.png)
Organizers of an Innisfail Middle School (IMS) ski program, say volunteers are the key to the program's success
“I want to sincerely thank each parent, staff member, our volunteer ski instructors, and the individual people who open the Innisfail Ski Hill for us and support each student who arrives there,” says Erin Holt, IMS teacher and ski program organizer. “Without these individuals we could not do what we do. Our program has grown because of the combined efforts of so many.”
The IMS ski program began three years ago. It offers Grade 5 students the opportunity to learn to ski at the Innisfail Ski Hill. The Grade 5 students visit the hill three times during school days in January, as a part of their physical education classes.
During their time on the hill, they learn basic skills and receive coaching from volunteer instructors, which include some staff members from IMS as well as community members.
In the 2024-25 school year, the program expanded to include Grade 6, 7 and 8 students. These students receive a single session at the ski hill each year, with the hopes of helping students continue to develop skills and confidence. In total, IMS students will be on the hill in January 17 times. There are almost 250 students participating. The volunteers include: four instructors (three of them are IMS staff members), four community volunteers and 35 parent volunteers.
Tim Jackson was a part of the group that helped to open the Innisfail Ski Hill in the 1980’s. He is one of the facility operators and says, “The program is a great idea. Anytime you can turn kids on to skiing it’s so good. It is a great sport that they can enjoy for a lifetime.”
Tim’s niece, Melanie Melnyk-Robin also helps to run the facility and with the IMS students when they visit. “This program is helping kids become comfortable with the sport, and get outdoors and enjoy physical activity,” says Melnyk-Robin.
Melnyk-Robin says she enjoys interacting with the students, and likes it when many of them come back in evenings or on weekends, and often with their parents. “This is getting whole families out, and giving students a way to interact with adults, and giving the students a break from their phones.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.
CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.