Carlos, co-instructors, and SSA participants are all smiles on a snowy Sunday.
While we live in a beautiful mountain community where winter sports abound, it is no secret that these activities are out of reach for many. With a commitment to community and inclusive access, a number of organizations and dedicated community members have come together over the years, making it possible for the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) to advance its mission through various programs, including the Snow Sports Alliance (SSA) program. This month’s generosity spotlight shines on BOEC’s SSA funding partners and the remarkable BOEC instructor, Carlos Jimenez-Vazquez, who goes above and beyond to ensure that SSA youth have exceptional experiences both on the mountain and within our community.
Established in 1997, SSA was designed to assist local Summit County youth by providing them with the opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard at no cost. This program is a collaboration between BOEC and Mountain Mentors with support from Alpine Bank, The Summit Foundation, Blue River Sports’ Mountain Wave, Slifer Smith & Frampton Foundation, Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise, and individual donors. Over the past 27 years, hundreds of Summit County youth of diverse backgrounds have benefited from this program which is made possible through the generous support of these partners and donors.
Skiing and snowboarding in Breckenridge with the SSA program.
Aaron Matheson, Mountain Mentors Program Coordinator, shares their experience with the SSA program this way,
“Mountain Mentors staff and participants have been so thankful for the ongoing partnership with the BOEC to run the Snow Sports Alliance program (SSA). Many of our participants have spent their whole life surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Summit County, but many have not had a chance to experience snow sports due to the prohibitive cost of participating in these activities, a lack of family that participates in these activities to help teach them, and often a lack of transportation to get to the mountain.”
Aaron continues,
“BOEC’s SSA program breaks down these barriers by providing free snowboard and ski instruction with amazing and caring BOEC instructors and volunteers, a season pass from Vail Resorts EpicPromise, gear rentals from Blue River Sports/Mountain Wave, transportation to-and-from the mountain, and lunch, all at no cost to the participants. The experience given to our participants allows them to build a new, lifelong hobby that allows them to stay active, connect with their local community, and build a sense of appreciation for the natural environment where we live.”
Thanks to the generous donors of the SSA program, many participants of this program have learned to ski and snowboard.
He shares this story, “One particular student in our program was so impacted by his experience, that when asked “what type of mentor would you like to be matched with?” he answered, “Someone like Carlos, my SSA snowboard instructor.” Carlos Jimenez-Vazquez has since joined the Mountain Mentors program as a mentor for this participant, demonstrating the ongoing commitment of BOEC staff to supporting youth in our community. We are so grateful to have an organization like BOEC in Summit County!”
The significance of this program resonates with BOEC Adaptive Ski and Snowboard instructor Carlos Jimenez-Vazquez. He observed that many students were arriving at the all-day program without lunch. Advocating for the inclusion of lunches, Carlos takes the initiative to come to work early every Sunday ensuring lunches are ready before SSA participants arrive for their day of skiing or snowboarding. He shares his perspective, “SSA is meaningful to me because it helps serve impactful experiences to a part of our community that would otherwise not have an opportunity to be a part of our wonderful world of snow sports. Growing up I didn’t have access to anything like this so being able to provide such an experience to a younger generation means so much to me. Nothing brings me more joy than introducing new people to the fun of sliding on snow!”
Carlos continues,
“I originally asked our program director if it was possible for us to provide lunches after an SSA day when a student of mine confessed he didn’t have much to eat that day and apologized for not doing his best while out snowboarding (This broke my heart). This topic was brought up during a team meeting and thankfully they found a way to make the budget work, so we just had to figure out logistically how it would be implemented. I offered to take the lead on prepping and bringing the lunches because I love working with the SSA kids and spending some extra time so they can enjoy themselves with full bellies is well worth it in my book.”
Carlos and his Mountain Mentee.
He expresses how his community engagement has grown due to SSA,
“Because of my involvement, I was asked by Mountain Mentors, the program that coordinates the SSA days with BOEC, to join them as a mentor. As a result, I have gotten to see some of the kids who have been through the SSA program and have gotten to see the growth and hear the impact it has on them. In the last few years of working with the SSA group, I’ve heard the kids say how they feel stronger and healthier after starting snow sports. They become more confident in themselves and their ability to tackle challenges. The kids grow a passion for the sport and go on to continue enjoying it even after the program concludes. They create friendships with their fellow athletes that continue into their school and home life. One parent told me how their child found so much confidence and spirit after our season of snowboarding together.”
Carlos believes strongly in the impact of SSA and explains, “This program is important to our local community because everyone deserves to enjoy the snow regardless of funds. We live in an area with gorgeous mountains that people from all over the world come to ski and snowboard at, the local kids should be able to enjoy this as well. Snow sports help us connect with the outdoors, our bodies, and each other. It teaches courage, awareness, patience, kindness, perseverance, and compassion for our environment. I believe these are important values for our community here in Summit County.”
Learning to snowboard through SSA with the help of BOEC instruction.
While the SSA program is fortunate to have individuals like Carlos, who is dedicated to his work at BOEC and Mountain Mentors, this program would not be possible without the committed funding partners who appreciate our mountain culture, making this initiative possible. For more information about SSA or how to get involved please visit www.BOEC.org. This program is growing and in need of additional funding support. If you are interested in SSA program sponsorship, please reach out to Development Director, Hallie Jaeger at [email protected] or 970-453-6422.
