IN THIS CATALOG
Outdoor Independence
Training Centers
offers a variety of different therapeutic
courses and other special learning
activities, plus Specialty Courses, Private
Instruction and Private Guiding.
In the selections that, we've tried to make
you aware of some important
considerations which we feel are important
in selecting the right program to meet your
needs. So, after you have determined your
interest in:
Adaptive Snow Sports
Adaptive Water Sports
Adaptive Wilderness Sports
Follow the steps below and you'll be able
to choose the best therapeutic adventure
for you.
First - Select The Right
Therapeutic Adventure For
You . . .
Scheduled Courses
You'll find a variety courses described
throughout this catalog. Each course
description is followed by a list of dates
when the course is offered. Keep in mind
that all of our scheduled courses are
structured to meet the specific needs of
each participant and/or the group. We will
gladly customize a course to meet your
desired objectives.
We attempt to maintain a one-to-one
student to instructor ratio. However, for
some courses we may have two students
per instructor. Trained volunteer staff often
are used to improve the student/instructor
ratio. For some courses, depending upon
the personal characteristics of each
participant and dynamics of the group, we
may limit the group size to a maximum
number. This will enable us to better serve
everyone. And, once you've registered for
a scheduled course, we guarantee it will
run, even if you are the sole registrant.
If you have had no previous experience,
our Phase I courses are the perfect
choice. If you have had some experience,
review the course descriptions, then
contact us directly and we'll be happy to
discuss what's best for you.
Our staff will work with you to plan a
series of courses --moving through a
progression that will help you advance
from beginner to advanced levels of
performance.
All courses are designed to take into
account for your physical condition and
level of fitness. If you are not particularly
fit or, if you are extremely fit, you should
consider scheduling your adventure
through Private Instruction so we
can fine tune the pace just for you.
Private Instruction & Guiding
For the majority of our adaptive outdoor
programs, we are pleased to offer Private
Instruction and Private Guiding.This is our
most flexible option and it allows you to
benefit from our knowledge and
experience in meeting your adaptive sports
objectives.
If you are a particularly fast or slow
learner, or if you want an instructor 'all
to yourself', Private Instruction or
Private Guiding is your best choice
because we can adjust the pace to your
particular needs.
If you require a custom designed
course or a custom itinerary, tailored
to your needs, Private Instruction or
Private Guiding is the way to go.
Now - Make It
Happen!
Schedules:
Once you know when you desire to attend
a course please notifiy us. Prior to
notifying us, we suggest you keep an
alternative date(s) in mind in case the
course you chose is full. We will do our
best to accommodate your scheduling
requirements.
When To Register
ASAP - our courses are popular and our
schedule book fills quickly! Many dates
are booked several months or more in
advance. If you are restricted to a specific
date(s) we recommend you register as
soon as possible. Because we do,
occasionally, receive cancellations it is
always worth a call to see if there is space
available.
Selecting A
Professional
Program
Q: What should I look for and
consider when deciding where to
sign up for instruction with an
adaptive outdoor program?
A: Professionalism & Experience!
Because of the inherent risks
associated with participation in many
adapted outdoor activities, it is
essential that you learn from a qualified
professional. Our staff have extensive
knowledge and experience: working
with individuals of all ages who have a
wide variety of disabilities , chronic
illnesses and special health needs;
providing adaptive instruction and
leading individuals and groups in a
wide variety of outdoor settings; and
practicing the safety principles
associated with adaptive outdoor
programming.
Q:What kinds of things will
influence the quality of my outdoor
experience?
A: We are convinced that the best
way to learn is from a committed
professional instructor.
A professional who:
- assesses and understands your
specific needs;
- helps you to identify realistic goals
and expectations;
- prioritizes SAFETY;
- understands adaptive equipment
needs and instructional
adaptations;
- selects an environment suitable
and appropriate for learning to take
place;
- works within the scope of a
well-organized coaching/ teaching
progression;
- provides opportunities for practice
and acquisition of new skills;
- provides evaluation, analysis, and
a summary of performance with
recommendations for the future.
Q:What are your thoughts on
safety?
A: Simply put, our belief is Safety
First!
In all of our programs, safety is always
the top priority. Safety is an attitude--it
must be taught, developed and
emphasized, and renued.
