ALL AWeSOMe! INSTRUCTORS, VOLUNTEERS & BOARD MEMBERS ARE BACKGROUND CHECKED AND REQUIRED TO TAKE AND PASS "SAFESPORT" CERTIFICATION. ADDITIONALLY, ALL OUR WINTER INSTRUCTORS AND VOLUNTEERS ATTEND SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN ADAPTIVE SNOWSPORTS INSTRUCTION AND SAFETY EACH WINTER SEASON.
Ingrid Burica
I value the experiences outdoor recreation provides and want these experiences to be accessible to as wide a group of people as possible. It is very rewarding to see the positive effects on people’s lives from participating, and learning they can do activities many thought might not be possible for them. I learn more from my students than I could ever teach them and feel the experience for volunteers helps prepare society to integrate people with disabilities in very meaningful ways.
During the winter of 2001-2002 Ingrid co-founded AWeSOMe! with Occupational Therapist, Kirsten Evensen as a parallel program to the After School Ski Program at the Little Ski Hill.
In the late 1980’s I worked for an adaptive recreation program in Pocatello, ID called the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor group, endearingly known as C.W. HOG. This was a subset of the ISU Outdoor Program and offered year-round outdoor adventures. I became the director of their adaptive ski program at Pebble Creek Ski Area for several years, before I entered a Master’s program in Physical Therapy at ISU.
After 20 years of involvement in AWeSOMe!’s winter program, I joined the crew of summer program volunteers and expanded the joy of volunteering to another season. In the past I have also participated in adaptive rafting.
Ski certifications PSIA Adaptive Alpine Level 2 (1987)
Safety, first aid, CPR: retired physical therapist
Hobbies and interests: I play cello in the McCall Chamber Orchestra and enjoy sailing small craft, mountain biking, kayaking, and Nordic skiing. I am Executive Director, President and longest serving board member for AWeSOMe!
Dave Burica
Dave likes the opportunity to help others and enjoys working with the crew of amazing volunteers at Awesome.
Dave has been a friend of AWeSOMe! since its inception in 2001-2002, helping out with hut maintenance, equipment repair, building wooden ski & sit-ski storage racks, providing medical advice for the program, and general program support. He began helping with ski instruction in 2021 and kayak instruction in 2022.
Dave Burica, MD, Dave is a retired physician and has been skiing at Brundage for decades. As a retired internal medicine physician, Dave has worked with people who have disabilities his whole career.
Dave loves skiing, fishing, hiking, hunting, wood working, perpetual home remodeling/maintenance, solar power, electric vehicles, and old Land Cruiser restoration.
Dennis Conley
About Dennis
Dennis loves to share the joy and thrill of skiing with students who wish to enjoy our beautiful winter environment.
Dennis has been volunteering with AWeSOMe! since 2018.
He has been a certified instructor with the Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) since 1986.
Terry Edvalson
About Terry
Terry Enjoys working with people to overcome challenges to improve their quality of life. I have a grandson and great grandson who are autistic and wish to gain a better understanding of how I might improve their lives.
Terry began volunteering with AWeSOMe in 2022
Previously Terry taught skiing at Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort for more than 20 seasons. He has his PSIA Level II certification and is Red Cross first aid and CPR certified.
Terry was the CEO of a children’s residential multi-treatment treatment center dealing with clients with severe mental health issues and their families. Occasionally he helped teach skiing to students with disabiliites at Anthony Lakes—there was no formal training, equipment, or program in place at the time.
When not working with AWeSOMe!, Terry likes hiking, biking, Nordic skiing, travel, and reading. He is a Friends of the McCall Public Library volunteer.
Dan Gallagher
About Dan
Dan has always enjoyed ski days and figured the students would, too. The students and their families are also longtime friends. He likes having a winter activity that gives back.
Dan has been volunteering with AWeSOMe! since 2004.
Dan has also volunteered with Recreation Unlimited at Bogus Basin up to 2003, and has taken a number of first aid courses through employment over time.
