Nordic

1.1.1.1 Mission/Objective: The Nordic Program shall deliver ongoing educational support of backcountry skills, techniques, or disciplinary guidance to area management and the general public from qualified and active ski and toboggan instructors.

We provide a support structure for new and current backcountry ski and toboggan instructors to ensure the delivery of skills are safe, positive and supports NSP as well as area management’s safety guidelines.

1.1.1.2 Supervisor: Name and Contact

Jeffrey Gurrola
fwd-nordic@farwest.org
415.491.1400 home
510.625.5570 work

1.1.1.3 Events and Educational Accomplishments for the Nordic Program in 2008-2009

Re-established the IT network in the North and the South. Encouraged current instructors to list separate classes for Transportation when necessary. Contacted several patrol representatives to promoting the need for new instructors and to promote development of new Senior patrollers. The lack of qualified candidates for Senior prevented a divisional challenge course.

Provided communications and input to initial discussions about possible next steps for the ‘Nordic’ discipline with national & divisional contacts.

1.1.1.4 Plan – The Nordic Program Plan for 2009-2010

Continue to support the IT representatives in the North and one in the South to appropriately develop new instructors while ensuring the current instructor base is maintaining the current level of high standards while performing their duties as instructors. Annually review the needs for additional IT’s and make changes as required.   Annually develop a plan to re-certify instructors based on the availability of IT’s and instructors that require this refresher.

Communicate the ongoing need for increased safety while instructing or delivering education to their patrols, the general public, or any other organizations that needs these skills.

Communicate and emphasize to the current instructor base that they are instructing within a registered class with NSP (Patroller 101, OEC, etc.) or to take the time to register Transportation (formerly Nordic Ski & Toboggan) classes through NSP to ensure that we have appropriate NSP support. Also, to take the time to keep track of all instructor activities so that when their IT requests an activity record – they can readily provide this information.

Communicate to the current instructors the necessary steps to maintain their Transportation (formerly Nordic Ski & Toboggan) instructor certification.

Assist in the delivery of a Senior Nordic Evaluation should the division have enough qualified candidates to be evaluated at an appropriate geographically central location to accommodate candidates.

Continue promotion/marketing the Senior level patroller to ALL patrols. This can be accomplished with emails & phone calls to the Division/regional directors and/or program leads, Patrol Representatives. Provide regular communications and information about the benefits to the patroller, patrol, area management and NSP as a whole in our NSP newsletters. This effort will work in conjunction with the OEC efforts to product Senior Scene Management challenge events and ensure that the Nordic portion of the challenge is made available.

Continue to support and provide feedback to new or revisions to current curriculum produced/supported by NSP that benefits the Nordic discipline and/or area needs where Nordic patrols are providing support.

1.1.1.5 Budget – Nordic Program