The Heart of Community
Founded in 1982 by General Bob and Mrs. Greta Mathis, Eagle Mount is a non-profit adaptive recreation community providing outdoor opportunities for individuals with disabilities, young people affected by cancer, and their families. Each year, more than 750 individuals are served with the support of 750 volunteers. Eagle Mount has been sharing adventures – skiing, horsemanship, aquatics, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, cycling, art, horticulture, theater and more – that offer freedom, create joy, and develop self-confidence.
“Eagle Mount serves our community and makes all of the wonderful area recreational opportunities available to those who might not otherwise have access,” says Christine Baker, who worked alongside Eagle Mount for almost 20 years in her leadership roles with Big Sky Resort before joining the Eagle Mount board four years ago, eventually becoming board president. “We are consistently providing life-changing opportunities.”
Eagle Mount operates several programs on a recently expanded 40-acre campus, encompassing a horsemanship center, the Tim and Mary Barnard Aquatics Center, a wheelchair-accessible playground and fitness center, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, and other community amenities.
In December 2024, the Barnard Pool closed due to structural issues, and Eagle Mount began a campaign, named The Bridge to Our Future, to raise the critical funds needed to renovate the pool roof, as well as expand and upgrade other campus facilities.
The Bridge to Our Future campaign includes three pillars:
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Aquatics Center Roof Replacement & Enhancements
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Campus Expansion
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Critical Campus Care
The majority of the $8 million Bridge to Our Future campaign was funded by generous private donations, Eagle Mount the opportunity to purchase an additional 20 acres of adjacent property last summer, bringing Eagle Mount’s current campus to 40 acres.
The organization has now moved into its final phase and is looking to raise the remaining $400,000 from the Bozeman and Big Sky communities.
“Eagle Mount’s mission is only made possible through the generous support of our community,” says Kevin Sylvester, Eagle Mount’s Executive Director.
Sylvester, who joined Eagle Mount as Executive Director in 2019, had experience volunteering as an adaptive ski instructor in Red Lodge. When he moved to Bozeman several years ago, he was captivated by Eagle Mount’s breadth and scope of services. “We are 100% funded by philanthropy,” he says. “Whether it is making a financial gift to Eagle Mount, businesses sponsoring a program, attending one of our signature events, or helping provide a meal for an oncology camp, Eagle Mount is only made possible because of YOU, our neighbors! And today, Eagle Mount is soaring.”
“It is imperative that we support these individuals and ensure their access into the future. Recreating and building community is so much of why all of us are here and we want to make sure ALL of us have continued access,” says Baker.
Tim and Mary Barnard Aquatics Center
Of all the exciting developments coming out of this campaign, the Eagle Mount team is overwhelmingly most excited about one thing: the reopening of Barnard Pool in June.
“Eagle Mount has one of the few indoor pools in Gallatin County,” says Sylvester. “Eagle Mount’s pool is kept at 89 degrees to take advantage of all of the therapeutic benefits of a warm saltwater pool. In December 2024 we had to close the pool due to structural issues and safety concerns. It turns out, indoor pools are particularly challenging buildings, especially in harsh climates like Montana. Thinking about those cold winter days when it was -20 degrees outside and 90 degrees inside, I can start to see why. Our building’s problem was warm, moisture-laden air inside driving into the roof panels and causing the entire assembly to rot out. Thankfully, building design and building materials have come a long way in 20 years. We are grateful to take a “belt and suspenders” approach with this new roof assembly, ensuring we won’t have to go through a complete roof assembly replacement for a very long time!”
“Our warm, saltwater pool offers a safe and comfortable place for aerobics participants, Big Sky Kids, young adults and families,” says Kristy Michael, board secretary and volunteer.
Michael first got involved at Eagle Mount while teaching in the public schools. “Our special needs students went skiing with Eagle Mount and the students from the classrooms in our hallway would form a human tunnel to send them off in the morning and welcome them back in the afternoon. It was a powerful show of support for the skiers and their big day. [After that], I started participating and volunteering for the aquatics program, and joined the board of directors many years ago.”
Neal Baggett, board member and program participant, is also especially excited about the pool improvements, “particularly the new family changing room,” he says. “That feels like a much-needed improvement and one that will make a real difference for participants and families using the facility.
Baggett first got involved with Eagle Mount as a participant in 2009. After being diagnosed with a neurological condition, he was looking for support recreating in the outdoors. He started with sit-skiing up at Bridger Bowl, and has since participated in cross-country skiing, horseback riding, handcycling, and swimming. He joined the Eagle Mount board in 2015.
“I’m also really excited about the land acquisition,” he says. “As Eagle Mount continues to grow, that gives us more opportunity to expand what we offer and better connect the campus to the community, including things like having the town trails come through the property.”
Continuing Impact
The impact of Eagle Mount’s programs runs deep for its team and participants alike.
“Eagle Mount has had a huge impact on my life,” says Baggett. “It gave me confidence, adventure, and community at a time when my world felt like it had gotten a lot smaller. It helped me see possibility again. I finished my architecture degree, started my career, and over time kept building a bigger life around recreation and adventure. Eagle Mount helped make my life not only bigger, but deeper. I’m really grateful for what it gave me and glad to give back in any way I can.”
For Michael, the most rewarding part of her work with Eagle Mount has been the smiles and the pride.
“It is overwhelmingly rewarding to see pediatric oncology participants and their families experience camp with Big Sky Kids and be able to interact and enjoy just ‘being kids’ together,” she says. “For a few days, they can lessen their focus on medical issues and just BE. It is also rewarding to see individuals with autism and Down Syndrome grow and develop as athletes and learn leadership skills in a supportive environment. Whether it is horseback riding, horticulture, theater, cycling, skiing, creative arts or swimming, there are opportunities at Eagle Mount to try new things and gain confidence and independence.”
“There is no better feeling than giving and knowing that you have made a positive difference in someone’s life,” Michael continues. “Eagle Mount offered me a chance to make a difference. By following Eagle Mount's lead to celebrate abilities, lesson barriers and create community by recreating together as a team, I have been able to better value patience, empathy and the power of giving.”
Sylvester maintains that it’s not possible to have a bad day after interacting with Eagle Mount's mission. “Eagle Mount is all good things!” he says. “It’s the joy of seeing our participants enjoying the ski slopes, building muscle tone in our horsemanship program, or gaining confidence and independence in the Barnard Pool! Most of us live in Bozeman or Big Sky because we like moving our bodies outdoors- we like skiing, horses, camping, and more. Eagle Mount is all about opening Bozeman’s backyard to everyone, regardless of their disability.
Eagle Mount is funded completely through private donations, and it is directly due to the support and generosity of donors that thousands of people with disabilities have had meaningful adaptive recreation opportunities.
You can learn more and support the final phase of Eagle Mount’s campaign at eaglemount.org/bridge.
"Eagle Mount’s mission is only made possible through the generous support of our community...It is imperative that we support these individuals and ensure their access into the future."
"Eagle Mount is all about opening Bozeman’s backyard to everyone, regardless of their disability."