Youth Avy Awareness (AABBS)
......................................................................................Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries (AABBS) is a non-profit society newly formed to provide free Avalanche Skills Training to youth between the ages of 13 – 18 in the Kootenays.
Mission Statement
To raise awareness and educate youth in decision making about backcountry travel and avalanche safety by providing age appropriate courses in the west Kootenays. The Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries, is a non for profit society founded in the spring of 2009 by a group of Nelson ski industry and business professionals concerned about the increase in the number of teens venturing out into the back country without any avalanche and mountain safety training.
Thanks to the generosity of the many donors that have supported the effort, the society provided free Canadian Avalanche Association approved Avalanche Skills Training courses to 30 Nelson and area youth between the ages of 13-18 this past ski season.
We have also provided 5, 1 day Avalanche Awareness Courses for approximately 75 youth aimed to raise awareness and prepare these youth for the AST 1 courses. The fundraising efforts for the society kicked off at the 2009 Kootenay Coldsmoke Powder Festival held at Whitewater through a silent auction where the initial seed money of $5,000 was raised. The AABBS was named as beneficiary for the Travis Steeger Memorial Fund set up after his tragic death last Februaryand donations on his behalf have been on going over the past year. In the fall, the Nelson & District Credit Union stepped up to the plate with a cheque for $2,500, the first of our large corporate donors. A Gear Swap last fall raised $775, as well as the Avalanche Rescue Seminar this past December hosted by Whitewater and instructed by Manuel Genswein raised a further $650. Furthermore Whitewater’s forgotten pass funds and donations from the use of Whitewaters Beacon Training grounds have contributed another $135. Ongoing monies will be raised through the AABBS membership drive and private donations. The Kootenay Mountain Culture magazine’s popular Backyard Booty Film showcase donated all the proceeds from the night’s bar to the fund and there were some thirsty filmgoers!
Fund raising for AABBS will be ongoing into 2012 for the 2011/12 winter season and will be once again kicked off with the Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest slated for Februrary 24-27th, 2012. A flower sale in the spring will be followed by our 2nd annual Gear Swap in November. The board is planning to pursue more corporate sponsorship through the various Trusts, Foundations and community events in the area. Our goals for the 2011 winter is to deliver a slightly modified version of the CAA approved AST 1 (Avalanche Skills Training course). We will draw on the instructors experience and the feedback from the teens in the course this season to make it more interactive and therefore engaging for the youth that participate. We also found that it was difficult for the teens to access the necessary equipment required for the AST course. The society board would like to see safety packs made available for the course participants to use and will be pursing that as well. The AABBS website and logo development are also on the list of summer projects.
If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering to help the AABB society meet it’s goals, please contact … Kirk@skiwhitewater.com
Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries List of 2009 Donors
Gold Sponsors - $2,000 + : Nelson & District Credit Union, Whitewater Ski Resort, Gravity Adventures, KMC magazine, Chatter Creek Cat Skiing, Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest
Community sponsors: Bugaboos Eyeware, Valhalla Pure Outfitters, Mountain Hound Inn, Creston Golf Club, Kokanee Springs Golf Resort, G3, All Season’s Café, Avalanche Ski Wear, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Retallack Cat Skiing, Big Red Cats, Nelson Athletic Association, Baldface Lodge, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Red Mountain Resorts, RK Heliski, Granite Pointe Golf Course, Alpine Motel, McLaughlins Printers, Prestige Lakeside Resort, Martin Keyserlingk
In the Kootenays we have access to and enjoy a number of recreational pursuits outside the boundaries of the local ski resorts. An increasing number of teens are joining the numbers of skiers, snowboarders, snowmobile riders and climbers that venture out beyond the boundaries into the backcountry during the winter season. A majority of these teens have been made aware of the risks and hazards involved while traveling in the backcountry but do not possess the ability to assess safe routes and avoid avalanches, they also lack the skills required to rescue a friend buried in an avalanche.
Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries is a non-profit society to provide free Avalanche Courses to youth between the ages of 13– 18 in the Kootenay region. These safety courses will follow the curriculum established by the Canadian Avalanche Association and be taught by qualified instructors. Our goal is to offer these 1 day and 3 day courses throughout the region, free of charge, to interested teens.
The normal charge for an Avalanche Awareness 1-day course is around $40 and the normal charge for an Avalanche Skills Training course is around $200. There was a free course last season that filled up within a number of days, proving that there is a need and interest among the target age group.
How You Can Help: Beyond the Boundaries is in need of donations from the community locals and businesses in order to operate. We are also in need of fundraising volunteers throughout the season! Please contact Anne at anne@skiwhitewater.com or at 250.354.4944 to make a donation or to sign up for volunteering.
Course Dates 2011/2012
There will be 2 courses running this year:
- Wednesday the 14th of December (evening 6-9pm at the Chamber of Commerce). Saturday the 17th of December (half day field session at WH20 and 6-9pm theory session at Chamber of Commerce). Sunday the 18th of December and Monday the 19th (full field days-WH20 and area).
- Friday the 6th of January (evening 6-9pm at the Chamber of Commerce). Saturday the 7th of January (half day field session at WH20 and 6-9pm theory session at Chamber of Commerce). Saturday January 14th and Sunday, Janury 15th (full field days-WH20 and area).
** This is a free course for youth with a limited capacity. Registration is on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested please call the office at 250-354-4944 to put your name on a waiting list for when registration opens.
........................................................................."I've been skiing at Whitewater since it opened in the 70's and I never get tired of the world famous snow. If you're looking for a friendly mountain with a big heart than this place is for you. " Anonymous
