Winter Program
Alpine Ski + Snowboard
Dream provides private lessons for individuals with disabilities ages 5+. The Alpine Ski and Snowboarding Program works through a cooperative agreement with Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Registering for our Alpine Winter Programs
Participant Registration Opens October 19th
Alpine Adaptive Sports Registration
All required paperwork and registration items, including payment or scholarship application are due at time of registration and must be received no later than 14 days prior to the first day you are scheduled for a program.
Alpine Winter Program Opportunities
Click on a program tab to learn more. Questions? Contact programs@dreamadaptive.org or call (406) 885-9539
General Alpine Program Information
Available to anyone 5+ years old with a permanent disability for any skill level.
Lessons include a trained instructor, lift ticket, helmet and goggles, and any adaptive equipment if needed.
- Half Day Lessons are 2.5 hours long and occur from either 9:30 am-12:00 pm or 1:00 pm- 3:30 pm
- Full Day Lessons are 5.0 hours long and occur from 9:30 am-12:00 pm-12:00 pm, 1 hr lunch, 1:00 pm- 3:30 pm
- Lessons occur 7 days a week
Program Dates & Costs:
December 14th - April 2nd
Non-holiday rates:
- $90.00 / half day lesson
- $155.00 / full day lesson (limited availability, dependent on instructor availability)
Holiday Rates: Applies to Dec. 14th-Jan 3rd, Jan 16th-18th, Feb 13th-Feb 19th
- $115.00 / half day holiday lesson
- $180 / full day lesson (limited availability, dependent on instructor availability)
Additional Information:
- For individuals who use standard stand-up ski or snowboard equipment, you must provide your own equipment: skis, boots, and poles or snowboard and boots. We are happy to provide recommendations on local rental shops!
- All lessons start and finish at the Base Lodge unless otherwise communicated.
- We do not provide lunch or supervision during lunch.
- For first-timers, please plan for up to an hour for your first initial adaptive equipment fitting if applicable. We want to ensure you have the best fit and equipment possible.
- Please be sure to review our Winter Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Self-care and toileting assistance are not provided by DREAM Instructors
Local Program Information
Available to anyone 5+ years old with a permanent disability for any skill level who lives full-time within 90 miles of Whitefish, Montana.
In an effort to increase accessibility and consistency of adaptive skiing or snowboarding for local residents, DREAM is excited to offer a Locals Ski Program! Local Lessons are offered at discounted rates for those wishing to schedule regular weekly lessons.
- Minimum 4-lesson requirement, up to an 8-week program
- Intended for locals to have a weekly ski and snowboard option
- Lessons include a trained instructor, lift ticket, helmet and goggles, and any adaptive equipment if needed.
- Half day lessons are 2.5 hours long and occur from either 9:30 am-12:00 pm or 1:00 pm-3:30 pm
- No full day lesson offerings for this program
- Lessons occur 7 days a week
Program Dates & Costs:
- Dec. 14th - March 19th
- $45.00 / half day lesson
Additional Information:
- For individuals who use standard stand-up ski or snowboard equipment, you must provide your own equipment: skis, boots, and poles or snowboard and boots. We are happy to provide recommendations on local rental shops!
- All lessons start and finish at the Base Lodge unless otherwise communicated.
- We do not provide lunch or supervision during lunch.
- For first-timers, please plan for up to an hour for your first initial adaptive equipment fitting if applicable. We want to ensure you have the best fit and equipment possible.
- Please be sure to review our Winter Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Self-care and toileting assistance are not provided by DREAM Instructors
Group Program Information
This program is available to local schools and adult groups that are seeking an organized weekly ski and snowboard program for their group.
These are limited opportunities and are available on a first come first serve basis, the opportunity to register your group as part of this program is open September 1st and closes September 30th.
To inquire about availability, please contact programs@dreamadaptive.org or call (406) 885-9539 ext. 2
Program Dates & Costs:
- Jan. 4th - March 19
Veteran & Military Alpine Program Information
All programs for Veterans & Military active-duty with a disability are provided at no cost.
Veterans and Active Duty Military with a disability can attend the DREAM Alpine ski and ride program in two ways. The Alpine Ski and Ride weekends are built around camaraderie and private lessons can be provided or opportunities to ski and ride with other veterans.
Private alpine lessons occur in half-day increments 7 days a week and are available to any skill level.
Program Dates & Costs:
-
Alpine Ski and Ride Weekends: Jan 9-10, Feb 6-7, March 13-14
- No Cost
Private Lessons:
-
December 14th-April 2nd
Additional Information:
- All adaptive and standard equipment is provided
- Helmets are required and provided if needed
- All lessons start and finish at the Base Lodge unless otherwise communicated.
- We do not provide lunch or supervision during lunch.
- For first-timers, please plan for up to an hour for your first initial adaptive equipment fitting if applicable. We want to ensure you have the best fit and equipment possible.
