Giving Back: Brandon Peterson’s Story of Volunteering at Sky Tavern

Brandon Peterson, one of our team members at the Marriott Timber Lodge in Lake Tahoe, has been volunteering at Sky Tavern for years. 

“I grew up in Reno, going to Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program below Mt. Rose
with my father every winter. This instilled a passion for volunteering
and giving back to the skiing community,” says Brandon. ​“Sky Tavern is a non-profit program to help kids/​families affordably get onto the mountain and learn how to ski or board. My dad Greg Park is the Director of the Adaptive
program and I go help on Saturdays during the season and help out.” 

The adaptive program helps those with mental and physical abilities get out and experience the joys of skiing. Their specially trained staff offer safe and outstanding instruction to allow anyone to get out and feel the freedom of skiing. 

They provide an abundance of the equipment necessary so their participants are never held back by not having the right gear.

“We want to help facilitate anyone we can have the experience of sliding
on snow. Wulfky came to my dad after his car accident and we helped him
get into a mono ski when he was turned down by everyone else,” says Brandon.

“The two of us became friends and ride all over Tahoe together now. Wufkey
doesn’t need help to get out there on the mountain anymore, we just
enjoy riding together and his skill level got so high off the bat it
wasn’t long before I had to wax all the time to keep up. HighFives
foundation donated him a new sit ski at the start of last season and his
progression went through the roof. We rode every day we could with
each other, getting footage and even made a strike powder mission to meet
some of my friends in Juneau Alaska. I don’t really do any community
service with him, he’s just my buddy now.”

You can learn more about Sky Tavern and it’s adaptive program here or if you are looking to make a donation you can do so here.