This expedition comprised the pinnacle of the snow sport social mobility charity Snowcamp’s three tier pathway, the Excel programme. Cadet Alhagie had completed the two day First Tracks course at the Tamworth Snow Dome during the summer holiday in 2024 where he had his first introduction to snowboarding. He then went on to complete the Graduate programme on six Saturdays in the autumn, making his own way to Tamworth from Birmingham each time by train. Due to his success on that course he was selected for the Excel programme from February to April this year.
Over 10 weeks young people train to become qualified ski or snowboarding instructors by participating in the BASI Foundation Instructor training programme. The skills which they are demonstrating on the slopes are also reflected in the classroom with life skills sessions before and after each slope session. These sessions also include lessons on the foundations of the coaching pathway, lesson planning and live teaching tasks as well as the essential first aid and safeguarding courses. Furthermore, young people take part in wellbeing workshops with Wellbeing Managers, gain a mental health first aid qualification and have access to 1-1 wellbeing sessions.
Excel is a fantastic opportunity for young people to gain a nationally recognised qualification and reach a level of snowsports ability that they would never have been possible without Snowcamp. Young people also continue their progression through the Snowsport England or Snowsport Scotland Snow Life Award course started on First Tracks.
Towards the end of the course young people spend a week in the Andorra, shadowing instructors and gaining valuable mountain experience. This week long residential provides real life experience for young people enabling them to recognise that they have the ability to start a career in the snowsports industry and beyond. It gives them an increased sense of confidence in their own skiing or snowboarding technique, along with a deeper knowledge of the coaching process ready for their final assessment days when they return to the UK.
With a BASI Foundation instructor qualification new job opportunities in the snowsports industry become very real. Snowcamp offer a range of opportunities to the newly qualified young people. Young people can apply for one of their award winning Apprenticeships or they can join the Youth Forum. Both of these pathways provide the young people with opportunities to participate in exciting work placements with snowsports industry partners. Snowcamp also encourage young people to stay involved with the charity by using their new qualification to instruct the next group of young people entering our courses.
Alhagie is applying for a fully funded sixth form boarding school place through the national charity the Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation. He spoke of his Snowcamp experience during his interview…..
The contingent run the Snowcamp programme every year, and the cadets look forward to attending First Tracks each summer. It is a significant attraction for recruiting and retaining cadets because the younger ones know that they need to be in year 11 to take part in Graduate and Excel so remain engaged for a chance to become snowsport instructors.
‘This trip wasn’t just about snowboarding (although that part was amazing!); it completely changed the way I see the world. Being in a new country, surrounded by a different culture, trying new food, hearing different languages it opened my eyes to just how big and diverse the world really is. It’s made me want to travel more, meet more people, and keep learning from every place I go.
I’ve come back with a new sense of confidence and independence. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible and gave me memories I’ll never forget.’
Cadet Alhagie.
