Participate in Our
Programs
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.
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Winter Programs
Program Menu
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Summer Programs
Program Pages Coming Soon
General Program Information & Participant FAQs
What We Offer:
Our programs provide people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to experience the great outdoors. It’s our hope that through these experiences our participants build confidence, create new relationships, and gain independence; skills we hope will transfer to other life areas.
Who We Serve:
We offer lessons and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities, ages 5 through adults. Most DREAM participants live in or near the Flathead Valley; however, we enjoy working with those visiting from out of town as well. Additionally, we are proud to provide our programs free of charge to active duty Service Members and Veterans with a disability.
Cost to Participate:
- Each program varies in cost.
- Financial aid scholarships are available.
- Military Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members with a disability participate at no cost.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
General & Program-by-Program
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.
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.
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.
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.
Adaptive 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.
Adaptive 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.
