Countdown to Winter – OAS Grant Program!

Also posted in: Winter

by Pat Addabbo, Executive Directorforecast for mt bachelor showing snow friday-sunday

Snow is in the forecast for the mountains OAS calls home and we are getting excited for the season ahead! The OAS team is finalizing winter operating plans and will be announcing those details soon. As we all start to prepare for ski season we are also anticipating the further adaptations that will be in store as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities across the globe.

Over the next few weeks OAS will be providing some information to help you prepare for an active season on snow. Access to the outdoors, especially during the winter months is critical to one’s mental and physical health. OAS is more committed than ever to ensuring this access.

To get things started, did you know that OAS has grants available to help you access the tools needed to get or stay active in the outdoors? We currently have two grant opportunities available to Oregonians with disabilities.  There is a rolling opportunity for grants up to $500 and one $2500 grant available as well!

One of the significant barriers to the outdoors for individuals with disabilities is the astronomical cost of adaptive sports equipment and also the generally high cost of entry for most outdoor sports, especially snow-sports. The OAS Share the Stoke grant program intends to help reduce this barrier.  Grants can be applied to most things that may help you recreate outdoors. This could be something like a ski pass, new helmet, gloves, goggles, a pair of outriggers, or if applying for the larger grant a more significant expense towards a piece of equipment or experience.

We are excited to offer this support to our community as we continue to navigate the pandemic.   Though we are of course excited to be offering many in-person programming opportunities this winter, the Share the Stoke grant program is a way OAS is continuing its commitment to serve Oregonians with disabilities regardless of the impacts of COVID-19.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to OAS staff with any questions on the program and look for more tools in the coming weeks to help you get ready for winter!