The National Ski Patrol has a strong awards program designed to recognize patrols and patrollers. Each year, the NSP gives out its National Outstanding Awards, which are awarded in 12 categories:
The awards are handed out in the fall, and an article featuring the winners is published in the winter Ski Patrol Magazine.
Perhaps the most coveted NSP awards are the various Merit Stars: Purple, Blue, Green, and Yellow. A Purple Merit Star is given to a patroller who has “saved a human life through emergency care and the use of ski patrol skills.” A Blue Merit Star is given to patrollers who played a supporting role “using emergency care in an attempt to save a human life.” A Green Merit Star is given to “NSP patrollers for an outstanding act of heroism that does not meet the lifesaving requirements of the Purple Merit Star.” A Yellow Merit Star is given “to NSP patrollers for any outstanding act or service to the National Ski Patrol.”National Appointments have long been a staple of the NSP, and recognize a patroller who demonstrates leadership, good judgment and character, and showcases extraordinary service to the NSP. Over 10,000 National Appointment Numbers have been given out since the NSP was formed in 1938
The NSP also has the Distinguished Service Award for “individuals who have performed extraordinary service to the National Ski Patrol and the skiing public over a long period of time (minimum is 20 years),” and the Meritorious Service Award for “extraordinary and outstanding service and leadership as a region or division staff member (region director or division director ineligible).”
In addition to patrols and patrollers, the NSP sometimes recognizes mountains that have long been associated with NSP and have supported the organization through the Fifty Year Association Award.
Guide & Form
The Minnie Dole Award is one of NSP’s most rarely given awards, which “recognizes those exceptional few patrollers who, over the year, have closely exemplified the long-term dedication, devotion, and self sacrifice of the founder of the NSP, Charles Minot “Minnie” Dole. Since the first Minnie Dole Award was given in 1969 to Winter Park patroller Charles Sauer, only 26 more have been given, the most recent to former NSP Board Chair Ed McNamara in 2015.
Outdoor Emergency Transportation (OET)
Instructor Development. There is an on line ID class that is available to patrollers that meets the bookwork requirement of the Instructor development program. Also required to complete the requirements is a class where the participant will teach a short subject of their choosing other than NSP/skiing/OEC, etc for the Instructor Development instructors.
David J Lemieux is the Maine Advisor for this program and anyone that is interested in becoming an instructor should contact him. This ID course is a one-time requirement – then as a patroller you can specialize your teaching into other NSP programs. Let David know if you have any interested patrollers and he can work out a classroom date.
Senior EMM. The schedule for EMM clinics and Exam will soon be posted on the website. We encourage anyone that is interested in the program to attend one of the clinics. Attendance is not a commitment for examination but an exposure to the program and it’s requirements. Anyone that is interested should contact Tom Bull as soon as possible so that he can get you appropriate information regarding the program.
Trainer Evaluators work with the Senior EMM program in assisting in clinics and as evaluators for the exam. Anyone interested in this should contact: Tony Curro.
Instructor Development ID
Instructor Development: There is an online ID class that is available to patrollers. This “eCourse” meets the bookwork requirement of the Instructor Development Program. ID Candidates will receive for study, “Training the Adult Learner” manual. Also required to complete the course is a five to six hour “Skill Sessions” class, where the Instructor Candidates learn about teaching techniques, learning styles and are evaluated while teaching a short subject of their choosing.
Bob Greene from Saddleback is the Maine Advisor for this program. He is a 45-year veteran Senior Level Professional Patroller and was recognized as the Maine Region Instructor of the Year. Anyone that is interested in becoming an instructor should contact him. This ID course is a one-time requirement, with re-certs required every three years. Once the course is completed, a patroller can specialize in teaching NSP programs such as OET, OEC and MTR. Let Bob know if you have any interested patrollers or are interested yourself, and he will provide additional details and course schedules. Bob’s email is robertwgreenejr@hotmail.com / 603-770-3133
Mountain Travel Rescue
The mission of the Mountain Travel and Rescue (MTR) program is to provide ski patrollers and interested members of the public with knowledge and skills that enhance their effectiveness at ski patrolling build their outdoor leadership capacities.
Program Supervisor:
Ed Pontbriand
Email: edwardpontbriand@gmail.co
(207) 812-2802
Learn More
Women's Program
The Goals of the Women’s Program
Our mission can be summed up in three words:
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Enhancement – Elevate your skills and confidence.
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Recruitment – Bring more women into ski patrol.
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Retention – Support, mentor, and empower women to stay involved and take on leadership roles.
We want to encourage women patrollers to:
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Complete their Senior certifications
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Become instructors
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Step into mentorship and leadership roles within their patrols and the region
What Do I Need from You?
Your input is everything. This is your program, and we want to hear your thoughts!
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What do you want to learn this year?
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Where would you like to train?
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Want more time in the bumps, steeps, or trees?
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Interested in backcountry first aid and ski preparedness?
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Would you attend clinic sessions on yoga, injury prevention, or fitness for ski season?
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NSP Maine Region Women’s Program
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Young Adult Program (YAP)
The Maine Region’s Young Adult Patrol (YAP) program offers teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 the opportunity to complete all the medical and ski skill training necessary to be accepted as a member of the National Ski Patrol. The program is geared toward aspiring outdoor leaders and those interested in serving the communities they live and recreate in. The program includes the full training regime of adult ski patrollers and is geared toward having fun in respected peer groups, while having fun and learning valuable medical skills, all the while gaining experience in emergency care situations all while honing technical ski and riding skills at their local ski resorts.
"Provide a learning environment where young adults can develop leadership skills for success on and off the ski slopes; instill in them a desire to serve in the National Ski Patrol beyond their years as young adults, maintaining membership, and eventually assuming leadership in the National Ski Patrol as well as in their communities; all the while embracing the mission of the National Ski Patrol, To help keep people safe on the mountain and during other outdoor activities."
The Maine Region YAP program is led by Region Advisor Mike Potito. His team of co- instructors and local YAP coordinators are all Safe Sport certified and committed to the goals of the YAP program ensuring a safe and well-guided learning environment for all participants.
For more information about the Maine Region YAP program, or to get connected to a YAP program nearest you email Mike at: mpotito44@gmail.com