Our Programs
SOS Outreach stands out in its ability to provide successful outdoor youth development programs, thanks to our mountain access, progressive curriculum, industry partner network, and dedicated mentors. Our unique approach to building strong relationships and imparting life skills sets us apart and resonates with our supporters.
Our multi-year curriculum grows with the children as they progress through our programs. Each year, participants acquire new outdoor and life skills tailored to their age and situation. While younger participants focus on teamwork and personal responsibility, older youth develop leadership abilities and have the opportunity to mentor the younger participants.
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Introductory
SOS programs kick off with a beginner ski or snowboard adventure while learning our core values. It’s incredible how much one can discover about themselves when courageously trying something new for the first time. The children experience a sense of achievement that stems from embracing new challenges and mastering them over five on-snow ride days.
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Mentor
Following the introductory experience is the five-year mentoring program, which blends on-mountain skill enhancement with community service and skill development. As young participants advance from gentle slopes to challenging black diamonds, they transition from being mere participants to emerging leaders. They take risks, assume responsibility for their actions, and let their growing self-confidence influence all aspects of their lives.
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Junior Mentor
Gaining knowledge and confidence, older participants graduate from the Mentor program to become mentors themselves. As junior mentors, they guide younger members during ride days, off-hill workshops, and activities. They share their experiences and joy with the next generation of SOS participants, inspiring classmates and families to follow in their footsteps, uplifting everyone within their circle of influence.
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Career Development
The Career Development Program is a summer initiative for participants aged 15+. The program starts with a 50-hour intensive to develop professional skills, followed by four-five weeks of on-site job experience. Throughout the program, they engage in paid apprenticeships with industry partners such as Vail Resorts, Oberalp, US Ski & Snowboard Team, evo, and more.
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Alumni
The Circle continues with our alumni program at SOS. Access to mountains and opportunities doesn’t cease after graduation. The Continuing the Circle program aims to offer alumni a support network for career guidance, an opportunity to re-engage with SOS programs as mentors, and maintain their connection with the SOS community through events like alumni ride days.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MENTORING BEST PRACTICES
The Mentor Program was verified through the completion of the National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS) assessment performed by MENTOR Colorado, whereby SOS received the highest rating: a gold badge. This designation reflects the effectiveness of SOS programs in excelling in the six core areas of effective mentoring practice: recruitment, screening, training, matching and initiation, monitoring and support, and closure. This is renewed every 3 years by an outside expert coming in to evaluate our program.
Core Values
Courage
Discipline
Integrity
Wisdom
Compassion
Humility
Transforming Lives Across the Nation
At SOS Outreach, we take pride in serving over 3,000 youths annually, spanning from bustling cities like Seattle to picturesque resort towns such as Vail, fostering personal growth and appreciation for the outdoors.
Program FAQs
SOS works with youth who are in 4th grade or higher.
Get in touch with the SOS location nearest to you! SOS operates in multiple locations across the US, including full-time office locations in Denver, CO; Frisco, CO; Edwards, CO; Steamboat Springs, CO; Park City, UT; Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; North Lake Tahoe, NV, and South Lake Tahoe, CA. Additionally, we have part-time offices in Yakima, WA; Portland, OR; Durango, CO; Leadville, CO; Minneapolis, MN. Contact us via email or phone at 970.926.9292 for more information.
Absolutely! SOS has a vast inventory of jackets, snow pants, goggles, gloves, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, backpacks, and anything else necessary for hiking and camping. For our introductory program, all equipment and winter clothing is provided if your child needs them. As the youth progress into the mentoring program, we continue to provide all winter clothing, and there are options to purchase ski/snowboard equipment at very discounted rates.
Yes, there is a fee for service to participate in SOS’s programs. The fee covers a portion of program expenses, and with support from our corporate sponsors and generous donors, SOS Outreach covers the remainder of the necessary expenses. Contact your local program contact for pricing details.
We work with youth who face disadvantages due to factors such as their address, socioeconomic status, and other similar challenges. Our participants are optimistic, resilient, and motivated to work hard. They may not have the same access to resources and information that many of us had, which prepared us for adult life. We look at risk factors such as poor school attendance, low grades, speaking English as a second language, exposure to drugs and alcohol, involvement with the court system, and low household income. In general, we recruit participants dealing with at least two of our risk factors. Check out our Participant Assessment Form to see if your child is eligible for our programs.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 970.926.9292 or via email at sos@sos-outreach.org.
