SOS Outreach
Motto |
A Snowsport Youth Charity |
Established |
1993 |
Exec. Dir. |
Arn Menconi |
Headquarters |
Avon, Colorado, USA |
Founder |
Arn Menconi |
Homepage |
SOS Outreach (SOS) was renamed from Snowboard Outreach Society in 2007 to coincide with its expansion to include skiing. It is an American youth program 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1993 in Avon, Colorado by Arn Menconi. In January 2009, SOS Outreach merged with Meet the Wilderness, an organization established in 1974, to provide outdoor sports opportunities for youth year-round.
Organization
SOS Outreach engages underserved youth in winter and outdoor sports-based education programs. The program revolves around a core value curriculum that stresses Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom and Compassion. Adult mentor relationships are central to the programs and have resulted in SOS youth participants building strong morals, self-esteem and interpersonal skills.
During the 2008–2009 season, SOS served 5,000 youth at 32 mountain resorts nationally. SOS provided over 25,000 program days for underserved youth. 760 adults volunteered over 31,000 hours of service.
Mission statement
To build character in at-risk and underprivileged youth to enhance decision-making for healthy and successful life experiences.
Goals
- Live the Core Values - Courage / Discipline / Integrity / Wisdom / Compassion
- Provide a high quality adventure-based program that directly and positively impacts self-improvement
- Support underserved youth through positive adult interaction
- Create appropriate behavioral and environmental boundaries for youth
- Provide opportunities for youth to improve and build social competencies
- Encourage positive values
- Expand current programming to provide follow-up opportunities for kids
- Continue to develop new partnerships with schools, youth agencies, winter sports corporations and government agencies
Programs
SOS partners with mountain resorts, governmental agencies, youth agencies, foundations, private corporations, and outdoor enthusiasts to create an effective and efficient mountain adventure-based program for underserved youth. Program participants are eligible for a seven-year curriculum across three programs.
Exposure Programs: Exposure programs provide Denver area youth with a two-day introduction to skiing and/or snowboarding and the SOS curriculum. The program incorporates core values of integrity and compassion. Program graduates are eligible for Learn to Ride. Participants are provided professional instruction, equipment rentals, lift tickets and clothing.
Learn to Ride: Learn to Ride (LTR) is SOS’s year two experience. Participants receive five days of professional ski or snowboard instruction, equipment rental, lift tickets and clothing. The SOS curriculum distinguishes this program from any other mountain lesson by promoting self-image, positive relationships, social competencies and positive values. Each Learn to Ride session focuses on one of the five values central to the organization.
SOS University: University features a multi-year curriculum. Similar to LTR, each of the five on-hill days focus on one of the SOS core values. Youth are paired with a mentor, called a Sherpa. Sherpas assist participants to set and achieve physical, academic and personal goals while completing the curriculum. In addition to five on-hill days each year, the participants complete:
Year I: Two service projects; Year II: Two service projects and 10 additional hours (or three days) of group community projects; Year III: One community engagement activity, interactive lecture on health, nutrition and fitness and the group develops and executes a community issue awareness campaign or a youth issue awareness project; Year IV: One service project, course on job skills/readiness and resume building and an internship in the industry of the participant’s choosing; and Year V+: Graduates are empowered to return as Junior Sherpas.
Junior Sherpa: After participants graduate from the SOS University Program, their next step is the Junior Sherpa program. This program was developed based on feedback from the University Program graduates.
The term "Sherpa" in the SOS program translates to "youth mentor." The Junior Sherpa works as an assistant to the Sherpa, and participates as a mentor to first and second-year University students. Junior Sherpas support the development of SOS University Program participants. When a youth reaches the Jr. Sherpa level, they are engaged in their sixth year of SOS programming, and have mastered the SOS core value curriculum of Courage, Discipline, Integrity, Wisdom and Compassion.
Monument Trip: In conjunction with the Eagle County School District and the National Park Service, SOS Outreach guides four-day educational outdoor programs each spring. Each May and June, 4th graders visit Dinosaur National Park or Colorado National Monument.
