The SOS Outreach team gathered for their final ski day of the season on Saturday with everyone properly geared up in glitter and tutus as they put their hands together for “sparkles on the count of three.”The core value of the day on Saturday was compassion, which prompted a thoughtful reminder to be patient with each other despite the day of challenging snow conditions. Rain or shine, SOS and their Park City contingent, which has offered outdoor opportunities to more than 600 kids, is sure to make the best of a day on skis, said SOS Outreach Park City Program Manager Palmer Daniels. “I think what skiing is about is it’s like flying. You get to explore freedom and get to challenge yourself and things like that. And I know that, for me, this felt like freedom and opened up a different world to me. And I feel like that’s what these kids need and it’s in their backyard. And, like, they’re so happy when they are here,” said Anna Bloom, SOS mentor of four years. For mentors and mentees, the program offers a point of connection and education that would not have otherwise been possible, said Bloom. Though the program all starts with getting each other outside and coaching groups of mentees through the challenges of learning to ski, it goes far beyond the sport. SOS Outreach Park City Program Manager Palmer Daniels puts glitter on four-year mentor Anna Bloom’s cheek before the day kicked off on Saturday. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“These are our neighbors. And I personally would never have met these kids, but we are meeting, and we are hanging, and we’re connecting. To me, it’s belonging, it’s connection, and that goes both ways,” said Bloom. “This is the kind of program that helps foster more equality around the community.”Bloom has been skiing with mentees Tanya and Valerie for four years. Their on-mountain tradition is fries at the lodge. Besides skiing and friendships, the program emphasizes service. This year, the group’s service project included writing letters of appreciation to those who work on the mountain, which they handed out on Saturday to ski patrol. “Our service project for this year was to write letters to people who work on the mountain. We could pick anyone, and I wrote to ski patrol and the lifties,” said Tanya. Valerie and Tanya agreed that one of their favorite SOS days was last years service project when they handed out granola bars and s’mores to people on the mountain. “Anyone who wanted to check it out could come by hang out,” said Valerie. “It was so fun. It was a really good day. It was so fun to be with everyone and be outside together.”The SOS group was vigilant about the conditions on Saturday, which included rain, snow and slushy terrain. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordLes Riven stepped in as a mentor three years ago, and was both challenged and excited to work out how to interact and guide the kids in the program. “It’s their day. It’s about getting out here and letting them be kids. I think it’s a great thing. I just get along really well with the kids, and I’m pretty much 65 going on 14, and just get to let them all have fun together,” said Riven. For Riven, the most important thing about being able to interact with these kids is having the chance to instill the confidence and certainty they need to be self-sufficient in their own lives. “These decisions, where to ski, what to do, I think that should be up to them. It’s their day and their time to do what they want,” he said. David and Braxton have skied with Riven for three years. “I’m glad I’ve met these guys, they’re really cool people, and I would have never met them if i hadn’t joined this program and that is pretty cool,” said David. The groups meet at Park City Mountain every month, which brings them all back together to catch up on the details of their lives outside of SOS, whether it’s reflecting on the last quarter of school report cards or progress the kids have made in their band. “There’s so much more that comes with this than skiing. These kids get to see each other succeed, they see other kids graduate from high school and talk about going to college and what they’re going to do next. And this happens within the program. There’s the support for that and the opportunity for exposure to other kids like them who are older and progressing,” said Bloom. With career inspiration coming from the workers on the mountain, the mentors, or parents of other people around the kids in the program, the opportunities are endless, said Bloom. Alex and his mentor, Mark Walton, prepare to load a lift at Park City Mountain on Saturday. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordMark Walton has been a mentor with SOS for four years and has participated with the old Niños on Skis program years prior. Walton has fostered a great connection with his mentee, Alex, who was awarded Mentee of the Year this season for his embodiment of leadership, compassion and every other core principal of the program, he said. “When we started, he wanted to name our group the Speed Demons. It was all about speed and not the fundamentals for him. He was a bit hard to coach,” said Walton. “Now, he has just surpassed everybody, and not just in skiing. He goes out of his way to help people on the mountain.” Alex started his first job as an assistant ski instructor at Deer Valley this season where he is taking the lessons he learned over the last three years with Walton and spreading that throughout the community.“He’s just come so far. Our goal for this season was to have a powder day up in the Jupiter bowl, and he hands-down aced it. He’s just an incredible skier,” said Walton. For Walton, this connection with Alex has brought him back to a space he shared with his late daughter, who had been a part of the original Niños on Skis program. “It was just about getting back to hanging out with the kids. They have such bright futures and all they need is some encouragement. It’s been a beautiful journey. It’s all about fun and exposing them to opportunity. Don’t ever settle, keep opening doors for each other,” said Walton.Alex, in blue, was awarded mentee of the year at the final celebration of the year with SOS Outreach. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordSOS Outreach members gather after their ski day to fill out end of year surveys and eat cake and pizza. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordThe post SOS Outreach closes the season with sparkles on Saturday appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less