SOS Outreach North Lake Tahoe

“What I love about SOS is there are always people, peers or mentors, willing to help you learn, on and off the mountain. I never had a bad day with SOS. People may be shy but they are always willing to talk to you. Connecting with people through skiing is totally different than connecting with people randomly. I’ve always been able to talk to my mentors about things going on outside of the program.” 

-Alexis, Junior Mentor

SOS Outreach is a local mentorship nonprofit that harnesses the power of skiing and snowboarding to support more than 300 youth in North Lake Tahoe. At the heart of SOS, we create belonging, opportunity, and community through the joy of the mountains and the transformative power of mentorship.

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.
• Our Cost: $675 per youth.

Year 2-6: Mentor Program

• 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.
• Cost to SOS: $2,000 per youth.

Year 7-9: Junior Mentor Program

• 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. 
• Cost to SOS: $2,000 per youth.

Career Development Program

• 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.
• Participants: SOS participants ages 15+.
• Cost to SOS: $2,500 per youth.