Students camp and hike during these trips, visit park museums, study Colorado's pre-history and learn AbOUT the geology and biology of our parks. This trip culminates a year of traditional academic studies, allowing students to touch, see and feel the outdoors.
Peak Ascent: The Peak Ascent program can be a life-changing experience for participants. Groups first hike to a base, where they will set up their camp with the necessary supplies for spending the night. The next day, the group will decide if they will be able to scale a mountain peak - one of Colorado's famed "14'ers," at an elevation of 14,000 feet or higher. If the group determines this is too demanding, they will set another goal and hike an alternate peak.
Throughout the multi-day program, students become acclimated to the outdoors, dependent upon themselves, their peers, and the adult mentors for basic needs.
Rock Climbing: The Rock Climbing program offers youth ongoing outdoor adventure education opportunities. Rock Climbing pushes individuals physically, emotionally and mentally. All wilderness trips offer a backcountry climbing opportunity that many consider to be a life-changing experience.
Teams Course: The SOS Outreach Teams Course is a microcosm of all its programs. The program guides groups of all ages through activities that build trust, communication, respect and collaboration.
Students actively participate in a variety of group activities that require collaborative problem-solving, and the obstacles get progressively more difficult as the group overcomes each problem. Groups are involved in everything from low-ropes courses to using one another to scale walls on an obstacle course.
Wilderness Trip: The seven-day trips introduce youth groups to the Colorado backcountry. These trips include a day of teambuilding and preparing at the Minturn base camp and Teams Course. Everyone packs gear and food before departing for 5 additional days of backcountry adventure. Trips include elements of the rock climbing and peak ascent programs, in addition to hiking, camping in remote areas, carrying gear and working as a group, which teaches life skills, teamwork and leadership.
A typical trip has 11 youth, 2 adult chaperones, and 2 professionally-trained instructors.
Program impact
Each SOS participant completed the Protective Factors Scale, a pre- and post-evaluation of 10 protective factors. The scale was designed and is analyzed by Professor Peter Witt, [University of Texas A & M. The factors measured have a demonstrated impact on increasing resiliency skills for youth. During the 2007/2008 season, SOS saw an increase in all 10 areas of protective factors. Slide Share
Significant increases were seen in five of the 10 areas measured: Interested and caring adults (.25); Liking/perceived competence in snowsports (.24); Ability to work out conflicts (.20); Neighborhood resources (.18) and positive attitude toward the future/future expectations (.18)
SOS further completed a survey of 403 past participants who completed an SOS program from 2004–2005 forward. Nate Fristoe, RRC Associates, designed the survey and implementation plan and analyzed all data.
Using a countywide survey from Eagle County High School students as a baseline, results demonstrate SOS Participants:
- Have a 25% lifetime conversion rate into winter sports (twice the industry rate).
- Engage in significantly more aerobic exercise that there peers.
- Test higher than their peers in measures of positive behavior and self-esteem.
- Are more likely to graduate college and have household incomes 75% greater than non-degree holder.
Resort partners and mountains of operation
SOS Outreach partnered with 32 resorts around the nation to provide dynamice programs for underserved youth.
Resort Partners contribute lift tickets, instructors and rental equipment. Each resort gives what it can to provide for SOS outreach programs in their communities. They include:
- Beaver Creek
- Vail Resorts, Inc.
