SOS Outreach

A nonprofit organization

"I remember the first time I snowboarded. When I finished my last carve at the bottom, all I could think was 'I know I can do that again.' " - Jose, SOS Participant

We all know how powerful the shift is from maybe thinking you can do something, to absolutely-without-a doubt knowing I can do this. 

But it takes a heavy dose of self-determination to get there. At SOS Outreach, we introduce this mindset through outdoor experiences and continue it through our value-based leadership development. Through a series of off-hill workshops, our kids uncover challenges that need to be addressed in the community, develop important life skills, and learn to incorporate our six core values in their daily lives.

OUR VISION: 

SOS Outreach believes that every child should have the opportunity to live their full potential. Our vision is to be the leader in providing continuous, multifaceted youth development programming utilizing outdoor experiences to connect with youth to provide skills for a successful life. 

OUR MISSION: 

SOS Outreach changes young lives, builds character, and develops leadership in youth through mentoring outdoors. 

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. 

Through our outdoor based youth mentoring program, SOS Outreach has transformed the lives of over 80,000 underserved youth since 1993. While providing outdoor recreation experiences for that many kids is impressive, it’s only a partial demonstration of SOS’ impact. Using a unique combination of outdoor adventure experiences, positive adult mentorship, and leadership development opportunities, SOS enables participants to unleash their full potential to thrive. Serving over 3,000 youth each year, across 25 resorts in 15 locations across 9 states, SOS provides opportunities for personal growth for the kids in our communities who need it most.

This winter, SOS Outreach is thrilled to be working with over 1,200 Colorado kids and teens across 6 communities and 8 mountain resorts.

With your support SOS can:

  • Grow program impacts to engage over 1,200 youth across Colorado communities
  • Expand opportunities for young adults to access paid career opportunities in the outdoor industry through SOS' career development pipeline
  • 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.

Mission

SOS Outreach (SOS) is a national youth development nonprofit that changes young lives, building character and leadership in underserved kids 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

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

Phone

970926 9292

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