Free Summit Pass

Being a college student, I know what it's like to feel broke. So if paying for a Summit Pass isn't something you're super stoked about doing... don't pay for it! Interested? Read on.

Vail Resorts Guest Services offers a volunteer program in exchange for a 3 mountain ski pass with 10 days at Vail or Beaver Creek, one ski lesson a month, a 50% on mountain dining discount, and a locker. They require you to work 20 volunteer days, usually one day a week throughout the ski season. Things change from year to year, but this will give you an idea of what you’ll be doing.

Your day will start at approx. 7:45 and you’ll meet in the peak 8 locker room. You then get into your uniform and have a morning meeting where you'll get your daily assignments.  (Either Peaks 7 & 8 or the Peak 9 crew.)  You’ll be on the plazas answering questions until around 10:00-10:30 or longer depending upon the crowds.  Then you’ll be on the mountain doing all sorts of things, like answering questions at the maps and huts, helping people who are in over their heads, calling ski patrol for injuries, helping put skis back on, finding lost children... basically skiing around looking for people who need help. (We stay on the blues and greens mostly although there are some exceptions.) We also are responsible for giving a two hour mountain orientation tour that leaves the base of Peak 8 and 9 each day at 10.00.  Then you’ll have an afternoon meeting to get your assignments for the end of the day, i.e. plaza duty, map duty etc and depending upon the crowds you’ll go home around 4.00.
Our busiest times of the year are the 2 week Christmas holiday break and March (spring breaks).  This is when we need people the most so it really isn't helpful to only do days in  January and February when we have more than enough help.

If this is something you would be interested in for the upcoming ski season, just send an e-mail to Lori Kennedy at  lakennedy@vailresorts.com  in mid-October when they are getting their 150 ambassadors lined up for the season. They will not have a date set for the orientation until November because they need to get returning volunteers set up first.

It's a great way to meet people, get mountain experience, volunteer for your community, and get a free pass! What's better than that?!