Happy December! This feels surreal to say, but we are kicking off our 30th season of SOS programs. On a wintry day in December 1993, 15 Denver youth ventured up to Vail Mountain to learn how to snowboard for the first time.
After that day, we realized the inherent benefit that mountain sports have on youth’s confidence, relationship skills, self-efficacy, and sense of belonging.
Fast forward to today and we are engaging over 3,000 young people annually in a multi-year, mentorship-based curriculum across 10 states and 15 communities. The positive growth our participants are experiencing is unreal, and we plan to keep providing those opportunities.
This season, we are thrilled to welcome Seattle and Minneapolis as they launch the full-scale Mentor Program for the first time. And this weekend, we are stoked to be launching our programs at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Heavenly, Park City and Mt. Brighton.!
Looking back, we’ve accomplished so much since our humble beginnings in 1993, and looking forward, there’s so much more we hope to accomplish. Through it all, your support has been the driving force behind our long-term impact.
Thank you. Together, we truly are changing young lives.
From events, to alumni stories, to ride days, we have a lot coming up this month! Have a scroll to see what’s happening.
In the meantime…
Spread the Love!
SOS alumni are rad! Meet Fernanda – an SOS alumni and SOS’ Alumni Liaison.
Fernanda was an SOS participant for eight years, starting her SOS journey in the introductory program at Beaver Creek in 2013. She then went on to join the mentor program for 5 years and eventually a junior mentor for her last two years of high school. Now, she has taken the opportunity to work with us to help expand the alumni network and create a positive impact to alumni like her.
“As an SOS alum, it is an honor to be advancing this initiative and connecting with other alumni to hear what we can do to be a continued support system. It is so great to see how many alumni want to stay engaged in the organization in any way they can and I know it’s so inspiring for our current participants to connect with alumni. It’s amazing to see these stories come full circle.” – Fernanda Landeros
Read more about how Fernanda is expanding our alumni network on our blog.
Inspired and designed by four young women in SOS – the Nordica Unleashed Outreach is built for the modern freeskier who loves deep days and big terrain. Yet, this daily driver is also at home in the trees and bumps, thanks to a rocker profile that offers exceptional versatility.
Christy Sports is offering a $400 discount on these custom Nordica skis until Dec. 3 (link to purchase here)!
Thank you to every one who donated to SOS during Live PC Give PC and Giving Tuesday!
Your financial support is absolutely critical to the work we do. When you donate to SOS, you’re ensuring that youth who need it most, are connected to a life-changing mentor relationship.
No matter where or how you give, our match is active until the end of the year meaning for every $1 you give, SOS gets $2!
A donation of any amount will help ensure there are no financial barriers for kids and teens to access our programs.
Colorado Gives day is on Dec. 5 and early giving is open now!
From Denver, to Eagle County, to Summit County, Leadville, and Steamboat – this your chance to support over 1,400 SOS participants across the Centennial State.
The Circle of Mentorship (SOS blog) – “After graduating from the mentor program, Alexis Sanchez prepares to become a junior mentor and put his leadership skills to test with a group of younger participants..He admits it already feels very different than being in the mentor program with a lot more added responsibility, but there are definitely perks that come with it”...read more.
Building a Community for a Lifetime (SOS Blog) – “For years, an SOS mentor program graduation was a bittersweet experience. We were so proud to see how much these teens had grown and excited for what was ahead for them, but it was hard to officially close the match. In 2019, we secured a three-year, Americorps award and recruited our first program graduate into the role of alumni liaison to launch the program”…read more.
Stepping into Junior Mentorship through Leaderhip (SOS Blog) – “When Eimee joined SOS Outreach in Park City, she thought it would simply be a fun way to learn how to snowboard and connect with other kids her age. While she wasn’t wrong, she quickly learned that being a part of SOS could lead to so much more.”…read more.
Letters to the Editor: ‘SOS key to snowboarding, life’ (Park Record) – “The most important thing that I’ve learned from my SOS experience is to take advantage of the connections and relationships you build in the program with mentors or other participants because being part of a team can be impactful“…read more.
Live PC Give PC Gears Up for 13th Annual Celebration of Community (ABC 4) – “Mike Lewis, Senior Director of Base Operations, Park City Mountain joined us along with Palmer Daniels, Program Manager, and Heidy Hernandez, SOS Alumni and Mentor for the details“…watch.
