Page 50 - Winter 2018 Journal

Growing the Sport

GETTING KIDS ON SNOW:

THE NATIONAL WINTER SPORTS

EDUCATION FOUNDATION

BY CONSTANCE BEVERLEY, CEO, NATIONAL WINTER SPORTS EDUCATION FOUNDATION

IMAGINE WAKING UP EVERY DAY surrounded by mountains. With the help of NWSEF, thousands of youth who tra-
Imagine beautiful, majestic peaks, towering above your ditionally would not have access to winter sports are learn-
hometown, full of endless possibility. Can you see them? ing to ski or snowboard through our grantee programs. Our
Now imagine seeing those mountains every day, but not work—“game-changing grant making,” as we like to call
having the chance to experience them. This is the reality for it—is a partnership with our grantees, their communities,
many youth in the Salt Lake City and Ogden area. Despite and local ski areas in an effort to create pathways to par-
living in the shadow of some of the best ski resorts in the ticipation that turn “never-evers” into lifetime skiing and
world, staggering numbers of local youth are unable to access riding enthusiasts (and maybe even future Olympians).
the “greatest snow on earth” and take part in skiing and NWSEF works by
snowboarding. • convening local organizations around the development
This phenomenon is all too common for families of sustainable, effective programs;
across the United States. Citing steep prices, transportation • fostering local, regional, and national collaboration to
barriers, and time constraints, many families choose to opt leverage the unique skills and capabilities of individual
out of winter sports. The result: declining participation organizations;
rates and fewer opportunities for youth to experience the • identifying, sourcing, and making available financial
mountains, even if they are literally in their backyard. and other resources;
Now imagine how the winter sports community could • serving as the repository of information and best prac-
band together and find a way to curb this trend, with some- tices for access by participating and supporting organi-
one stepping up to lead the charge. Can you picture it? I zations; and
hope so, because it’s happening and there’s room for you • providing quantifiable outcomes relating to the impact
to join us. and effectiveness of programs and processes.
In 2012, the National Winter Sports Education
Foundation (NWSEF) was founded to improve the NWSEF began as the youth outreach initiative of the US Ski
lives, health, and fitness of youth through winter sports. and Snowboard Team, and has grown into a national 501(c)
NWSEF is committed to reducing the barriers to access, (3) non-profit that has: (1) supported and grown a Nordic
diversifying the skier/rider population, and bringing the skiing physical education program, “Nordic Rocks!”, which
opportunity for youth to enter and stay in these sports as operates in over 150 schools nationally, (2) funded a facil-
a part of a healthy, active lifestyle. NWSEF accomplishes ity in New Jersey that runs youth (only) skiing, riding, and
these goals by providing financial resources and program nordic programs, and (3) launched and/or supported a vari-
support to youth learn to ski and snowboard programs ety of successful “learn-to” nordic, alpine, and snowboarding
across the country. programs nationwide.

48 | NSAA JOURNAL | WINTER 2018