Assignment #1 Ethical Engagement:: The Skiers Code and Training with Challenge Alaska

Ethical Engagment (EE):  Students will enhance their fundamental EE competency by gaining knowledge of the skiers code and applying/adapting that code to volunteering with Challenge Alaska .

Purpose:  To gain factual and applicable knowledge about ethical engagement through the practice of developing codes of conduct appropriate for skiing and snowboarding, including skiing and riding with people living with disabilities

Formal Definition from the APU Catalog

Ethical Engagement

Ethical engagement involves the way in which we make choices between competing moral principles, determine who or what is good, and question how we live a good life. Ethical engagement requires examination of rights, obligations, benefits, and fairness. Ethical engagement requires consideration of how moral standards are reasoned, and how such standards espouse virtuous action as well as obligations to refrain from bad actions. On a personal level, ethical engagement requires the examination of one’s own standards to develop self-direction and responsibility for individual decisions and actions. On a societal level, ethical engagement develops the capability to face challenging dilemmas through principled guidelines. Further, with attention to local and global sustainability, ethical engagement develops the capacity for creative and critical care of our world.

• Foundational Competency – Students demonstrate the ability to reason through questions of right and wrong, good and bad, and rights and responsibilities. Students develop personal responsibility with attention to self-direction and individual decision-making. Students develop social responsibility with attention to the contested and enduring question of what is good for individuals and society.

STEP ONE :  LEARN THE SKIERS RESPONSIBILITY CODE     AS EXPLAINED BY ALYESKA RESORT SKI PATROL This course is designed to introduce students to an action sport in a manner that reduces incidents of injury, instructing appropriate techniques and internalizing the Responsibility Code (as enforced by Alyeska Resort).  The APU class will be indoctrinated in this code.  Memorize it. THE The Responsibility Code.  •  In addition to the code all APU students will: i)Wear winter helmets ii) Ski and ride with a partner, at all times.  If separated from a partner, students will descend down to a groomed main trail (or easiest way down), and regroup at the last lift.  If the partners are unable to regroup, the students must descend the easiest way down to the day lodge and regroup at our contact point, the MLC desk. iii)Have a clear contact point with the instructor at all times, including regular check ins.   (cell phone 907 250 7816, contact at day lodge desk) iv) Practice Wellness Strategies (proper rest, nutrition, training, recognition of early warning signs of cold injury) We will review the early warning signs of cold injury, and instruct to warm up frequently on especially cold days.

STEP TWO :  Successfully Complete the Mountain Education Test online, found towards the bottom of the Ski Patrol page  

STEP THREE :    Participate in a DayLodge Salon with your fellow APU students and faculty, during a lunch break.  The discussion topic with be ‘The Skier’s Responsibility Code and Mountain Citizenship.’

STEP FOUR:   Train with Challenge Alaska

STEP FIVE: PRACTICUM  Complete  Shadowing Lessons with Challenge Alaska

STEP SIX:    Re-examine the skiers responsibility code in light of your experience with Challenge Alaska, provide a case study.  You may discuss the entire code or specific rules of it.  In what way did the code  apply to your experience with Challenge Alaska?  Did you experience the ‘Code-in-Action’ during your time with Challenge Alaska?  Compose a short essay (target length 250-500 words) be prepared to discuss it with your classmates.

Assessment Rubric for Assignment #1