- Keystone
- Breckenridge
- Summit at Snoqualmie, WA
- Copper Mountain, CO
- Arapahoe Basin, CO
- Durango Mountain, CO
- Mt. Hood Meadows, OR
- Steamboat Springs, CO
- Angel Fire, NM
- Echo Mountain, CO
- Eldora, CO
- Heavenly, CA
- Hoodoo Mountain Resort, OR
- Hunter Mountain, NY
- Loveland, CO
- Mt. LaCrosse, WI
- Mt. Spokane, WA
- Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA
- Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA
- Ski Santa Fe, NM
- Sunlight Mountain, CO
- Timberline, OR
- Pat's Peak, NY
- White Pass, WA
- Winter Park, CO
Youth agencies that work directly with SOS Outreach
- "I Have a Dream" Foundation of Boulder County
- 17th Judicial District Probation
- 180 Snowboarding Team
- 5th Judicial Probation
- Abraham Lincoln High School
- Aki Kurose Middle School Academy
- Alternatives for Youth
- Athletics and Beyond
- Aurora North Middle School "Rough Riders"
- Avon Elementary School
- Battle Mountain High School
- Beckwourth Mountain Club
- Behavioral Health Resources
- Benson High School
- Berry Creek Middle School
- Big Brothers Big Sisters - Bend
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada County
- Big Brothers Big Sisters- Denver
- Big Brothers Big Sisters/Neil A. Brusseau
- Boulder County Post-Adoption Program
- Boy Scout VCYI
- Boys & Girls Club of Craig
- Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe
- Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver
- Boys & Girls Club of La Crosse
- Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe
- Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver/Gates Camp
- Boys Hope Girls Hope
- BreakThrough Inc.
- Breckenridge Elementary School
- Brush Creek Elementary School
- Buddy Mentors
- Camp Fire USA Portland Metro Council
- Camp Opportunity
- Casa Juan Diego
- Cascade Youth and Family Center
- Casey Middle School
- Catholic Charities
- Catholic Charities - Kunsmiller Beacon Neighborhood Center
- Catholic Community Services
- Catholic Community Services - Olympia
- Catholic Community Services of Western Washington Family Preservation
- Centaurus High School L.I.F.E.
- Centennial High School
- Central Elementary
- Chicago Public Schools
- Choice for Change
- City of Bellevue
- City of Bellevue Teen Services
- City of Englewood, Recreation Dept.
- City of Eugene Outdoor Program, River House
- City of Eugene’s River House Outdoor Program
- City of South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Department
- City of Steamboat Springs Teen Programs
- CityWILD
- Colorado National Guard
- Colorado Springs Public Schools
- Colorado Uplift
- Colorow Elementary School
- Colorow School
- Committed Partners For Youth
- Community Youth Services
- Consejo Counseling and Referral Service
- Craig Boys and Girls Club
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
- Cross Community Coalition/Family Resource Center
- DCIS
- Denver Big Picture Skyland Community HS
- Denver Center for International Studies
- Denver East High School
- Denver Inner City Outtings
- Denver Street School
- Deschutes County Juvenile Community Justice
- Dillon Valley Elementary
- Doulos Ministries
- Durango High School
- Durango High School-Affective Development Program
- Eagle County Charter Academy
- Eagle River Youth Coalition
- Eagle Valley Elementary School
- Eagle Valley High School
- Eagle Valley Middle School
- EagleCrest - I-Team OUTBACK
- Eastridge Elementary School
- Edwards Elementary School
- El Shaddai "Boy Scouts"
- Englewood Parks and Recreation
- Escalante Middle School
- Excelsior Youth Center
- Family of Woodstock, Inc.
