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SOS Outreach reports its largest North Lake Tahoe season, expands mentor and career programs
Summary
SOS Outreach said it served more than 300 youth in the North Lake Tahoe region this season, provides Learn-to-Ride entry programming and a five-year mentorship that leads to junior-mentor and career-development opportunities.
Spencer Cox, marketing manager for SOS Outreach, and Heather Schwartz, North Lake Tahoe Truckee program manager, told Good Morning Truckee that SOS delivered its largest season to date in the region, serving more than 300 local youth and engaging about 60 volunteers.
"We really work primarily with youth who demonstrate financial, academic, social or emotional need," Schwartz said, describing the program progression from introductory Learn-to-Ride lessons to multi-year mentorship, junior-mentor placement and a summer career-development track.
SOS partners with schools for referrals and works with mountain partners to provide equipment, lessons and season passes; Schwartz cited Northstar as the program's largest partner and said a gear-purchase program through Northstar offers discounted equipment for participants.
The organization said it ran industry days and career-development activities with local employers and placed four youth in summer jobs at Northstar last year. For students lacking hard goods (helmets, skis or boots), SOS provides loaned equipment during the introductory program and continues to supply soft goods as needed.
Speakers invited volunteers, donors and school referrals and noted opportunities for family engagement, a resource room partnership with Tahoe Forest Hospital and a well-attended end-of-season graduation.
SOS asked community members and teachers to refer eligible youth in grades 3 through 12 and encouraged donations of in-condition clothing and gear.
