Educational Program News
YAP Summit Scholarship
New Process – New Timeline
Yes, fall has just begun – fall sports, band, pumpkin spice, and refreshers. Who is thinking about March and the Summit?
Now is the time to consider attending the YAP Summit in March 2027, scheduled for Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont, and to apply for a YAP Summit Scholarship.
The YAP Summit Scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from MaryLyn and Greg Boberg of Holimont and Holiday Valley Ski Patrols, respectively, as well as the Eastern Division. The intent of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to those students/families who show a need for this support.
The scholarship application process will begin on October 15, 2026, and close on January 15, 2027. Note: This is NOT the same timeline for registering for the YAP Summit. The application will be available on PatrollerSchool.org and MUST be completed “online!” It will be handled electronically; no more emailed applications. “Letters of Recommendation” are required and will be submitted separately by the recommending individual.
Division Seeking Bike Program Supervisor
The Eastern Division of the National Ski Patrol is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as Bike Program Supervisor. If you are a Bike Patroller, this is an opportunity to advance Bike Patrolling in the Eastern Division and also directly affect the direction of bike patrolling nationally. You don’t need to be a mountain biker to qualify, just someone who wants to help bike patrolling grow.
Please provide a brief resume outlining your ski and/or bike patrol history and accomplishments. Please submit a cover letter that includes your name, NSP ID, and a brief description of your vision for the Bike Program.
Bear Creek EMS Program – Beyond the Backboard
The Bear Creek EMS Program is hosting the following virtual patroller workshop. Please share with your colleagues, EMS professionals, and friends.
Beyond the Backboard – Spinal Cord Injury: From Recognition to Recovery
October 27, 2026, 7:30-9:30 pm EST
Presented by:
Linda Laskowski Jones, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, NREMT, FAWM, FAEN, FAAN
Editor-in-Chief of Nursing, Executive Director of the Appalachian Center for Wilderness Medicine, Blue Mountain Ski Patrol
New Look for Women’s Program
Have you noticed that the Eastern Division Women’s Program has a new look?
Along with our new logo, we also have a new mission statement, both built around creating an inclusive, collaborative environment where women can thrive.
Updated Mission Statement
The Women’s Committee of the National Ski Patrol’s mission is to create an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environment where all patrollers can thrive within the NSP community and influence the broader industry. We are dedicated to empowering, supporting, and advocating for women and emerging groups in patrolling.
If you follow us on social media, you also may have noticed our NSP Eastern Division Women’s Spotlight Series. In these brief profiles, we showcase the unique skills, stories, and contributions of women across the region. So far, we’ve profiled women including:
Nordic Planning for Winter
The leaves are starting to turn, and refresher season is upon us. Several patrols have already scheduled their OTH refreshers for November, including Nutmeg Nordic, Highpoint Nordic, and Highland Forest. Let me know how the new beta refresher cycle works out with your patrol. So let’s get it done. Check your region’s website calendar to find your local refresher.
Have you started to look for new equipment yet? This is a good time of year to work the pro forms. Don’t wait until Thanksgiving; by then the sales season has started, and the shops are less likely to deal with you.
MTR/Nordic Backcountry/Avy Events
Mark your calendars for the following Avalanche, Mountain Travel and Rescue, and Nordic/Backcountry training events:
Mountain Travel and Rescue
The Connecticut Region will hold an MTR 1 on the weekend of January 9-10, 2027 at Winding Trails in Farmington, CT. Registration information will be on patrollerschool.org.
Nordic Backcountry
The Nordic Backcountry Program will host Nordic Fest the weekend of January 30-31, 2027 at Highland Forest in Fabius, NY. Registration information will be on patrollerschool.org.
Click below to see additional events.
OET – Patroller Schools, Tail Ropes, Steeps & Bumps
The 2026–27 season is shaping up to be an exciting one for OET, with opportunities for patrollers at every level to sharpen their skiing, snowboarding, telemark, and toboggan skills.
We’ll kick off the season in December with our annual Killington OET Meeting, where we’ll prepare our staff to bring this year’s training initiatives back to their home regions. Once again, we’ll be partnering with the PSIA Educational Staff to strengthen our coaching skills. This year, our staff development will focus on the skills and tactics needed for successful tail-rope work—an essential skill for many patrollers and one that presents unique challenges for both patrollers and instructors.
Training Opportunities for Every Patroller
As the season gets underway, look for a full calendar of OET training opportunities across the division designed to meet patrollers where they are and help them take the next step.
Patroller Schools are tentatively scheduled at Saddleback, Bristol, Elk, Killington, and Gore. These two-day events are ideal for new patrollers, developing patrollers and aspiring seniors.
Raising the Bar: Certified Boot Camp at Magic Mountain
Lying down on the job so candidates can practice.
Three days of training, camaraderie, and a continued commitment to excellence brought nearly 70 patrollers together at Magic Mountain in Londonderry, Vermont, for the 19th Annual Eastern Division Certified Program Training.
From August 7–9, Magic Mountain served as the backdrop for the annual training event. Nearly 70 participants gathered for a weekend focused on advanced skills, practical scenarios, professional development, and—perhaps most importantly—the continued pursuit of excellence within the National Ski Patrol’s Eastern Division Certified Program.
Magic Mountain management and staff were exceptional hosts throughout the weekend, providing the facilities, support, and welcoming atmosphere that helped make the event such a success. Among those on hand was Magic Mountain’s own Assistant Patrol Director and Certified #871, Becky Rubin, who was able to participate in the weekend alongside fellow patrollers.
2026 Memorial Scholarships
Harriet Frawley, Memorial Scholarship Fund Advisor
As my tenure as Memorial Scholarship Fund Advisor winds down, I am pleased to share this year’s David J. Nelson Sr. Memorial Scholarship recipients. Congratulations to the awardees, and thank you to everyone who has supported the Fund throughout its 50-year history. I also offer special thanks to those who have encouraged me over the past 10 years of steering the program.
Please join me in congratulating this year’s scholarship recipients.
Hope Giammatteo, Powder Ridge/CT
Sean Wallace, Blue Hills/EMARI
Nathaniel Demain, Abenaki/NH
William Burdin, Nashoba Valley/EMARI
Mason Opalka, Elk Mountain/EPA
Mary Page, Bear Creek/EPA
Nicholas Loew, Bromley/SVT
Flora Dewar, Bolton Valley/NVT
A Guide to Retaining Patrollers
Allan Miller
Eastern Division Alumni Advisor
This guide will help Ski Patrollers understand their options if they need to interrupt patrolling. It’s a retention-focused approach for keeping experienced members connected to the National Ski Patrol community. The goal of this guide is to help patrols retain members who conclude they may need to step away from active patrolling by making sure they understand their options, know whom to contact, and feel encouraged to remain part of the NSP community.
Why This Matters
Patrollers may need to interrupt active service for many reasons, including family responsibilities, health, work demands, relocation, or changing availability. When members believe their only choice is to leave completely, the organization risks losing experienced people, institutional knowledge, instructors, mentors, and future volunteers. A clear education and communication process can help convert potential departures into continued engagement as Alumni by providing the patroller with options to retain their OEC technician certification and their connection to their patrol and the organization.
Key Message for Patrollers
Leaving active patrolling does not have to mean leaving NSP. Members who can no longer patrol regularly should be encouraged to explore all the options they have so they can remain connected, continue contributing, and preserve important benefits where applicable.