- Family Tree, Inc. (House of Hope Program)
- Father Dyer United Methodist Church
- First Descents
- Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos
- Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos/Cochiti Middle School
- Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos/Zia Youth Group High School
- Fletcher Elementary (COMPASS)
- Florida Pitt Waller
- Franklin Middle School
- Fresno County EOC Sanctuary
- Friends of the Children
- Friends of the Children - King County
- Friends of the Children-Portland
- Frisco Elementary School
- Front Range Early College
- Front Range Earth Force
- Full Circle of Lake County
- Garden-Raised Bounty
- Gateway Youth & Family Services
- Girl Scouts of Colorado
- Girls Incorporated
- Greenwood Elementary
- Griffith Centers for Children
- Gypsum Creek Middle School
- Gypsum Elementary School
- Gypsum Recreation Center
- Harrison High School
- Harrison School District 2 Mountain Vista Comm. School
- Heather Horton
- Higgins Middle School
- Highline Big Picture High School
- I Have A Dream Foundation - Columbine Class
- I Team Outback
- Independent Mentor
- Intercessory Youth Ministry
- Intermountain Youth Center
- Janus Youth Programs
- Jefferson Hills
- Joan Farely Academy
- June Creek Elementary School
- Kennedy High School
- Kepner Middle School
- Lab School for Creative Learning
- Leslie Maclellan- Home School
- Lewis and Clark Middle School
- Life Cultivation
- Mancos Middle/High School
- Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center
- McLain Community High School
- Meadow Mountain Elementary School
- Meadowbrook Community Center
- Mercy Homes for Boys/Girls
- Mental Health Association in Ulster County/Harbour Program
- Mercer Island Youth & Family Services - Crest Alternative School
- Mercer Island Youth & Family Services - Islander Middle School
- MESA: Mapleton Expeditionary School of Arts
- Metro Parks Tacoma
- Metrocenter YMCA Earth Service Corps
- Miller Middle School
- Minturn Middle School
- Montbello High School
- Monument Valley High School
- Mountain Journeys Ski and Snowboard Clinic
- Mt. Scott High School
- Mt. Scott Learning Centers
- New America School
- New Avenues for Youth
- New Beginnings
- North Lawndale College Prep School
- Nueva Ventura
- Oakridge SCF
- Omega Youth Mentoring Program
- Oregon Family Support Network
- Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church
- Our Lady of Tepeyac
- P.A.C.E. Program
- PATHS
- Peabody Public Schools
- Peak School
- Phonix Program
- Pitts Elementary School
- Portland Impact (Madison SUN Program)
- Portland YouthBuilders
- Project YESS at Mt. Hood Commuity College
- Rainshadow CCHS
- REACH CDC
- REACH Skills for Living and Learning
- Red Canyon High School
- Red Hill Elementary School
- Red Sandstone Elementary School
- Reynolds Learning Academy
- Rifle High School
- Robert E. DeNier Youth Services Center
- Robinswood High School
- Rocky Mountain HDC
- Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center
- Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
- Saint Agnes Elementary School
- Saint Bede the Venerable
- Saint George
- Saint Gregory the Great High School
- Saint Ignatius
- Saint Ita
- Saint Pius
- Sanctuary Art Center
- Scriber Lake High School
- Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation
- Seattle Girls’ School
- Seattle Parks O2 Program
- Sierra Club
- Silverthorne Elementary School
- Silverton School of Expeditionary Learning
- Skinner Middle School
- Smiley Middle School
- South Lake Tahoe Community
- Southern Ute Community Action Programs
- Squaxin Island Tribe
- St. Clare of Assisi School
- Stone Creek Elementary
- Summer Quest
- Summit County Homeschool Group
- Summit Cove Elementary School
- Summit High School
- Summit Middle School
- Synergy Residential Treatment Center
- Tamarack Center
- Taos Day School
- Tennyson Center for Children
- The City of Longmont
- The Independent Living Program
- The Learning Camp
- The Link Project After School Program, City of Lakewood
- The Network Charter School
- The Odyssey School
- The Urban Fostering GROUP
- Tillicum Middle School
- U.R.B.A.N.
- University District Youth Center
- Upper Blue Elementary School
- Urban Family Center
- Urban Peak Denver
- Urban Scouting
- Utah Future Olympians, c/o Mike Brand
- Vail Academy
- Vail Christian High School
- Vail Mountain School
- Vail Recreation District
- Washington Middle School
- West Career Academy (Goodwill Industries)
- West Park Elementary
- Western Eagle County Metro Recreation District
- Wilson Middle School
- Yakima Family YMCA
- Yakima Police Athletic League
- Yampah Mountain High School
- YMCA Earth Service Corps
- YMCA Meany Middle School
- YMCA of Metro Denver
- YMCA Transitions
- Youth Health Associates
- YouthTrack Jeffco
See also
- Youth program
- Non-profit organization
References
- Colorado Secretary of State: Charitable Licensing Center
- Congressional Record: House of Represenatatives: Tribute To The Snowboard Outreach Society: Hon. Mark Udall of Colorado in the House of Representatives, Tuesday, December 4, 2007
- 2008 National Ski Area Association Conference Presentation on Program Impact