At Achieve Tahoe, our volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do. This month, we’re excited to introduce you to one of our youngest volunteers. A rising junior at her San Francisco high school, 16-year-old Audrey splits her time between the city and Truckee, where she grew up racing on the Northstar ski team. Between school, lacrosse, tennis, and summer days by the lake, she’s found time to become an invaluable part of our volunteer community.
Finding Achieve Tahoe
“When I was six years old, my aunt was in an accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury, leaving her completely paralyzed from the waist down. She also suffered a traumatic brain injury,” Audrey shared. “I have seen what it has been like for her to navigate the world as a person with paraplegia, and the many challenges that come with disabilities. Being active in the outdoors has been one of the things she misses most… Realizing that I could help people in similar situations experience the things she had once loved to do was very gratifying for me.”
Inspired by that experience, Audrey began looking for a meaningful way to help people with disabilities reconnect with the activities they love. She first heard about Achieve Tahoe through a family friend and ski partner who had volunteered with us for several years. At the time, Audrey was searching for a coaching opportunity that aligned with the volunteer work she was already doing back home in the Bay Area, and Achieve Tahoe proved to be the perfect fit.
A Welcoming First Day
Like many new volunteers, Audrey admits she felt some nerves walking in for her first day. Those nerves didn’t last long.
“While I was nervous going in, I immediately felt welcomed by the friendliness of the other volunteers. The lead instructor I worked with did a great job supporting me through my first lesson while still allowing me to have a genuine role in the coaching of our participant, and the trainings I had attended prepared me very well. I was also surprised how much I immediately connected with both the participant and his family.”
Finding Her Favorite Program
While she volunteers across multiple programs, Audrey’s favorite is Sierra Summer Sports. “I get to be in the water — we kayak, paddle board, and jet ski,” she said. “Participants get to try different activities, and seeing them figure out which ones they connect with and truly enjoy is very rewarding for me.” The chance to build relationships with participants’ families adds another layer of connection and community she’s come to treasure.
Moments That Stay With You
Ask any longtime Achieve Tahoe volunteer, and they’ll tell you certain moments with participants stick with you forever. For Audrey, one of those moments came last winter on the slopes.
“I skied with a seven-year-old boy who was completely blind. At first, I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for his situation. But as the lesson progressed, I was shocked by his positive attitude and excitement to ski,” she recalled. “Despite his visual impairment, he had one of the most positive attitudes I had ever seen in a participant. Seeing his confidence and abilities improve was really special to me, especially because of his constant positivity even when he was struggling.”
She also spoke about the experience of working with a group of military veterans — a very different but equally unforgettable day. “I think Achieve is unique because of how many different types of people we support.”
The Unexpected Gift of Community
When asked what has surprised her most about volunteering, Audrey says it’s the relationships.
“The connections I have formed with other volunteers, and also participants and their families,” she said. “Volunteers have always been incredibly welcoming and kind to me. Even when meeting volunteers for the first time, there is an automatic sense of connection that makes Achieve Tahoe truly feel like a community.” She’s also found that seeing the same participants repeatedly builds a bond she wasn’t expecting — and that the parents’ gratitude has shown her just how much Achieve Tahoe means to entire families, not just individual participants.
Advice for Future Volunteers
For any young person considering volunteering with Achieve Tahoe, Audrey has a clear message: it’s worth it.
“It is a great way to combine a passion for sports and the outdoors with helping others,” she said. “Achieve Tahoe is a great community. You will meet so many kind people and form new friendships. The experience I’ve gained from volunteering with Achieve Tahoe is so valuable; I’ve learned so much about working with different types of people and about myself as a person.”
She’s especially passionate about encouraging more young people to get involved. “Helping others is the most rewarding thing one can do,” she explained. “Parents of participants are always so grateful and excited to see young people involved with Achieve Tahoe.” She recalled connecting with one family from San Francisco so strongly that the mom asked if she’d babysit back home — an invitation she happily accepted. “I think that having a young instructor can create a special bonding experience for the kids in the program.”
As Audrey puts it: “I keep coming back because it is so rewarding to see the impact I can have on participants and the connections I have made with them.”
Interested in volunteering with Achieve Tahoe? Whether you’re a student like Audrey, a lifelong outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a meaningful way to give back, there’s a place for you on our team.