Serving the west end of Ottawa and Lanark County, the Adaptive Ski Program at Mount Pakenham provides the opportunity for children, youth and adults with disabilities and special needs (both physical and intellectual) to learn to ski through lessons taught by trained volunteers and certified instructors. We are grateful for the generosity of Mount Pakenham owners and management, as well as the dedicated volunteers, all of whom make this program possible.

Schedule of Lessons

The regular program operates on Thursday/ Friday afternoons and evenings, as well as Saturdays and Sundays during the day. The Race Program is on Tuesday evenings. Lessons start  the week of January 4, 2015. The format of the program is similar to a ski school, with approximately one-hour lessons held weekly for eight weeks. Class sizes are from one to four students, depending on the needs and abilities of the skier. This season, for the first time, we are also planning teen groups on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.  At the end of the eight weeks, a Skill-a-Thon/year-end party will be held (this year on Sunday, March 8, 2015).

New Skiers

New skiers are accepted based on the availability of volunteers/ instructors. New skiers must provide a Physician’s Referral, and all participants/ volunteers complete a Membership Registration form, including liability and photo releases. With a variety of specialized equipment available to us, we can get most people skiing! We have sit-skis to assist those who have limited or no use of their legs. We have snow sliders (like a walker on skis) to help those with balance issues. And we have lots of other great aids to assist us. Please contact us to discuss your interest in our program.

 Fees

Fees for the winter 2015 session are $225 for the regular instructional program and $100 for the race program (special criteria apply for the race program- contact us if you are interested). In addition, ALL skiers and volunteers must join CADS-NCD (Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing - National Capital Division) at a cost of $30, which includes liability insurance coverage.  This information is on the Membership Application Form.

 Equipment and Lift Tickets

Ski equipment (including boots, skis, poles, helmets and all specialized equipment) and lift tickets are provided for those who need them, at no additional charge. Participants need only provide a warm snow or ski suit, warm socks and mitts, and a toque that will fit under a helmet.

 Volunteers Needed!

We are seeking volunteers to provide assistance to our program participants. If you are at least an intermediate skier, and have your own equipment/ transportation, we will train you in techniques to assist disabled skiers. We will provide you with free lift tickets when you ski with the program and support from certified instructors, including group ski improvement sessions. Volunteer for as little as one lesson per week, daytime or evening.  Those with CSIA certification are especially needed, even if it's not current.

Not a skier? Not a problem! We could still use your help with tasks such as newsletter preparation, special events (Skill-A-Thon and year-end party), and fundraising. Join our team today!

 Skiing in Schools

We can accommodate school ski programs/ clubs who have students with special needs. Please contact Allan Braun, Coordinator for the School Program, at schoolsupport@cads-pakenham.org  or 613-832-2211

Contact us today if you are interested in skiing with the program or being a volunteer.

Program Coordinator, Allan Braun  613-832-2211 director@cads-pakenham.org

Program Registrar, Dave Hoffman  613-240-8558 registrar@cads-pakenham.org