Submitted content from Kathleen Olsen
Edited by Hadley Bodell, Editor in Chief
[Idaho Falls, ID] With ski season now in full swing in Eastern Idaho, the Idaho Falls Nordic Ski Patrol is in search of more volunteers. Even if you’re not an avid skier or doubt you have time in your schedule for volunteering, the Ski Patrol has an opportunity for you.
Umbrellaed by the National Ski Patrol (NSP), the Idaho Falls Nordic Ski Patrol members patrol at over a dozen designated cross-country trails totaling over 200 miles within a 110-mile radius of Idaho Falls.
The patrol’s primary operating center is Harriman State Park, which boasts over 22 miles of groomed trails. For over 25 years, their mission has been to provide emergency first aid, winter preparedness, and educational opportunities to the public year-round.
The organization also runs a Bike Patrol in the summer, where volunteers ride the miles of trails at Harriman.
I spoke with long-time Ski Patrol member Kath Olsen about her experience volunteering as a ski patroller. For Olsen, one life-changing day on the mountain in Sun Valley was all it took to begin her career in ski patrolling.
As a registered nurse, Olsen was able to perform CPR when a skier had a heart attack on the lift. Combining her talents as a nurse and her love for the outdoors, Olsen went on to volunteer at Pebble Creek Ski Area in Inkom for 40 years and has been with the Idaho Falls Nordic Ski Patrol for the past five years.
Olsen explained the patrol is the perfect combination and opportunity for students in healthcare who love the outdoors. She said, “I was able to go on out-of-country trips and earn my master’s degree by working in a high-altitude clinic in Nepal. If you’re looking to get incredible experiences using your healthcare background, the Ski Patrol could be for you.”
Patrollers must complete an Outdoor Emergency Care course plus yearly updates. Olsen said, “These skills are transferable and help you prepare for life. This course is similar to skills EMTs utilize to handle emergencies.”
Volunteering is an important piece of building your resume and strengthening your relationship with the community. As a nonprofit organization, the patrol hosts events to give back to their community.
Even if you’re not in the healthcare field, the IF Nordic Ski Patrol could use your help with community fundraising as a marketing or business major to help them buy equipment. The IFSP sponsors the Banff Film Festival in Idaho Falls every January to earn money to support their mission. Since 2019, the patrol has donated over $10,000 to various nonprofit organizations that promote Nordic skiing.
Olsen described, “The new signs at the Mink Creek Nordic Center are a result of a grant from the Idaho Falls Nordic Ski Patrol.”
The patrol also offers “learn to ski” beginner lessons on the state park’s annual free ski day. It’s obvious the organization is passionate about facilitating the next generation of Nordic skiers. In 2017 the patrol donated grant money to the Bonneville County School District to purchase over 60 sets of cross-country boots and ski gear, which are shared by 900 fourth graders at 14 elementary schools around Idaho Falls.
For Olsen, it’s about giving back to her community in a positive way and combining her interests and talents to make a difference on the mountain. She said, “From seeing injuries and providing care in the backcountry, I became a better nurse. The skills were truly invaluable.”
If you love cross-country skiing, safety, and education, and you are interested in joining the Idaho Falls Nordic Ski Patrol, check out their website at https://idahofallsnordicskipatrol.com/
