Volunteers make a difference, supporting people of all ages to shine in sports and activities (2025)

Grand County has many organizations that assist the community, many of which provide great volunteer opportunities for those looking to make a difference. These range from helping those with disabilities explore snow sports to racing in a 5K for children with cancer.

April is recognized as National Volunteer Month, so Sky-Hi News is spotlighting several organizations where volunteers make a difference.

Volunteers help people’s dreams of being on the snow become reality

This winter, Tabernash resident Kathy Keating celebrated 31 years of volunteering at the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Most of her volunteering has been at Winter Park Resort.

The sports center was founded at the resort in 1970, when Winter Park Ski School instructor Hal O’Leary taught 23 young amputees to ski .

“He had a vision and was an amazing man. The program has gone on to Nordic skiing, to horseback riding, to climbing, sailing, fly fishing, rafting,” Keating told Sky-Hi News.

The center offers activities for a range of people, from professional adaptive skiers to veterans and children. Over three decades, Keating has helped people in wheelchairs enjoy the snow on sit skis. This can include a mono ski (one ski with a seat attached) or bi ski (two skis with a seat attached).

Over the past eight years, Keating has concentrated on helping children, since her role requires a lot of lifting, as well as being tethered behind the skier and guiding them. Sometimes, you ski for the child, Keating explained.

“With their disability, sometimes the student just feels apart from, like they’re alone,” she said. “This program integrates them with people, with their friends. There’s groups that come up, and all of a sudden they can ski together.”

One winter, a family came to the resort with one child in a wheelchair. Kathy and the sports center staff taught him how to use a sit ski by guiding him with a tether. Then it was time to take him into the half pipe.

“Afterwards he told his brother, ‘Oh, I’ve been in the half pipe.’ And his brother’s like, what? Here the student had done something his brother hadn’t done yet,” Keating recounted.

Later that day, Keating took the brothers and parents into the half pipe together. Each person skied down the feature at the own pace.

The mom was crying, I was crying, the dad was crying – because the family got to ski together,” Keating said, adding that moments like this allow children of all abilities to feel independent, yet also part of something greater.

Some students from the sports center have gone on to the become Paralympians. Adaptive skier Patrick Halgrenwent from Winter Park to Beijing for the 2022 Paralympics. He competed in the men’s standing para-alpine ski team. He also won first place at the 2025 Wells Fargo Ski Cup in the corporate challenge race.

The sports center has a competition center at Winter Park Resort where Paralympians can train. Keating said that Paralympians from around the world visit the competition center. She also enjoys teaching sports center students on the Nordic trails at Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

How to volunteer with the National Sports Center for the Disabled

Volunteering at events is a great for someone to experience the sports center program and see if it’s something they would like to be involved in regularly – like Keating, you may even find yourself volunteering three decades later.

People say, ‘Oh, you’re so selfless doing this.’ But you know what? I get more out of it than (the participants) do,” said with Keating with a laugh. “I come home and I am just charged.”

Keating said that the program is open year-round for students with physical disabilities or mental disabilities. An important part of being a volunteer is learning about each individual’s needs during their time outdoors.

“I even took one gal out that had MS and so she just needed a companion. She could ski blues, but just to be safe, she needed a companion,” said Keating. “So it just runs the gamut of just understanding the disability.”

For those who want to volunteer regularly with the sports center, they receive training through different clinics to learn the equipment used and their discipline, whether it be snow sports, sailing, horseback riding or another outdoor pursuit. Volunteers can work towards getting a free Winter Park ski pass and other benefits. There are also volunteer opportunities in photography, shuttle driving, administration, office assistance and more.

“It’s an amazing program and the staff are so amazing. Just very, very giving of their time and their talents,” said Keating.

Learn more at NSCD.org/Volunteer. Fill out the sports center’s summervolunteer application at https://nscd.connectintouch.com/volunteer-2 or email Volunteer@NSCD.orgfor opportunities. Upcoming events include rafting, horseback riding and more.

