Applications Open: August 1, 2025
Applications Close: August 24, 2025
About the Program
Program Description
Here at NWAC, we believe that working in the avalanche industry is interesting and meaningful work. However, the path to becoming an avalanche professional can be long and difficult and many aspiring professionals don’t know where to start or how to gain experience. Additionally, becoming an avalanche professional requires a significant financial investment and professionals typically do not begin to see a return on that investment until their career is established.
Through the Aspiring Avalanche Instructor Mentorship Program (AAIMP), NWAC aims to help aspiring avalanche professionals gain paid experience in snow and avalanche work by teaching beginner level avalanche awareness classes, and receiving concrete feedback and support as they work towards their goals.
Program Components
- 8-hour training to deliver Avalanche Awareness curriculum
- Shadow a veteran instructor
- Teach an Avalanche Awareness class with feedback from a veteran instructor
- Teach a second class incorporating mentorship feedback
- Opportunities to teach more classes depending on schedule
- Direct support and mentorship from NWAC Deputy Director and Education Manager who have held roles as forecasters, guides, ski patrollers, and avalanche educators
- Opportunities for peer learning from AAIMP cohort
- Opportunities for connection with current industry professionals working as NWAC instructors
Avalanche Awareness Classes
The Northwest Avalanche Center offers free Avalanche Awareness classes to the public throughout our forecast area. These classes are a 90 minute introductory presentation geared towards the novice wintertime backcountry user. Avalanche Awareness classes are offered from October-March all over Washington and northern Oregon. We teach over 100 classes each year at schools, outdoor shops, workplaces, clubs, ski areas, and other organizations and nonprofits.
Course Description: Whether you ski, snowshoe, snowboard, or snowmobile, recognition of avalanche danger is an essential and potentially lifesaving skill. This introductory class provides a basic approach to managing risk. NWAC instructors will explain how to access avalanche and mountain weather forecasts and recognize basic signs of avalanche danger.
Qualifications & How to Apply
Required Experience and Qualifications
- 18+ years old
- A3 approved Level 1 or higher
- 3+ years recreating in the wintertime backcountry
- Strong desire to work professionally in the snow and avalanche industry
- Primary residence in WA or northern OR from November-March
- Reliable means of transportation
Desired Experience and Qualities
- A3 approved Level 2
- education, teaching, or instruction experience
- strong public speaker
- passion for avalanche education
Please note that this is a mentorship program intended for aspiring snow and avalanche professionals to gain paid experience as they pursue a career in forecasting, guiding, ski patrol, avalanche education, etc. This program is not intended as part-time work or for folks not pursuing a professional career in the industry.
Training Dates
All training dates are mandatory, as is the in-person requirement for the 9/27 training.
- September 27 (Saturday) from 10:00am-2:00pm – In-Person (North Bend, WA)
- September 29 (Monday) from 5:30-7:30pm – Virtual
- October 1 (Wednesday) from 5:30-7:30pm – Virtual
Compensation & Future Employment
Upon completing training, AAIMP participants will be compensated $150 per in-person class as contract workers. Instructors will be required to fill out a W-9 tax form. AAIMP participants also receive a discount to NWAC events.
After completing the program, participants will be invited to apply to join NWAC’s instructor roster for the following season.
Please reach out to the Education Manager, Devon Schoos (devon@nwac.us), with any questions.