Participate in Our
Programs
DREAM provides private lessons for individuals with disabilities ages 5 - adults. The Alpine Ski and Snowboarding Program works through a cooperative agreement with Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Winter Participant Registration will open on Monday, October 19th by 12 pm.
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Summer Programs
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General Program Information & Participant FAQs
Who We Serve:
DREAM serves individuals with disabilities ages 5 through adults, including those with physical, cognitive, intellectual, developmental, and sensory disabilities. We welcome participants of all skill levels, from first-time adventurers to experienced athletes. While most participants live in Northwest Montana, we also welcome visitors to the area.
What We Offer:
DREAM provides year-round adaptive recreation opportunities that empower people with disabilities to experience the outdoors, build confidence, develop new skills, create meaningful connections, and gain independence. Through specialized equipment, trained instructors, and individualized, goal-oriented instruction, we help participants explore new possibilities and achieve their personal goals.
Cost to Participate:
- Program fees vary by activity and are highly subsidized to help keep recreation accessible.
- Financial assistance is available to individuals and families who need additional support.
- Active-duty military service members and veterans with disabilities participate at no cost.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
General & Program-by-Program
To help ensure a safe and successful experience, DREAM has established Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) that outline the basic requirements for participation in our programs. Participants must meet both the general EEC and the criteria specific to their chosen activity. In some cases, a parent, guardian, or caregiver may be required to remain available during a lesson or program.
Please review the general and program-specific EEC before registering.
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.
Winter Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
Alpine Ski & Snowboard EEC
WINTER: 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 Ski EEC
WINTER: 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
Winter program registration opens Mid-October. Get registered by clicking the button below.
Summer Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
Mountain Biking (aMTB) EEC
SUMMER: Mountain Bike (aMTB) Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Individual lives with a permanent physical disability and requires specialized instruction or adaptive equipment to recreate outdoors.
- Individual can make safe cognitive decisions in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Individual can follow all safety precautions identified by the instructors.
- Individual can hold their head upright without any head and/or neck support.
- Individual can wear a properly fitted and rated bike helmet, as well as any other safety equipment appropriately.
- Individual can understand and follow multiple-step instructions from the instructors independently and in a fast-paced environment.
- Individual can transfer on and off of the bike independently or with some assistance.
- Individual can remain alert and focused for the duration of the ride and can make decisions quickly in variable terrain.
- Individual can demonstrate they can independently pedal, steer, stop, start, and ride the bike over, around, up, and down a variety of terrain deemed appropriate for their experience level.
Paved Path Biking EEC
SUMMER: Paved Path Bike Program Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Individual lives with a permanent disability and requires specialized instruction or adaptive equipment to recreate outdoors.
- Individual can make safe cognitive decisions in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Individual can follow all safety precautions identified by the instructors.
- Individual can hold their head upright without any head and/or neck support.
- Individual can wear a properly fitted and rated bike helmet, as well as any other safety equipment appropriately.
- Individual can understand and follow instructions from the instructors independently and in a fast-paced environment.
- Individual can transfer on and off of the bike independently or with some assistance.
- Individual can remain alert and focused for the duration of the ride and can make decisions quickly.
- Individual can demonstrate they can independently pedal, steer, stop, start, and ride the bike on a paved or gravel path deemed appropriate for their experience level.
All Water Sports EEC
SUMMER: Water Program (paddle, fishing, motorized) Essential Eligibility Criteria
- Individual is able to hold head upright without head/neck support.
- Individual is able to maintain closed mouth/lips while underwater.
- Individual is able to turn from face down to face up independently in water, while wearing a properly fitted life vest.
- Individual has the ability to remain seated and balanced in/on a watercraft (with or without adaptive equipment).
- Individual is able to reenter a capsized watercraft independently or with the assistance of others.