Bonnie Goold
About Bonnie
Bonnie thinks it is such a joy to slide on snow! She loves passing this addiction on to others.
She is certified by the Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) Level 2 Adaptive, Level 2 Alpine, Level 1 Snowboard, Level 1 Children Specialist and level 1 Senior Specialist.
Bonnie volunteered in the Winter Park Handicap Program (1986-1989), and volunteered and taught at the U.S. Adaptive Recreation Center various winters. She currently teaches with Brundage Ski and Ride School.
When not volunteering for AWeSOMe! Bonnie enjoys her passions of camping, hiking, bicycling, golfing, reading and baking.
Andy Guest
About Andy
Andy has been volunteering with AWeSOMe since 2016. He is a lifelong skier, and worked as a ski patroller for several years. He is a wildland firefighter, working for Price Valley Helirappellers in New Meadows. His technical knowledge has been an asset to the program in regards to equipment maintenance and care.
When not working for AWeSOMe, Andy enjoys backcountry skiing, mountain biking, and hiking with his dogs.
Beth Guest
About Beth
Beth loves teaching adaptive because of the variety of lessons she gets to teach. She loves the fun and challenge of skiing, and the feeling of accomplishment and confidence that it brings her. Beth says it’s so fun to share that with someone who never thought skiing would be possible for them.
Beth began volunteering with AWeSOMe! in 2015. She has been skiing all her life, and instructing off and on since she was a teenager, including volunteering for several seasons at the Little Ski Hill.
Beth is certified in Level 1 Adaptive Skiing.
MJ Heinze
About MJ
Empowering individuals to experience the outdoors is important to MJ. Seeing participants increase confidence and become more independent through AWeSOMe! brings her joy. What keeps her coming back are all the shared smiles.
MJ joined the AWeSOMe! summer kayaking program in 2021 and had so much fun she started volunteering with the winter skiing program in 2022.
Jolene (MJ) grew up in Southern Idaho. Her dad was the ski club advisor at the College of Southern Idaho for many years and taught her to ski almost as soon as she could walk. She has many fond memories of skiing with family and friends and is passionate about sharing the experience with others.
Since 1990, Jolene has worked in public school systems as a teacher, speech language pathologist, and most recently as a school psychologist. She is looking forward to retirement so she can spend more time doing things she loves like travel, crafts, outdoor activities/sports, gardening, and enjoying her family, friends, and pets.
Tim Heinze
About Tim
A ‘reformed’ competitive distance runner, avid skier, hiker and golfer, Tim loves spending time outdoors and wants to help facilitate others having similar positive experiences.
Tim w anas previously an AWeSOMe! board member joining the board in the fall of 2020. His contributions were vastly appreciated.
He has served on the boards of several community agencies and was a volunteer Big Brother and Scout leader for many years.
Tim is a member of PSIA and is certified as an Adaptive Alpine Level 1 instructor.
Tim works in healthcare administration and is looking very much forward to spending more time in McCall as he nears retirement.
Bill Marineau
About Bill
As a lifelong teacher, Bill knows that “life is indeed about a constant quest of improvement”. To this end, Bill loves to help others accomplish their desired improvements while having fun. Working with AWeSOMe! is a privilege and an extension of these ideals. Nothing makes Bill happier than to see a participant smile and laugh when they “get it”.
Bill has been working with AWeSOMe! since 2020. He is honored to have been recognized in Idaho as teacher and later, administrator of the year for program innovation and development. During his 37 years in education, he assisted numerous pre-k to University level students move through their disabilities to create abilities.
Bill is a member of PSIA and is certified as an Adaptive Alpine Level 1 instructor. He is First Aid certified.
When not working with AWeSOMe!, Bill loves to ski, run whitewater, hike, climb, and mountain bike. He also enjoys cooking, landscaping, building, photography, and creating in all kinds of media.
Dave Robey
About Dave
Dave finds it rewarding and fun to see all individuals grow and have fun snowboarding and skiing. He thinks the kids are great!
Dave began volunteering with AWeSOMe! in 2014.
