April Newsletter: Big News for Coombs Outdoors this Summer!
Introducing the EMPOWER High School Internship Program
Many of our older participants have grown up skiing, hiking, biking, and climbing with Coombs Outdoors. Over the last few years we’ve grown into year-round outdoor programming for kids K-12, but the question we often ask ourselves is: what happens next? We're excited to share the answer!
The Empower High School Internship Program is built off of our mission to provide kids with the tools and confidence to pursue their goals in life. The summer program will help our older participants develop professional and leadership skills through paid internships with local outdoor recreation industry businesses and organizations as they prepare for life after high school. It’s an opportunity for Coombs participants to further engage with the Jackson community as well as continue their personal growth through access to experiences within the outdoor industry.
High school students who are eligible for Coombs Outdoors programs were invited to apply to the Empower internship this spring. Participants will be set up for success for their summer internships through Coombs professional development training, cover letter and resume writing workshops, financial literacy education, and ongoing mentorship throughout the summer. Empower interns will find themselves gaining professional experience at local employers including Wheel Wranglers, Stio, Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School, Hole Food Rescue, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, JH Land Trust, DIY Docs, and Rendezvous River Sports.
Coombs has partnered with the Young Steward and Leadership Program (YSLP), a Teton Science School internship program running in tandem with the Empower curriculum, to provide additional training to our Coombs Outdoors Summer Program Interns. This training program is specifically designed to support high school students who are interested in becoming educators and leaders in their community. After completing the training program students in the YSLP will be accepted to work at either Coombs Outdoors, Parks and Recreation, Teton Science Schools, or The Children’s Museum.
Partner of the Month: Black Tie Ski Rentals
As a dedicated program sponsor, Black Tie Jackson Hole outfitted over 60 of our skiers with discounted Nordica skis and boots for the season, which is huge for our rapidly growing winter programs.
While we are often able to provide gear for our participants, having support from a company like Black Tie to help kids with fit and sizing and on-hill assistance has been instrumental in getting these programs to run so smoothly!
Volunteer Highlight: 2021 Powder Pals Volunteers!
Thank you to our 45 amazing Powder Pals volunteers who made this season our best year yet! Stash park games, Headwall hikes, Tram rides, and laps in the the Wiggle made this year one to remember.
Because of your dedication, enthusiasm, and excitement for skiing, we had over 70 middle and high school kids ski with volunteer mentors in the Powder Pals program this season.
Adele Priestley, Alan Wood, Annalise Zabrinskie, Brian Bales, Cassidy Creel, Elizabeth Lopeman, Emily and Mike Paasche, Emma Beecher, Hugo Torres, Joey Sackett, John Modlish, Kaycee Maas, Kika Macfarlane, Matt Mikkelsen, Megan Odom, Natt Harkins, Stirling Cobb, Nate Berenson, Briana Olivares, Robert Mann, Eddie Smith, Mark Baudendistel, Morgan Graham, Juan Calderon, Molly Belk, Jake Schell, Emily Smith, Ed Smith, Liam Black, Courtney Cedarholm, Elizabeth Gerrits, Ellen Brunker, Halina Mader, Nick Braun, Noah McCorkel, Patrick Moo, Samuel Schwartz, Sandra Martinez, Tim Smith, Sophia Schwartz, Lora Enriquez, Becca Williams, Zach Montes, Sahir Enriquez
Thanks to Faction Skis for sponsoring the Powder Pals program through a donation of 10 pairs of skis for our volunteers!
Special thanks to the Mangy Moose and Roadhouse Brewing Co. for keeping our volunteers fed and hydrated at our volunteer appreciation party.
Letter from the Executive Director
I was fortunate to spend a sunny day skiing with and getting to know our Powder Pals and Coombs Club volunteers this spring. While our volunteers range widely in age, profession, and backgrounds, the common passion they share for being mentors to Coombs Kids is truly inspiring. Coombs volunteers give their time and energy on Saturdays and Sundays all winter long to make sure kids have access to skiing and snowboarding. They guide their groups safely around the mountain, have those deep chairlift conversations we all need once in awhile, and encourage them to believe in themselves and try new things. We were grateful to be able to thank our volunteers in person with corn skiing, pizza, cold beer, and an incredible raffle.
As we transition to spring here in Jackson Hole, our program focus has shifted from the ski mountain to the trails, rivers, and forests that play host to our warm-weather adventures. Our summer schedule is packed full of experiences for our Activate day camps, Engage overnight backpacking trips, and Empower high school internship opportunities.
As Coombs Outdoors continues to grow as an organization, our programs are progressing to reflect the interests and needs of the community we serve. Thanks to support from local partners and supporters like you, this summer we can offer programs for kids of every age from Kindergarten to 12th grade. We will be getting over 200 kids outside this summer- biking, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, and enjoying this beautiful place we get to call home. I can’t wait to join them!
Happy Spring!
Jenny Wolfrom Holladay
Executive Director, Coombs Outdoors