SOS Outreach

A nonprofit organization

$39,334 raised by 137 donors

98% complete

$40,000 Goal

ALL DONATIONS MATCHED BY UP TO $50,000

That means for every $1 you give, SOS Outreach gets $2!


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

ABOUT SOS OUTREACH: 

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 1,300 Colorado kids and teens across 5 communities and 7 mountain resorts.

With your support SOS can:

  • Grow program impacts to engage over 1,300 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 

OUR IMPACTS:

Through a robust curriculum and intentional progressive program model, SOS achieves three overarching goals. Colorado youth reported the following progress in relation to these goals: 

Goal 1: Develop positive relationships and a sense of belonging

  • 84% of youth report that SOS has helped them "get along with people who are different than me"
  • 98% of youth report "My SOS mentor helped me to succeed in the things I did this past year"
  • 100% of youth report "SOS mentor(s) and participants helped me feel proud of myself"

Goal 2: Enhance self-regulation through Social Emotional Learning Skills

  • 88% of youth felt they had freedom to develop and use their own ideas
  • 80% of youth felt they had a voice in their SOS experience
  • 72% of youth report that through SOS they had opportunities to be a leader

Goal 3: Develop strong character by applying core values and through community service

  • 84% of youth report having meaningful experiences with SOS
  • 86% of youth report that they "did interesting activities at SOS"
  • 73% of youth felt they made a contribution to others

Together, we can equip our youth with the skills, resources, and support they need—and provide a strong foundation for them to face challenges and make positive decisions no matter what obstacles arise.


OUR PROGRAMS & COSTS:

  1. Introductory Learn to Ride/Ski ($500 per youth):  An introduction to skiing/snowboarding and reflections on SOS’ core values
  2. Mentor Program ($1,650 per youth):  Skiing/snowboarding, community service and leadership workshops with small peer groups led by a dedicated mentor
  3. Junior Mentor Program ($1,650 per youth): Coming full circle, SOS Alumni give back to their younger peers, serving as role models for youth in the early years of our Mentor program
  4. Career Development Program ($10,000 per youth):  Offered to participants ages 15+ to help prepare youth for a career and place them in an apprenticeship with industry partners


WHO WE SERVE - OUR 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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