What a winter 2018/19 is shaping up to being, and despite the snow days and the traffic and the endless shoveling, we are still lucky to live in such a beautiful and adventurous place. And that makes it even more vital that our local children get the same access to fun and adventure that our tourists do.
Thankfully, Vail Resorts shares that viewpoint and via their Epic Promise Grants they help support the Club, and other organizations like SOS Outreach and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, in providing outdoor adventures for our kids. Yesterday, supported by an Epic Promise Grant, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association took nine of our teens and two staff on a snow shoeing adventure. The TRTA led the day from start to finish and as well as providing education on animal and human winter survival, the TRTA provided us with snow shoes, lunches of freeze dried food (which got a big thumbs up from all but one member!) and the fun of building a kitchen and shelter in the snow.
The TRTA’s Epic Promise Grant also funds our summer backpacking trip, and support for SOS Outreach helps them to run the two learn to ski/ride days for the Club during Spring Break. Each summer Vail Epic Promise also provides all our members over the age of 7 the opportunity to participate in an Epic Discovery Day. Members get to fly round the roller coaster, reach new heights on the climbing wall and test their bravery on the ropes course. So much fun! Furthermore, the Club receives direct funding to help support our free snack and meal program. We also receive raffle and silent auction prizes and hold the Brewfest free of charge at Heavenly Cal Lodge.
In total the in-kind and direct support of the Club by Vail Epic Promise has a monetary value of well over $75,000 a year – the greatest support of any local organization – and enables us to provide experiences and opportunities to our members that raises their adrenaline and grows their confidence and self-esteem. Who knows, maybe our next gold medalist will be a former Club member!
Thank you Vail Epic Promise and all the Vail employees who support the Club and organizations who work with us – we couldn’t do it without you.