Our staff strive to create an
environment that promotes true safety
through informed decision-making and
realistic self-assessment. It is our job
prepare students by teaching important
safety principles and techniques as
well as to help them master certain
sport specific skills before venturing
out on their own.
We do our best to make our students
aware of the environmental hazards
and inherent risks associated with
participation in adaptive outdoor sports.
While there are certain potential
hazards that can never be completely
eleminated due to the everchanging
forces of nature, it is our belief that all
of our actions have consequences that
are personal, social and
environmental.
All Outdoor
Independence
Training Centerscourses
will help you develop an understanding
of the impact personal decisions have
on yourself, others, and the
environment. We believe that the
foundation of safe adaptive snow
sports, adaptive water sports and
adaptive wilderness sports is a strong
sense of personal responsibility and
sound judgment.
A qualified adaptive outdoor
instructor/guide is not only aware of,
but works to develop the physical,
cognitive, psycho-social, emotional &
spiritual needs of his/her students.
He/she must also take into account any
specific medical needs and how they
impact on participation in adaptive
sports in different outdoor
environments.
Because nothing is constant
--particularly in the outdoors, our
adaptive outdoor instructor/guides are
trained to check things, re-check them,
and then check them all over again.
Every safety system we use has a
back-up! Our adaptive outdoor
instructor/guides have the
self-discipline and knowledge that is
required to make important decisions.
With the SAFETY FIRST attitude,
our adaptive outdoor instructor/guides
create an environment where effective
learning can take place. Our safety
record, combined with client satisfation
and the number of students who have
achieved functional independence
supports this.
Teaching Ability
Often called 'soft' or 'people' skills, teaching
ability is of paramount importance to today's
adaptive ski instructor/guide. The ability to
observe students' learning progress and
provide new information in just the right
amount and at just the right time, is the
essence of good teaching. A skilled teacher
must sense when students are confused and
when they are becoming disinterested; when
they are scared and when they are confident;
when they are when they are exhausted and
when they are up for a challenge. In short, a
good teacher must step into the learner's skis
and feel wheat they are feeling. In a setting
where intense physical and emotional
experiences are commonplace, a skilled
instructor/guide must be able to relate to
people from a wide variety of backgrounds,
ages and experience levels.
This is a tall order and the art of teaching
adaptive alpine skiing takes many years to
develop.
Our Adaptive Sports Instructors/Guides are
chosen first, and foremost, for their
coaching/teaching ability. They are able to
communicate effectively with any student, at
any time or place, to provide positive learning
experiences.
Technical Ability
Adaptive Outdoor Sports Instructor/Guides
must be experts at what they teach. Their
movements should appear effortless, even on
challenging terrain, and their usage of
equipment should be second nature.
All of our Adaptive Sports Instructors/Guides
are able to perform at a high level in any type
of adaptive instruction they teach, however we
don't look for people who are only satisfied
with performance at the very highest levels.
We've learned that the qualities frequently
demonstrated by persons driven to perform at
the top of a sport (obsession, imaptience and a
self-centered attitude) are completely at odds
with the ones that allow effective teaching to
take place. All of our Adaptive Sports
Instructors/Guides can still remember what it
was like to be a novice.
Enthusiasm
The mountains are an open door to some of
life's most powerful experiences We can't
imagine how anyone could not be enthusiastic
about the opportunity to share such
experiences with others. Howevfer, coupled
with this enthusiasm, an adaptive ski
instructor/guide must possess a mature
attitude and lots of patience. A good Adaptive
Sports Instructor/Guide must remain
especially supportive and enthusiastic when
the going gets tough.
Our Adaptive Sports Instructors/Guides are all
enthusiastic teachers and they are the best
when their students are at their worst. All our
staff love the outdoors and are committed to
the Outdoor Independence Training Centers -
Creed. instructors love to ski and their positive
attitude is contagious.
Experience
There is no substitute for experience! It
provides the opportunity for instructors to
learn from situations when things go right as
well as when things go wrong. All experienced
adaptive ski instructor/guides have had their
share of 'epics' and our instructors are no
exception. These unforeseen and sometimes
scary situations force them to evaluate risks
and make important decisions. The judgement
skills formed as a result, provide an
experience base that students can rely upon.
