2018 recipients: Devon Smith, Andrew Hill, Jessica Roy, Dylan Berger, Mitch MacCambly

Devon Smith

I’ve taken my Bluebird funds and put them towards my CAA Operations level 2 last winter. This helped me get towards my next goal for getting my next courses of being a lead/assistant guide. Taking my CAA 2 before my CSGA 2 will help me in the course and the sponsorship helped with that.

As the winter rounds out, I’ve had a good season guiding and learning from other lead guides I worked with through the season. I’m not ready for it to end! Unfortunately, I’m back to full time work so the weekends would be my time to get back to the mountains and be free, and that time is spent lately with my daughter and wifey.

Dylan Berger

To the Nyle Bluebird Day Foundation. In the 2018/2019 season I was sponsored by the foundation to help pay for my CSGA 2 course. This sponsorship had several meaningful implications for me. Firstly, endeavouring on becoming a backcountry guide is an amazing and engaging process but comes with a price tag. The financial aid was greatly appreciated.  What hit home more for me, being a close friend of Nyle, was achieving this certification was a landmark goal in our careers. It enabled us to take the front seat of a snow at (or heli) and lead guests around, under our own decision-making processes. (Within the communication and support of the lead guide.)
Nyle was enrolled in this program for the spring in which he passed away and was obviously going to be a standout successful candidate. Completing the CSGA 2 with the sponsorship of the Bluebird Day Foundation was more than a certification for myself. It felt like a wayyy up there high five from my bro, and I could feel his stoke, smiles and encouragement.
This season, I am continuing my educational progression and going through the ACMG Guide Training Ski Program (On my splitboard of course.) and hope to complete the Apprentice Ski Guide Exam, which will essentially allow me to work as a splitboard guide in a self-propelled touring context as well. Having completed the CSGA 2 allowed me to gain the applicable leading experience that played a major roll in my acceptance into this program. It brings me a bunch of joy knowing Nyle is looking down and making fun of me looking into hard boots and lightweight carbon gear, counting grams, etc. But would be super pumped and proud.
As a final note, I am beginning the process of becoming a practitioner member of the CAA so that I can instruct AST courses in the future, as a way to keep my skills sharp through mentorship, keep up the due-diligence, and pay it forward to the Bluebird Day Foundation. Thanks team!