Young Adult Classes

Know Before You Go - An Avalanche Education Program for young adults in Utah

A critical need exists for basic avalanche education for junior high through college age students in Utah. Just as students in Hawaii learn about the dangers of rip tides and shore breaks at an early age, students in Utah need to learn about avalanches. The rising numbers of young avalanche victims have demonstrated an obvious need for basic avalanche education. We hope that the Know Before You Go avalanche education program will become a regular part of the curriculum in Utah schools from junior high through college age students.

This free program is designed as a 50-minute program in three parts:

• A 15-minute, narrated video showing avalanches, people triggering avalanches and the destructive power of avalanches.

• A local avalanche professional tells their story about close calls or accidents they have had as they learned about avalanches.

• A 15 -minute PowerPoint presentation about the basics of how to recognize avalanche terrain, recognize obvious signs of instability, safe travel practices, the basics of avalanche rescue equipment and self-rescue procedures, and where to obtain information about current avalanche conditions.

The Know Before You Go program is taught in participating schools as an annual assembly, to any gathering of younger outdoor enthusiasts such as Boy Scout troops or to outdoor recreation programs at universities. Local avalanche professionals such as ski patrollers, ski guides and avalanche educators give the presentations.

To arrange to have this program for your school or group, contact:

Craig Gordon
Utah Avalanche Center
2242 West North Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
801-231-2170 mobile
cgordonski@hotmail.com