SOS Outreach

A nonprofit organization

$5 raised by 1 donor

0% complete

$40,000 Goal


SOS Outreach changes young lives, building character and developing leadership through mentoring outdoors.

“SOS has taught me how to be a good person on and off the mountain using the 6 core values. And I get to do all of this with kids that are some of my best friends and a mentor who is there for me through thick and thin.” 

–SOS participant, Ashley

At SOS Outreach, we empower youth to belong everywhere. Whether it’s on the ski slopes, the trail, or at home in their community - we are committed to creating supportive spaces where everyone is welcome. 

This winter, SOS Outreach is thrilled to be working with over 1,400 Colorado kids and teens across 5 communities and 7 mountain resorts.

With your support SOS can:

  • Grow program impacts to engage more youth across Colorado communities
  • Expand opportunities for young adults to access paid career opportunities in the outdoor industry through SOS' career development program
  • Encourage youth to develop a lifelong connection to winter sports and maintain access through our alumni network 

SOS Outreach Program Progression



Year 1: Learn to Ride

  • The SOS program begins with our 5-day introductory ski or snowboard experience and our core values of courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and humility.
  • Participants:  Youth from grades 4-12 that are new to skiing/snowboarding (less than 10 days of experience)
  • Includes:  5-days of lift tickets, professional ski/snowboard instructors, all necessary snowboarding/skiing equipment, and all snowsport clothing (snow pants, jacket, goggles, gloves, and helmet), core-value curriculum.
  • Our Cost: $675 per youth.

Year 2-6: Mentor Program

  • In this phase, our participants are matched up in groups of 3-5 with an adult mentor and peer mentor. Each year of the program includes five days of snowboarding/skiing and an increasing commitment to the community through leadership and life skills development workshops, service learning projects, and deeper understanding and practice of the SOS core values (courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and humility). 
  • Participants: Youth from grades 5-12 who graduated from the Learn to Ride Program.
  • Includes: 5 on-hill ride days with mentor, season pass to local ski resort, core-value based leadership development training and workshops, and service learning through community projects with mentor group.
  • Cost to SOS: $2,000 per youth.

Year 7-9: Junior Mentor Program

  • After graduating from the Mentor Program, SOS Alumni have the opportunity to give back to their younger peers as a Junior Mentor and role model. Junior mentors are paired with youth in the early years of the mentor program, showing them the ropes during the ride days and other off-hill workshops and activities. These youth pass on the knowledge and joy they experienced to the next generation of SOS participants. From here, classmates and families begin to emulate their success, ultimately lifting everyone in their sphere of influence.
  • Participants: Mentor Program Graduates
  • Includes: Core-value based leadership development and life skills training, Assignment to mentor group of younger participants, 5 on-hill ride days, Season pass to local ski resort, Service learning through community projects with mentor group. 
  • Cost to SOS: $2,000 per youth.


SOS Outreach Career Development Program

Career Development Program

  • Paid apprenticeship opportunities in the outdoor industry. Continuing with SOS’ method of first teaching skills and then providing the opportunity to practice those skills, this program takes the practice off the mountain and into the workplace. The initial phase is a two-week intensive that includes resume building, interview practice, guest speakers, site visits, technology demos, inclusivity workshops and more. Following that, teens receive a dedicated mentor/supervisor to begin their apprenticeship with industry partners. Teens are compensated for their participation and receive continued support throughout the job placement by means of weekly check-ins, feedback, and a post-program debrief from SOS and their workplace manager.
  • Participants: SOS participants ages 15+.
  • Cost to SOS: $2,500 per youth.


Mission

SOS Outreach (SOS) is a youth development nonprofit that changes young lives, building character and leadership through mentoring outdoors.

Background Statement

SOS Outreach was founded in 1993 as an organization intending to provide access to recreational activities in the High Rockies to low-income Denver youth. At the time, all youth invited to participate in SOS programs had never ventured outside the Denver Metro area. Residing in low-income housing with limited access to robust outdoor recreation, positive adult mentorship, and risk prevention education, early SOS youth were selected based on their increased likelihood of engaging in high-risk activities that would subject them to early drug and alcohol use, academic and behavioral difficulty, teen pregnancy, and court involvement.

As the organization developed, providing opportunities in the outdoors to Colorado's most deserving youth remained the core tenant of SOS' mission. As the demographics of the state began to shift, the percentage of low-income households in resort areas surged. In response, SOS expanded its reach to provide programs in Eagle and Summit Counties, Steamboat Springs, Leadville, and Durango. SOS further extended into Lake Tahoe, CA, Park City, UT, the Pacific Northwest, and the Midwest. SOS currently offers best-practice, evidence-based and progressive programs in 9 states and 15 communities, engaging over 3,000 youth nationally. Each program promotes self-respect, positive relationships, social skills, and training in SOS' core values (courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, compassion, and humility) combined with participation in outdoor adventure sports.

Founded in 1993, SOS has served over 80,000 youth by engaging participants in a multi-year values-based leadership curriculum. Since our founding, our programs have witnessed significant growth in participant numbers, expanded across winter and summer adventure sports, and incorporated a youth development, leadership training, and adult mentorship curriculum. In 2009, SOS merged with Meet the Wilderness, a 34-year-old summer-based organization that enabled SOS to incorporate year-round programming and increase positive engagement with youth throughout the summer months.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

SOS Outreach

other names

SOS, SOS (Snowboard Outreach Society)

Year Established

1993

Category

Youth Development, Recreation & Sports

Organization Size

Large Organization

Address

450 Miller Ranch Rd
Edwards, CO 81832

Headquarters

450 Miller Ranch Road
Edwards, CO 81632

Headquarters

P.O. Box 2020
Avon, CO 81620

Colorado Location

110 3rd Avenue South
Frisco, CO 80443

Service areas

Eagle County, CO, US

Denver County, CO, US

Summit County, CO, US

Steamboat Springs, CO, US, 80487

Phone

970926 9292

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