With the ski and snowboard season well underway, Zero Ceiling is gearing up to give at-risk youth a chance to head up the mountain.
The long-running Whistler non-profit hosts its Adventure Sessions in both the winter and summer to create more equal access to the outdoors for youth (ages 13 to 27) from the Sea to Sky Corridor and Metro Vancouver.
"That's supported by Epic Promise Foundation," said Lizi McLoughlin, co-executive director of Zero Ceiling. "We get 300 tickets in the winter and 300 tickets in the summer. So that's 300 youth per season that we can take up the mountain. We're really excited to offer as many of those locally as we can."
The organization partners with Squamish youth groups, the Squamish Nation, Foundry Squamish and the Sea to Sky Alternative School, but they're hoping to reach any other Squamish organizations or youth who might benefit from the program—which also offers free lessons and helps secure rentals and even outdoor clothing if needed.
"If youth are already connected to any of those services, then keep an eye out," McLoughlin said. "The groups will be signing up. And if there are people out there running youth groups that are eligible, then we're also keen to connect with new partners or youth."
Participants can be complete beginners or more experienced skiers or snowboarders.
The Adventure Sessions start in January and run every Wednesday and Thursday until April.
The organization is always looking for volunteers who have a pass and would like to help out with the sessions, McLoughlin added.
"It's a really fun volunteer job because, basically, you just go skiing and snowboarding," she said. "They have to have their own gear and pass and they just support people to have a good time up there."
As you might have guessed, feedback from youth who have accessed the program has been positive.
"Typically what we see is people saying, 'It's so nice to give the youth a chance to just be silly and have fun—like just have a good time,'" McLoughlin said. "And also we get a lot of comments around watching them become more confident, and that experience of trying something new and overcoming anxieties and mastering a skill and seeing the progress through the day is really powerful for people."
Zero Ceiling also runs its more involved Work 2 Live program, in which people ages 19-27 who are experiencing homelessness or are precariously housed can get help with accommodations and employment in Whistler for 12 to 24 months.
Currently, an anonymous donor is offering to match every dollar donated to Zero Ceiling until Dec. 1 up to $10,000.
"If there are people reading this who like the sound of these programs and supporting giving better access to the mountains to those who can't then make a donation before Dec. 1 and it will be doubled by a very generous donor," McLoughlin said.
For more information on the programs visit.