- Please be sure to review our Winter Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Self-care and toileting assistance are not provided by DREAM Instructors
Winter Essential Eligibility Criteria
Alpine Ski/Ride, Nordic and Cross-Country Programs
To be eligible for participation in the DREAM Winter Programs, all participants must meet all general program EEC in addition to all program-specific EEC. DREAM reserves the right to request that a guardian/caregiver be accessible to program staff while the individual is participating in the program.
General Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Individual lives with a long-term disability and requires specialized instruction or adaptive equipment to recreate outdoors.
- Individual is 5 years old or older.
- Individual is cleared by their doctor to participate in designated activity.
- While participating with DREAM programs, the individual can refrain from risky behavior that poses a threat to themselves and others, including aggressive behavior, ignoring safety precautions identified by instructors, drug/alcohol use, inability to set boundaries pertaining to their physical ability and needs.
- Individual can contribute to a safe learning environment. Harassment and abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
- Individual can follow instructions given by instructors independently or with the assistance of a companion.*
- Individual can wear all protective equipment required for the activity.
- Individual can manage personal care independently or with the assistance of a companion*.
- Individual can breathe independently and does not require medical devices to sustain breathing.
* For the use of this criteria, a companion can be a personal support person, family member, or friend and excludes any and all DREAM instructors, assistants, or staff.
Alpine Ski and Snowboard Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Individual must be 200 pounds or less if using sit-down ski equipment.
- Individual must be able to assist themselves in getting up from the snow with minimal assistance.
Nordic & Cross-Country Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Individual must be 200 pounds or less if using sit-down ski equipment.
- Individual must be able to assist themselves in getting up from the snow with minimal assistance.
- Individual must be able to propel themselves with minimal to no assistance from the instructor
Cancellation and Tardiness Policy
DREAM has a 48-hour cancellation policy.
DREAM’s Cancellation & Tardiness Policy helps us provide reliable program opportunities while respecting the time and resources of our participants, volunteers, and staff. Once a program opportunity is reserved, staff, volunteers, adaptive equipment, and other resources are coordinated specifically for that participant. Late cancellations and no-shows often make it difficult to offer that opportunity to another participant.
Cancellations More Than 48 Hours Before Start Time:
Program opportunities canceled more than 48 hours before the scheduled start time may be rescheduled, depending on availability. If a make-up opportunity is not available, a full refund will be issued.
Cancellations Within 48 Hours:
Program opportunities canceled within 48 hours of the scheduled start time will be charged 50% of the program fee if a make-up opportunity is not available. DREAM will make every reasonable effort to offer a make-up opportunity based on schedule and program availability. After two (2) cancellations within 48 hours during the same program season, additional make-up opportunities will not be offered for that season and the applicable cancellation fee will be charged.
Cancellations Within 24 Hours:
Program opportunities canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled start time, as well as no-call/no-shows, will be charged the full program fee and will not be eligible for a make-up opportunity. If a participant has two (2) cancellations within 24 hours or no-call/no-shows during a program season, DREAM may review future participation for the remainder of that season.
Please Note: If a participant receives a scholarship, DREAM may review their scholarship eligibility for the remainder of the season after two (2) or more cancellations within 48 hours during the same program season.
Weather // Tardiness // Health-Related Cancellations
Weather Cancellations
Weather cancellations are at the discretion of DREAM. Safety is our top priority and DREAM has protocols in place to combat the often unpredictable NW Montana weather. In the rare case that DREAM chooses to cancel the program opportunity due to extreme weather or unsafe conditions, DREAM will do their best to provide an opportunity for a make-up lesson and if no make-up opportunity is available a full refund will be issued.
Tardiness Policy
If you are running late please call or text DREAM staff as soon as possible. With your proactive communication, DREAM will hold your instructor team for up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the instructor team will be released and the program will be counted as a no call no-show (see cancellation policy above).
Please note there is very limited cell phone service in many areas where DREAM provides programming. Staff and instructor teams arrive 15-30 minutes or more prior to the scheduled program opportunity time to prepare for the lesson.
Health-Related Cancellation
DREAM understands that some participants may experience changes in health related to their disability that require a last-minute cancellation. We approach these situations with empathy, flexibility, and respect for each Revised 2026 participant’s individual circumstances while also considering the significant staff, volunteer, equipment, and program resources required to provide certain opportunities.
Health-related cancellations will be reviewed individually, including the application of cancellation fees and availability of make-up opportunities. DREAM recognizes that circumstances vary and will work with participants and families to determine an appropriate response.
When a participant has two (2) or more health-related cancellations within 48 hours of a scheduled lesson, or a health-related no-call/no-show, DREAM staff will work with the participant and/or their family to review upcoming participation and determine an appropriate path forward.
Depending on individual circumstances, certain program opportunities such as wake sports, biking, or ski/snowboard may be temporarily paused or adjusted. Participants may also be offered group programming or other opportunities that can better accommodate changing health needs.
DREAM staff will work collaboratively with participants and their families to determine an appropriate plan for continued participation and when paused program opportunities may resume.
For any questions regarding the DREAM Program Cancellation & Tardiness Policy please email the DREAM Program Director at: mwestbrook@dreamadaptive.org or call (406) 885 - 9539 ext 2.