A Memorable Lesson for all

Learning Becomes a Team Adventure

By Amy Ohran

When the guests come to you, are you giving them a lesson or an experience? In my teaching, I've tried to give them something that they will always remember and identify with their mountain experience. It might be teaching them the names of the Cascade mountains in our background or showing them that secret run in the trees that will let them feel that they've been given something unique that they had to come to me to learn.

Over the Christmas break, we had a family visit Mt. Bachelor for their first skiing experience with their two children. One of their children was hearing impaired, and the parents requested that she participate in a group lesson with her sister.

We asked Laura, one of our experienced coaches who can also Sign proficiently, to incorporate these children into a level one group lesson. This is quite a task  and how incredibly she handled it!  Halfway into the morning, I made it around to check on the group. By this time, all ten children enthusiastically knew their own name in sign language and how to sign the basic words used in beginning skiing.

They were a team learning the same skills, although each student came to the group with very diverse backgrounds and abilities. Laura had met all the needs of the hearing impaired child and had made her part of the team, meanwhile giving the rest of the group equal attention.

The team was learning quickly and was on the beginner chair by the end of the day. All of the parents were pleased with the day, especially those of the hearing impaired child, who returned the next day to ski with Laura in a lift-riding level three group.

I loved listening to Laura's observations and experiences throughout the day.

In the morning, the group had moved on to Skyliner chair, which stretches half way up the mountain. The snow on top was very slick and the wind was roaring - pretty intimidating conditions for be ginning skiers.

At lunch, Laura said to me, "Amy, I now know why children fall on ice." (Hmmm.. .be cause it's slippery, Laura?.... thinks me) "They are afraid of the noise."  She explained to me that when her group got to the top and started their trip down, nine out of ten lost it and slid down the top portion of the hill. One student maintained control, smiled and confidently skied down the slick slope. It was, of course, the hearing impaired child!

"She had no worries!" laughed Laura, "and because of that, she physically handled the hill." Although the terrain is safe, the noise of the edges on the snow is intimidating and can make children freeze up and lose their confidence.

From this observation, we now have a new game at Mt. Bachelor on icy days. We have the kids pull their hats and goggles over their ears and sing at the top of their lung to get over the rough, icy spots. It works and the kids look a sight!! They are by far the most relaxed groups on the hill.

So, my hat's off to Laura, who not only accommodated a child with an adaptive need into her group, but gave the whole team an experience to remember and feel proud of. She assessed the skills that this child did have, used them as a positive and built up from there.

It reminded me that, as instructors, we are providing much more than ski lessons, but ski and snowboard experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime. Laura was so good at getting into character, that when she left that evening she said, "'Bye Amy, see ya tomorrow," accompanied by signing, and walked out the door, having no idea she'd done so.

Note: Amy Ohran is a level III Certified instructor and the children's Program supervisor for Mt. Bachelor.