Spotlight on Volunteers: Kiera McMullan

Kiera McMullan works as a volunteer snowboard instructor with the Adaptive Sports Foundation's Ski and Snowboard program at Windham Mountain.

She lives with her parents, Noreen and Brendan, and older brother Connor. She is a junior at Pearl River High School, where she enjoys studying her favorite subject, math, and playing lacrosse. She is a standout midfielder for the Pirates will be playing lacrosse at the Division 1 level when she attends the College of William and Mary.

Despite her busy schedule with sports and school, 16-year-old McMullan shows a drive and compassion for others well beyond her years. In addition to her work with the Adaptive Sports Foundation, she went with the organization Rustic Pathways to help rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

What is the primary volunteer work that you do?
It's the Adaptive Sports Program. I'm a snowboard instructor.

How did you get involved with it?

My neighbor, Dr. Tucci, did it as well as my brother and they had nothing but positive things to say about it. So, when I was of age, I tried it and I loved it.

How long have you been doing it?

This is my first season, but I've been around the program for probably two or three years with my brother and Dr. (Jim) Tucci.

How long had you been snowboarding before this?

I snowboarded for about five years. I skied before and then switched to snowboarding.

Can you describe the type of work that the program does and that you do for them?

I work with kids with cognitive and physical disibilities.  We help them learn to snowboard and just be active.  The Adaptive Sports Foundation helps every disibility to ski and snowboard.  There are not many snowboarders, so it's new and it's exciting and for the kids it's really a good thing.

Was this your first experience volunteering?

No, prior to the winter season, I went to New Orleans to help rebuild houses, so that was my first big volunteering job.

What was that experience like for you?

It was a real eye-opener and I learned a lot about myself and how I work with others, because I was with kids from all over, so it was interesting.  I learned a lot about myself leadership-wise and different ways of going about things with different people.

What sparked the interest to start volunteering?

I always wanted to get involved and this is the perfect thing for me.  I love snowboarding and my brother, he told me, you've got to do it, you're going to love it.  So that was my first opportunity to get involved and just give back and help out and so I thought this would be the perfect way.  I love snowboarding and so, at the time, it was the perfect situation to jump into.

With such a busy schedule with school and sports, how have you been able to stay motivated to continue to donate your time?

During the winter season, I volunteered fourteen of my Saturday's and Sunday's, which is mostly in January and February.  It's a lot for the weekend, but it's so rewarding and so worth it that I don't even think that I'm missing weekends or I'm not hanging out with my friends. It's just, I love it.  The look on the kid's face after you've just snowboarded with them all day is worth the two hour trip, worth the long day and it's just why I keep going back.

What has volunteering given you?

It's a real eye-opener to who I am and I what makes me happy.  The whole program is just about giving back and being there and having fun.  I love it and I just don't know why I wouldn't do it.

What is your best or most meaningful memory during your time as a volunteer?

I had this little boy and he was autistic and we had him out snowboarding all day and we were teaching him how to get down the bunny hill.  So he went down one time, the last run on the last day and he went down by himself.  Just getting down there, he was so excited so we brought him back up to the lodge and he just said, "Mom, I went down by myself." And just the look in her eyes and she just looked over and said, "Thanks guys."  So you know you made that kid's day and made the mom's.  So it's just so rewarding.

Have you been able to work with the same people to see some long-term progress from this?

Since the snowboarding is just so new, there's a small group, so you usually have the same student each time, so you can see the progression from the bunny hill to the lifts and just see them improving and they're learning, so that's the best part.

What advice would you give to someone who's interested in getting involved, but hasn't yet started volunteering their time for whatever reason?

I think it's just putting yourself out there and having fun with it.  I think once you get out there and the first time you do it, you realize how much fun it is and that it's all worth it in the end.

What would you say is the best way to get involved with the organization?

Probably emailing the director. They can probably find it at Windham Mountain.com or the Adaptive Sports Foundation website.

Know a volunteer who deserves some recognition and would be willing to be interviewed about their work?

Please contact Sam Schaeffer using the “email the author” button at the top of the article.