Recreation Program Volunteer Opportunities

The National Ability Center’s recreation program operates out of our location in Park City, Utah. Recreation programs happen year round with programs varying based on the season and weather conditions. In the summer months, our recreation programs include mountain biking, cycling, indoor climibing, high ropes/challenge course, paddle sports, and archery. During the winter months, the recreation programs include nordic skiing, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, sled hockey, and indoor climbing.

Recreation programs volunteer assist our Recreation and Adventure staff with the facilitation of programs for individuals and groups. Volunteers must complete a training in the specific program they wish to volunteer in. Trainings happen throughout the year in accordance with the season and curren running programs. 

Volunteer Roles in the Recreation Program

Challenge Course Assistant
Challenge Course assistants assist with the implementation of challenge course programs for groups. As a volunteer on our challenge course, individuals help with maintaining safety of participants, ground tasks, communication, and overall expierence of the participants. In order to fulfill the role of a challenge course assistant, volunteers must first complete indoor climbing assistant training and a belay checkoff. Challenge Course assistants get hands on expierence on our challenge course and with our participants.

Prerequisites: Challenge Course Assistant Training, Indoor Climbing Assistant Training, and Belay Checkoff
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+

Indoor Climbing Assistant
Indoor climbing assistants get hands on epxierence with our indoor climbing programs. The main role of climbing volunteers is to assist with belaying climbers during programs. No expierence in climbing is necessary, our indoor climbing training will teach you how to belay climbers. In order to volunteer with the indoor climbig program, you must complete indoor climbing assistant training first followed by a belay check off. 

Prerequisites: Indoor Climbing Assistant Training and Belay Checkoff
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+

Cycling Assistant
Leaders get hands on expierence with our equine staff members. The primary responsibility of the leader is the horse. Leaders are in charge of handling the horse before, during, and after the lesson. Leaders are responsible for doing a pre-lesson warm up with their assigned horse, helping the horse follow the cues from the rider during the lesson, or in some circumstances to follow the directions of the instructor, and controlling and calming the horse in an emergency. Leader training is required in order to volunteer in this role.

Prerequisites: Cycling Assistant Training
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+
 

Mountain Biking Assistant
Leaders get hands on expierence with our equine staff members. The primary responsibility of the leader is the horse. Leaders are in charge of handling the horse before, during, and after the lesson. Leaders are responsible for doing a pre-lesson warm up with their assigned horse, helping the horse follow the cues from the rider during the lesson, or in some circumstances to follow the directions of the instructor, and controlling and calming the horse in an emergency. Leader training is required in order to volunteer in this role.

Prerequisites: Mountain Biking Assistant Training
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+

Paddle Sports Assistant
Leaders get hands on expierence with our equine staff members. The primary responsibility of the leader is the horse. Leaders are in charge of handling the horse before, during, and after the lesson. Leaders are responsible for doing a pre-lesson warm up with their assigned horse, helping the horse follow the cues from the rider during the lesson, or in some circumstances to follow the directions of the instructor, and controlling and calming the horse in an emergency. Leader training is required in order to volunteer in this role.

Prerequisites: Paddle Sports Assistant Training
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+, Ability to swim with a float device in open water
 

Archery Assistant
Leaders get hands on expierence with our equine staff members. The primary responsibility of the leader is the horse. Leaders are in charge of handling the horse before, during, and after the lesson. Leaders are responsible for doing a pre-lesson warm up with their assigned horse, helping the horse follow the cues from the rider during the lesson, or in some circumstances to follow the directions of the instructor, and controlling and calming the horse in an emergency. Leader training is required in order to volunteer in this role.

Prerequisites: Archery Assistant Training
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+
 

Snowshoeing Assistant
Leaders get hands on expierence with our equine staff members. The primary responsibility of the leader is the horse. Leaders are in charge of handling the horse before, during, and after the lesson. Leaders are responsible for doing a pre-lesson warm up with their assigned horse, helping the horse follow the cues from the rider during the lesson, or in some circumstances to follow the directions of the instructor, and controlling and calming the horse in an emergency. Leader training is required in order to volunteer in this role.

Prerequisites: Snowshoeing Assistant Training
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+

Nordic Skiing Assistant
Leaders get hands on expierence with our equine staff members. The primary responsibility of the leader is the horse. Leaders are in charge of handling the horse before, during, and after the lesson. Leaders are responsible for doing a pre-lesson warm up with their assigned horse, helping the horse follow the cues from the rider during the lesson, or in some circumstances to follow the directions of the instructor, and controlling and calming the horse in an emergency. Leader training is required in order to volunteer in this role.

Prerequisites: Nordic Skiing Assistant Training
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+
 

Fat Tire Biking Assistant
Leaders get hands on expierence with our equine staff members. The primary responsibility of the leader is the horse. Leaders are in charge of handling the horse before, during, and after the lesson. Leaders are responsible for doing a pre-lesson warm up with their assigned horse, helping the horse follow the cues from the rider during the lesson, or in some circumstances to follow the directions of the instructor, and controlling and calming the horse in an emergency. Leader training is required in order to volunteer in this role.

Prerequisites: Fat Tire Biking Assistant Training
Requirements: 16+ years old, Waiver, Media Release, Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination, and Background Check for 18+

 

Interested in volunteering with our Recreation and Adventure Program?