Energizing Communities

Idaho Power’s strong connection to the communities where our employees live and work spans more than 100 years. Our local roots run deep and we’re proud to contribute time, talent and financial support to enrich the lives of our neighbors.

Volunteer Spotlight: Robert Walters

To say snow is an important part of Robert Walters’ life would be an understatement. As a water resources specialist, Robert maintains ground generators essential to Idaho Power’s cloud seeding program. He has spent many winters skiing some of the steepest terrain all over the West. In recent years, he has turned his love of skiing into volunteer work with Boise Adaptive Snowsport Education (BASE), helping people with physical or cognitive challenges share his passion for powder.

“Working with BASE has really re-energized my skiing,” Robert said. “I had done all the skiing I wanted to do, had some pretty great ski experiences, done a lot of vertical, but it wasn’t fulfilling after a while. Being able to give back to the sport and to develop these relationships with students has really been amazing.”

BASE’s 70 volunteer instructors served 166 students — ages 4 to 70 — at Boise’s Bogus Basin ski resort last winter. Usually two instructors are with each student. The range of adaptations deployed to help students experience and learn to love skiing is immense. Blind students develop the skills and confidence needed to ski along with a guide. Students with amputations or other physical limitations may use equipment such as hand-held outriggers that provide extra stability to sit-skis that enable the user to sit on one or two skis and steer their way down the mountain. Instructors work with students who have autism to gain their trust and teach them how to master the snow.

“We even have adaptive snowboards where, with a few pieces of equipment, they can maximize their ability to really get out there and enjoy the sport,” Robert said.

Read more about Robert and our other employee volunteer spotlights.