He is a certified instructor for Level 1 Snowboard, Level 1 Adaptive Snowboard, and Level 1 Adaptive Skiing.
Chip Sell
About Chip
Chip loves to see every participant achieve their goals!
Chip has been volunteering with AWeSOMe! since 2013.
Chip is a member of Professional Ski Instructors Association (PSIA) and is a certified instructor with as Adaptive Alpine Level 1, Adaptive Alpine Level 2 and Alpine Level 1. He is certified in First Aid, and CPR.
Marnie Sell
About Marnie
Marnie loves helping to create opportunities for individuals to enjoy new skills in our beautiful community, and enjoys meeting participants, their families, and our volunteers. She is honored to be a part of AWeSOMe!
Marnie has been volunteering with AWeSOMe! since 2013.
She has been involved in adaptive sports since 2008 as an instructor and in various administrative roles with Team River Runner, Adaptive Sports NW, and now AWeSOMe! She served on the AWeSOMe! Board of Directors fpr many years. She is CPR and First Aid certified.
Marnie oversees the summer adaptive kayak program and is trained and certified by the American Canoe and Kayak Association (ACA) as an adaptive, Kayak instructor.
She is a cross certified as a lifeguard.
Marnie has attended several Disabled Sports USA’s Adapt2Achieve Leadership Conferences, ACA Adaptive Kayaking training and the US Paralympic Training Conference.
During the Winter Marnie enjoys downhill skiing, skate skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Marnie loves swimming and bicycling in the summer.
Victoria Sell
About Victoria
Victoria enjoys volunteering because it helps her to understand people and see that we’re really all the same.
Victoria is a junior at McCall Donnelly High School and Idaho Virtual Academy. She officially became an AWeSOMe! volunteer in 2021, however, she has been involved with AWeSOMe! since 2013 with her parents, who both volunteer. She has been around adaptive sports programs helping out since she was three years old.
When Victoria is not out on the slopes she loves singing, acting, bicycling and traveling.
Chris Wernert
About Chris
Chris loves the shared experiences he has with AWeSOMe! participants and instructors. He feels that AWeSOMe! provides deep and meaningful experiences that go well beyond the day spent skiing on the mountain. Yes, AWeSOMe! is truly awesome!
Chris started volunteering with AWeSOMe! in 2002/03, the second season. Chris is certified PSIA Level I Adaptive.
Chris has a passion for working with adaptive athletes. He has volunteered at numerous adaptive programs, including: Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, Eagle Mount Billings and CW HOG. Chris has helped teach multiple adaptive sports/recreational activities: skiing, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, rafting, camping, cycling, golfing, swimming, fishing, sled hockey, equestrian, and team building exercises.
In his spare time Chris enjoys running, biking, skiing and swimming in the lake.
TJ Brady
About TJ
TJ Started Volunteering in 2023. He is a welcomed instructor who helped a number of participants of all ages.
Garrett St Pierre
About Garrett
Garrett started volunteering with AWeSOMe! in the 2023/24. He helped with a number of lessons at Tamarack Ski Resort as a snowboard instructor.
Garrett is an avid snowboarder and grew up in the Treasure Valley. He is very active with non-profits, including helping establish the New Meadows Skateboard and Mountain Bike Park.
When Garrett is not out on the slopes he enjoys mountain biking, camping, and playing hockey.
Eric Messenger
About Eric
Eric Began Volunteering with AWeSOMe! in 2023. Eric is an avid lifelong skier who enjoys passing on his love for the outdoors to others. He is a coach during other seasons as well.
Harry Brown
About Harry
Harry enjoys talking to people and making them feel good about themselves while they learn outdoor winter sports.
Harry is a Senior at McCall Donnelly High School. He officially became an AWeSOMe! volunteer in 2023. He decided to work on his Senior Project by teaching outdoor sports to people with disabilities. He is a natural teacher and understands how to break complex tasks down into manageable skills. Harry is cheerfully and helps his students feel capable. Other volunteers enjoy his can-do attitude.
