Inside the National Ski Patrol’s Decision To Change Membership Requirements

The National Ski Patrol (NSP) continues to look ahead. Earlier this summer, the organization announced that it was expanding its membership prerequisites to welcome those with certifications like Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Wilderness First Responders (WFRs).

The decision marked the first time in contemporary history that patrollers meeting certification standards other than the NSP’s Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) course were allowed to join the organization. The OEC remains the NSP’s flagship program.

While the NSP issued a press release on the matter— which we covered —we wanted to learn a little bit more about the story behind the decision, so we connected with Stephanie Cox, the CEO of the NSP.

Cox, who previously served as the executive director of World Child Cancer, entered her role as CEO almost two years ago. “I'm really committed to not only just modernizing [the NSP] and moving it ahead, but really also respecting our iconic past,” she said.

For Cox, the first year at the NSP entailed a lot of time on the ground, which, she said, involved "meeting with our patrollers and really listening to feedback and also to what patrollers really want for their future and what our ski area operators need."

Those conversations prompted a question for Cox: "Why can't we be the National Ski Patrol for all patrollers? Why are we currently just accepting patrollers who have gone through our Outdoor Emergency Care credential?" While the NSP already has numerous individual members and patrols—over 30,000 and 630, respectively—there was room for growth.

In April, Cox proposed her idea to the organization’s board of directors. "The pressure and the need for more patrollers is real, and so when I looked at the landscape of the industry, I thought, well, how can we help meet that need? And one way to do that is to help recruit new patrollers and bring them into the NSP," said Cox.

The NSP, which is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides outdoor emergency responders with education, accreditation, and membership perks, like pro gear discounts. Its mission is to ensure the safety of individuals participating in outdoor sports like skiing, snowboarding, or biking.

"If we have more members, then we get more patrollers out there, and we serve a public good," said Cox of the decision to bring more certifications into the fold. "I think back to the simple statement that this is about opening the tent and inviting others in to be more inclusive."

Cox noted that the decision has been very well received. “The past 48 hours have been really encouraging,” she said when we spoke last week. However, it’s unclear how much the decision will increase NSP membership.

“It's already the start of the training season, believe it or not… so I do not expect to see a huge bump [in NSP membership],” said Cox. As for the future? "Time will tell."

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