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NATIONAL
SKI PATROL’S

INTERNATIONAL

EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM

The Best Patrolling Practices Sometimes Transcend Borders

BY MEEGAN MOSZYNSKI, NSP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CHARLES BUCKMAN, NSP REGISTRATION MANAGER

ki areas have used the J-1 Visa program for years to bring come to work at US ski areas in the winter in unskilled
Sinternational workers and employees to US ski resorts positions. While these international patrollers learn about
as a way to enrich their workforce with different cultural local best practices and systems, local patrollers gain exposure
perspectives and to help meet staffing challenges for lift opera- to international expertise and skills. NSP patrols also often
tions, F&B, snowmaking, lodging and other departments. In send patrollers abroad as a form of exchange to reciprocate
exchange, the program also provides opportunities for foreign the experience for their US patrollers and to offer them the
workers in the US to chase winter in another hemisphere and opportunity to learn more about best practices and experi-
work year round. Under a unique, niche program through ences in international alpine communities in Europe, Japan,
the US State Department, a small number of experienced ski South America, Australia, and elsewhere. This program
patrollers are excellent candidates for a separate work authori- is a unique membership benefit that allows NSP patrols
zation visa that allows the National Ski Patrol (NSP) to sponsor to exchange ideas and continuously improve their training
these international patrollers to work at US ski areas. and expertise, and promote international best practices and
NSP has been utilizing the Exchange Visitor Program knowledge sharing.
(EVP) for 25 years to bring experienced international patrollers In addition to gaining experience by working with a patrol
to the US as “specialists.” This is a sub-unit of the broader J-1 outside of their country, J-1 specialists have the opportunity
visa program, which also allows foreign workers authoriza- to learn about NSP’s Outdoor Emergency Care curriculum
tion to work in the US as doctors, au pairs, interns, and in with certified instructors. Outdoor Emergency Care, NSP’s
other capacities. The program includes the Summer Work core education and training program, is used by the majority
Travel (“SWT”) program, where nearly 8,000 foreign workers of US ski patrols. Since English is a second language for many

34 | NSAA JOURNAL | SPRING 2019