Dear Friend of BOEC,
We knew going in that the 2020-21 ski season was going to present some unique challenges and we were right! That said, the Adaptive Ski and Snowboard team rose to the challenge and safely provided lessons to over 1,500 participants which is about half of the number we serve during a normal season. Below we share with you some reflections from the Ski Program staff who worked tirelessly to keep our program open and to keep it open safely. Congratulations and thank you for a great season to them all!
With Spring here, the BOEC Wilderness Program team is now busy getting ready for the summer season which will begin with day programs for local teens and eventually overnight and remote programs for participants who we unfortunately did not see last summer when all overnight programs were forced to be canceled. It is our goal to continue to operate safely providing critically important access to outdoor activities for both our local teens and our long time participants. More information and registration will be available on the BOEC website so be sure to check back often for updates!
This month we are excited to share with you stories that inspire each of us every day. This includes Austin Lewis, a bilateral below the knee amputee who came to BOEC to learn to snowboard and left us all feeling that we shared in his accomplishment, his huge smile and his joy. Another inspiring story is the Snow Sports Alliance Program which, in partnership with Mountain Mentors of Summit County has for over 20 years, brought teens who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the thrill of skiing or snowboarding to Breckenridge to learn and grow. Without supporters like Alpine Bank, The Summit Foundation, Beaver Run Resort and Blue River Sports/Mountain Wave this program would not be possible.
We also invite you to take a look through our 2019-2020 Annual Report (below) which shares both our successes and challenges during this past year and finally, if you are looking for a way to gather safely, please join us for the Banff Mountain Film Festival Drive-in at CMC on June 25th and 26th!
Thank you to everyone who made this past winter season the amazing success that it was. From our staff and interns to donors and supporters to the amazing volunteers who came out every day to work with both our participants and our staff – we can’t thank you enough! As we look forward we do so with continued optimism for that eventual return to normal life.
Stay safe and healthy,
