$6,458 raised by 57 donors
6% complete
$100,000 Goal
About National Ski Patrol
Every day in Colorado and across the country, National Ski Patrol patrollers stand ready for the moments no one plans for — when an accident on the mountain becomes a medical emergency, when weather shifts fast, or when an everyday ski run turns into a life-saving response.
With more than 30,000 volunteer and professional patrollers serving 650+ patrols, NSP is the nation’s leading authority in on-mountain safety, rescue, and emergency care education. Patrollers train extensively — often 80–100 hours in their first year alone — to respond with skill, compassion, and rapid decision-making in some of the harshest and most unpredictable environments.
Your support helps us strengthen the education, training, and readiness that help keep our mountains safe for everyone.
Your gift supports:
• Lifesaving education and certifications for 30,000+ patrollers
• Outdoor Emergency Care and avalanche safety training
• Bike, Nordic, backcountry, and mountain rescue programs
• Essential and updated training resources for patrols nationwide
• A safer experience for millions of outdoor enthusiasts each year
Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Colorado, NSP has upheld the creed of “service and safety” for more than 85 years. With outdoor recreation growing rapidly, your generosity ensures patrollers have the skills, tools, and training needed to respond when seconds matter.
When you give to National Ski Patrol, you’re supporting the people who show up for all of us — in every storm, on every slope, and in every emergency.
Service & Safety in the Outdoors. At NSP, our mission is vital: To promote safety and service in outdoor recreation by educating, training, and leading dedicated patrollers who assist those enjoying mountains, trails, and slopes.
The National Ski Patrol (NSP) was founded in 1938 by Charles “Minnie” Dole, who established the organization and served as its first chairman. From the beginning, NSP has followed a simple creed of “service and safety,” providing rescue and safety support as skiing and outdoor recreation grew across the United States.
During World War II, Dole became a key advocate for creating specialized U.S. mountain troops, which led to the formation of the famed 10th Mountain Division. When veterans of the 10th returned home, they helped launch and develop more than 60 ski areas across the country, fueling the growth of the ski industry — and with it, the need for a strong, national patrol organization. NSP grew alongside this new industry, eventually earning a Congressional Charter in 1980 in recognition of its contributions to public safety and outdoor recreation.
Today, National Ski Patrol includes more than 30,000 members — both volunteer and professional — serving over 650 patrols at winter and summer resorts, Nordic centers, backcountry areas, state parks, and search and rescue organizations in the U.S., as well as affiliated programs in Canada, Europe, and Asia. With a primary focus on education and training, NSP delivers industry-leading courses in Outdoor Emergency Care, avalanche safety, outdoor risk management, transportation, bike and Nordic/backcountry patrol, and more.
NSP continues to evolve with the outdoor industry, expanding beyond alpine skiing to include bike patrollers and year-round mountain safety programs, while remaining the leading authority in on-mountain safety, rescue, and emergency care education.
Organization name
National Ski Patrol Systems, Inc
other names
NSP
1938
Tax id (EIN)
84-0398775
Category
Education
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
133 S Van Gordon St Ste 100Jefferson County, CO, US