Young athletes get their start at Winter Park Competition Center

In addition to the National Sports Center for the Disabled, Winter Park Resort is home to the Winter Park Competition Center.

The competition center stated in a news release that it offers “programs designed to engage and inspire the next generation of winter sports enthusiasts.” These include alpine and Nordic skiing and snowboarding. Volunteers can help youth on their path to become great athletes.

The competition center began in 1962 as the Winter Park Ski Club – it has now expanded to include a summer mountain biking program. Students as young as six and up to 18-years-old can participate, depending on the sport.

“Their hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship reflect our commitment to creating a supportive environment where athletes can grow both on and off the slopes,” stated alpine program director Mike Bowman. “Success goes beyond winning races – it’s about personal growth and creating a supportive environment for athletes to thrive on and off the slopes.”

How to volunteer with the Winter Park Competition Center

Similar to the National Sports Center for the Disabled, the competition center started off on the snow and has expanded to offer year-round activities.

Those who volunteer at the competition center for its winter season can receive a Winter Park Resort lift ticket for every six hours of service. Summer volunteers can get a trestle bike park ticket or activity day pass. Parent volunteers can get a refund of the deposit they paid for their child’s program, depending on how many hours are spent volunteering.

Volunteers are able to watch all levels of athletes compete, up to national championships. They can “get up close and personal as Alpine racers speed through a Slalom course, witness top notch bump and jump skills on the mogul course, check out skiers and snowboarders who test their mettle on the jumps in Re-railer and Dark Territory terrain parks, or cheer on downhill and cross-country bike racers as they speed down the trail,” the competition center stated.

Those who help organize the events are an integral part of the competition center’s mission to create a family atmosphere for all participants. Parents mingle with other volunteers, coaches and other fans.

“Many of our volunteers keep coming back year after year to take advantage of the benefits, like front row seats for exciting competitions and of course the free lift tickets,” the competition center stated.

Learn more about volunteering atWinterParkResort.com/Things-To-Do/Competition-Center. Sign up for the competition center’s“volunteer opportunities” email list or email ccenter@winterparkresort.com for opportunities. The next events include bike races.

Children battling cancer find joy in Shining Stars Foundation

The Shining Stars Foundation provides programing for children and families facing cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. This local nonprofit gives participants a sense of freedom and excitement as they participate in activities and meet friends. All social and recreational programs are offered free of charge.

“Through outdoor adventures, retreats, and year-round support, Shining Stars helps kids and families find community, healing, and joy,” wrote Mary Price, Shining Stars program and event coordinator, in an email.

The nonprofit serves children throughout the Rocky Mountain region and has an office in Tabernash. CEO Kathy Gingery and a group of volunteers founded Shining Stars because they saw an “unmet need in the Rocky Mountains for a program” that supports children and their families as they navigate life-threatening illnesses.

The program first started by partnering with the Aspen Winter Games for an adaptive ski program. To this day, children still ski in Aspen, but the nonprofit has grown to shine on other activities including horseback riding, tubing and holiday toy drives.

How to volunteer with the Shining Stars Foundation

Volunteering with the Shining Stars Foundation is a powerful opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of these incredible children and their loved ones,” wrote Price.

Price said that volunteering is a meaningful way to give back – there are opportunities for everyone, from students taking part in community service, to marathon racers and skiers.

The first event that volunteers can help with this summer is the Grand County Family Adventure at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA near Granby. The camp takes place from July 26-31. People can help with camp activities and meals for the whole week, or just a few hours.

Next is the Byers Peak Stampede Fundraiser in Fraser from Aug. 22–23. Volunteers can assist with racecourse set-up and more.

Every December, Shining Stars brings holiday cheer to children by providing them with gifts. Help collect and sort these gifts that organizations donate. Price added that the office in Tabernash always welcomes people to help with day-to-day operations.

For a full list of volunteer opportunities or to get involved, visitShiningStarsFoundation.orgor emailoffice@shiningstarsfoundation.org.