In addition to experience with the activitiy they
areteaching, good instructors must also
possess a knolwedge of the adaptive skiing
resources in the areas where they teach. This
allows them to pick and choose from a variety
of adaptive skiing instruction and guiding
settings. When a favorite instruction area, or
guiding area, is unavailable a good adaptive
instructor/guide will usually have other options
in mind.
Outdoor Independence Training
Center (OITC) has a strong
background of excellence which has
evolved out of the extraordinary
works of Erling Stordahl, founding
father of the world famous
Beitostolen Healthsports Centre in
Norway; the highly honored and
acclaimed Sir Ludwig Guttman,
founding father of wheelchair sports
and the First International Disabled
Olympic Games at Stoke-Manville,
England; the distinguished Dr. Kurt
Hann, founder and driving force
behind the highly reputed Outward
Bound Program, and highly respected
Dr. Larry Brendtro and Dr. Scott
Larson who have developed the
extraordinary - Circle of Courage
Model.
The inspiration of these individuals and their
common vision - that all persons learn and
benefit by being provided with opportunities to
develop self-awareness, self-confidence, and
self-reliance - has provided the Therapeutic
Adventures Foundation with a proven
framework for success.
What sets the Outdoor Independence Training
Centers apart from other organizations is: (1)
our staff of uniquely qualified dedicated
professionals, (2) comprehensive services,
and (3) unique opportunities for self discovery
in a variety of outdoor environments - persons
with special health needs benefit by learning
new skills which enable them to lead a more
active and healthier lifestyle.
Staff
Our staff is comprised of highly qualified
individuals who bring with them collectively
over 50 years of experience in special
education, psychology, counseling, physical
and occupational therapy, adapted physical
education and therapeutic recreation,
rehabilitation engineering, environmental
education, and other medical and service
fields.
The success and overriding emphasis of all
programs provided by the Outdoor
Independence Training Centers is
demonstrated through our staffs commitment
and dedication to providing safe, quality
instruction with proper supervision.
Training In Instructional Methods
There is certainly no one 'right' way to teach
any activity, but if each instructor in a program
uses a different method, the resulting
inconsistencies will create confusion for
students. therefore, it is important that an
adaptive ski instructor guide learn, and adhere
to, a program's teaching methods. these
methods then provide the framework, within
which, a truly skilled instructor can address
the needs of the individual student.
Our training programs are among the most
comprehensive in the business. They include a
variety of in-depth, pre-season instructor
clinics, that review our methods and practices
in detail, as well as on-the-job training. We
won't put an instructor into the field until we
are confident they will maintain our reputation
of providing only the highest quality
instruction.
First Aid Training
In an environment where there is potential risk
of injury and immediate medical assistance is
crucial, it is imperative that an adaptive
instructor/guide be able to provide effective
first aid. Because of the increased potential for
emergency situations, all good Adaptive
Sports Instructor/Guides endeaver to prevent
the need for first aid, but should the need arise
they must be prepared.
All of our Adaptive Sports Instructor/Guides
possess first aid training at the First
Responder (Advanced First Aid ) level or
above. Many of our instructors also volunteer
with the National Ski Patrol. All are capable of
rendering first-aid, should the need arise.
Professionalism
Only a handful of individuals are able to make
their living as professional adaptive ski
instructor/guides. While these individuals are
committed to the profession and to improving
their ownteaching abilities, mmore importantly
they are committed to providing greater
access to the sport of skiing to all individuals
with special needs. They are active in the field,
working full-tiome on at least a seasonal basis.
Those who work only occasionally or who
wander from program to program, working as
itinereants are not professionals according to
our definition.
Our instructors are all proud to be active,
professional instructor/guides and this pride is
apparent in their attitudes and their work.
Q: Why is Assessment so
important?
A: All good teaching, and the ongoing
decision making which accompanies it,
begins and ends with sound
assessment procedures. As a function
of all Outdoor Independence Training
Centers instruction programs, our staff
are trained to continuously evaluate the
performance of each participant. The
emphasis of instruction is dictated by
the information gathered through
observation, questioning, verbal and
written inquiry, and a variety of physical
assessment procedures as the
participant interacts within a variety of
everchanging environmental
conditions.
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