Jan 4, 2017
Military Family Appreciation Week at Taos Ski Valley.
Since 2014 Taos Ski Valley (TSV) & Not Forgotten Outreach, Inc. (NFO) have been providing military families an affordable ski vacation. The 4th Annual Not Forgotten Outreach Week will be held from January 17th - 22nd, 2017.
We would like to invite active duty military, Gold Star families, veterans and any family member with a military ID to come ski for $30/day. Free rentals and discounted group ski and snowboard lessons will also be available for all active duty military, Gold Star families, veterans and immediate family members.
In 2016, there were over 1,500 military family attendees, and this year TSV & NFO expect to host over 3,000 military families! NFO, a local nonprofit, brings military families together at Taos Ski Valley from all over the United States for an experience filled with fun activities on and off the ski mountains. Military families hit the slopes with loved ones and military friends at a ski resort started by a WWII veteran, Ernie Blake.
It’s a perfect opportunity to improve relationships, and at the same time, enhance personal well-being. Not Forgotten Outreach is pleased to provide adaptive inclusive recreation for the military family. NFO is offering ten (10) scholarships for adaptive skiers and their families.
Appreciation Week Activities
On Thursday and Saturday night at 5pm NFO will host a free appreciation dinner for 200 military families each night.
To improve mindfulness and relationships, NFO is proud to have partnered with the Department of Veteran Affairs Care Management & Social work Services to offer intimacy training by Nicole Jasmine Johnson, MSW, MA, LCSW. This intimacy training will provide guidance to military couples in how to adjust their personal relationship aspirations when dealing with a wounded warrior, either physical or cognitive injuries, enabling them to learn a “new norm” of intimacy in their changed relationships. Classes will be held each morning at 10am and afternoons at 3pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
NFO has also partnered with Connected Warriors to provide evidence based trauma-conscious yoga therapy programs for service members, veterans and their families every morning of the event at 9am.
There’s plenty to do when participants aren’t on the slopes.
- Thursday dinner for 200 military families (Register @ NFO Booth day of arrival)
- Saturday dinner for 200 military families (Register @ NFO booth day of Arrival)
- Live music & DJ’s
- Non-ski Events: Tubing and sled hockey
- Free hot drinks and snacks @ the base (Tuesday – Sunday 0900 – 1500)
- Inter-service branch races (Thursday – Saturday 1000 – 1400)
- Group photo Wednesday & Saturday at noon
- Yoga every morning at 0900
- Self-defense Saturday at 1500
- Intimacy training Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 1000 & 1500
One of the 2017 adaptive scholarship recipient's caregiver expressed these thoughts about the appreciation week:
“A lot of our time is spent going back and forth to the VA two to three times a week, which is over an hour away from us and is an all-day event. It can be exhausting and stressful but we do it because he needs to. It would be great to be able to spend family time together as it seems there is less of due to the business of life and appointments. I would love to be able to take Ed, myself and our daughter on this trip to be able to get a great family experience with lots of memories, as well as our daughter being able to see her dad ski and do the things that he used to do, just as any other dad who isn't disabled. Ed would not only enjoy doing these things again but it would also be great therapy for him! Another benefit to this event for Ed is the comradery. It means so much to him to be able to be around his brothers again, socialize with them and meet more of his brothers and families. You can see a big difference in him when he is around other veterans. He gets more talkative and happier. That alone is a great therapy for Ed as it really touches him.”
TSV Resort Deals & Discounts January 17th - 22nd, 2017
Eligibility: Active Duty, National Guard, Reservist, Veteran, Family members and Gold Star Families and their Families with military ID or other identification
- $30 all-day lift tickets & free ski & snowboard rentals
- Children Center: Full Day $40/ Half Day $32 for JE1, JE2, JE3 & Childcare Children Center
- Adult snow sports first experience $62 (Lift ticket included)
- Adult snow sports novice $62 (Lift ticket included)
- Adult snow sports group lesson $30 (Lift ticket not included)
Pre-registrar w/ TSV Children Center.
No discounts for private lesson.
Adaptive lessons fill out and submit participant packet www.skitaos.com.
Lodging
Lodging discounts to military families are graciously being offered by: El Monte Sangrado, El Pueblo Lodge, Edelweiss Lodge, Alpenglow Chalet, Hampton Inn Taos, El Camino Lodge and Kachina Lodge. Both the El Pueblo Lodge, owned by an Air Force mom, and Amizette Inn, started by a Korean War Veteran, honor their soldiers during this Military Family Appreciation week.
Want to Help?
A devoted force of volunteers and specialized ski instructors offer one-on-one instruction, untiring encouragement, and loyal friendship. This bonding and mentorship are critical to the therapeutic value of the event. Using a volunteer team, Not Forgotten Outreach creates a week of events to connect the children and surviving spouses of the fallen, active duty & veterans with others going through the same experience. The military families who attend our annual events walk away knowing they are not alone, and that we honor the sacrifice the military members made while serving our country.
If you are interested in volunteering, please register here.
About Taos Ski Valley
Located in northern New Mexico, Taos is one of North America’s premier ski and snowboard destinations, with more than 305 inches of average annual snowfall and more than 110 trails. Taos has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, spectacular scenery, and amazing terrain, truly making it a world of its own. To learn more about Taos Ski Valley, please visit www.skitaos.com.
About Not Forgotten Outreach, Inc.
Not Forgotten Outreach, Inc., a 501(c)(3), is dedicated to motivating military, veterans & their families and Gold Star families of fallen heroes to participate in recreational and/or therapeutic activities in order to facilitate the healing process. NFO provides opportunities to improve relationships, build comradeship, and at the same time, enhances mindfulness and personal well-being. NFO served over 3,600 military families in 2016.
For further questions, sponsorship opportunities please contact Don Peters, [email protected], (575) 224-1503. CFC Approved Charity #45291. Thank you to Taos Ski Valley for their continued support of military families. All Not Forgotten Outreach events are alcohol & drug free.