flexibility and reduce the risk of injury. They will also be taught how muscle and bone strengthening exercises can improve their skills on the mountain. Volunteers of Project Snow will also encourage their participants to build life skills, such as communication, while working through the challenges of learning a new sport. And even though good nutrition is not Project Snow’s primary focus, we feel healthy choices for snacks and lunches are just as important as being active. Youth at risk and low socioeconomic status youth in Washoe County will not only be given the opportunity to snowboard but they will also be introduced to healthy lifestyles that will positively impact their lives. Our goal is encourage fun and exercise, and hopefully light a fire with the kids so that next time it snows, they will grab a board and go build a jump in their back yard.”
We launched the program in the spring of 2009, starting out at Mt. Rose with the first group of 12 kids, ranging from age 7 to 17. From the start, the program enlightened and educated us, the volunteers. Your perspective changes when you realize that a day where we would not even go to the hill can be the best day of the year to these kids. “Through running these trips we have rediscovered our appreciation for snowboarding, and Project Snow is vehicle for us to share our passion,” says Pritchard.
This season, Project Snow has partnered with The Children’s Cabinet in Reno, NV, and the Washoe County Social Services to access multiple foster children as well as youth at risk. More specifically, Project Snow is a non-profit under the umbrella of the Children’s Cabinet who has multiple programs that reach out to the Washoe County community such as gang prevention for youth at risk. They believe that each child has the right to lead a healthy, safe existence, that will promote their capacity and opportunity to become responsible, productive adult citizens.
Project Snow also works with The Kids Kottages in Reno, which are protective shelters where police or social workers bring children after they have been removed from their families. Most children at Kids Kottage are there because their families are suspected of severe abuse or neglect. However, some children are placed because no one else is available to care for them during parental incarceration or hospitalization.
This year Project Snow has expanded into eight full days of riding at Mt. Rose. The community and industry support has been overwhelming. For such a young organization, we have enjoyed amazing donations from individuals, local snowboard shops and snowboard companies themselves. But with over 150 kids scheduled to come through the program this year, Project Snow hopes to gain even more partners in order to reach out and affect more children and teens in our community. To see how you can make a tax deductable donation, volunteer, or contribute in any way, please visit projectsnow.org.
~ Eric Wallis has lived in Tahoe since he was 2 years old, skiing competitively at a young age and snowboarding for over 20 years. Seven years ago he founded the Action Labor Collaborative Inc, and is also an officer in the local nonprofit The League to Skate Lake Tahoe, and a founder of Project Snow. Contact him at wallis.alc@gmail.com.
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