SOS Outreach engages 600+ Park City youth each year through their outdoor-based mentorship programs. These programs foster a deep sense of belonging and inspire youth to develop into powerful self-advocates, committed family members, and vibrant local community leaders.
Our Mission: Change young lives, building character and developing leadership through mentoring outdoors.
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.
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.
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.
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.