SOS Outreach

Program Overview and Background

SOS Outreach changes young lives, building character and leadership in underserved kids through mentoring outdoors. Since 1993, SOS Outreach engages youth, no matter what social, societal, or economic barriers exist for them, through meaningful outdoor adventure activities with the primary activity of skiing and snowboarding. Through a progressive mentor-driven curriculum that spans 4-12th grades, SOS programs build resilience and character for youth to lead successful lives.

Program Services

Only SOS Outreach has the mountain access, proven progressive curriculum, and engaged mentors that allow us to provide successful outdoor youth development programs. It’s how we forge powerful relationships and teach life skills that sets us apart. SOS uses a progressive curriculum that evolves with kids as they advance through our programs. Each year, kids learn new outdoor skills and life skills based on their age and circumstances.

The curriculum is built around four SEL sets of skills: Relating well to Others, Understanding and Managing Feelings, Responsible Decision Making, and Social Responsibility. SOS emphasizes skill learning through social interaction and relationships that take place in the context of
active and experiential activities. The mentors engaged with SOS model these skills for youth to observe and understand. SOS then provides practice opportunities for youth to try their learned skills and transfer those skills to different environments.

Target Population

SOS Outreach supports youth (ages 8-17) who face risks and are primarily low-income and ethnic minority youth. The top risks facing participants include single family households, low academic goals; little to no involvement in community activities; English as second language; little to no school interest; and mental health challenges.