For over 44 years, the Midwest Sport/Ski Council www.midwestfun.org has offered people with hearing impairment the opportunity to learn how to downhill ski, and snowboarding lessons have been added to the program. This program for beginning to intermediate athletes, promotes self-confidence, physical activity, and skill set development.
The MSC Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Learn to Ski & Snowboard Program takes place at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, and will start again in January 2022. The sessions will be held on five Sunday mornings, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The dates are January 9th through February 6th. Equipment & lift tickets are provided for students at minimal cost; equipment and lift tickets are free for interpreters, and qualified instructors who have completed the mandatory training clinics. The people involved in this program donate their time for teaching and other assistance as needed; non-council members are also welcome. Parents can instruct & interpret in the program, and will be placed with students other than their own children.
It is not necessary to have previous instructor experience. Two instructor clinics of 2 to 3 hours will be held at 9am on Jan 2nd and Jan 8th. If you are a returning instructor, attendance at a clinic is recommended, but optional. If this is your first time teaching you will need to attend at least one clinic, the second clinic may be waived depending on the circumstances. Typically, you will expand your teaching skills with additional clinics.
Certification is not required; volunteer instructors are taught step-by-step methods in the art of teaching someone to ski. In addition, these clinics will substantially develop your own teaching skills. Most people with intermediate or better ability can qualify as an instructor.
All participants will be required to sign a waiver of liability.
When working with the deaf & hard of hearing students, most instructors have only one student apiece, as instructors are geared specifically to each student’s ability. Interpreters will be available on the hill to provide assistance during the lessons.
People with rusty or beginner skiing skills are welcome in the program, and at the clinic. These folks can be used in other areas of the program while they improve their skills to the point that they are capable of instructing.
If you have not previously taught in the program and are interested in participating, we will need to know if you can attend the instructor clinics, and which of the days you can teach. For previous instructors in the program, we need to know whether you will be available again this year, and if so, which of the dates you can teach.
We do not require attendance at all sessions. RSVP to Hearing Impaired Coordinator at mscdhhprogram@midwestfun.org if you intend to instruct or interpret in this season’s program.
