Over 50% of those served by SOLE live in poverty, and are without affordable access to explore and learn in, and about, their local wildlands and waterways. Coupled with a continued increase in media consumption (over 9.5 hours of non-school related time per day - based on a research study by Commonsense Media) our rural youth, and the communities where they reside, are facing a growing negative trend - an increase in disconnection from our natural world - leading to a lack of appreciation for, and understanding of, the essential role that these essential natural resources play and the varied benefits that they can provide.

From making novel academic connections to developing sound leadership, SOLE experiential education programs provide an unparalleled opportunity to empower youth to explore, achieve, and lead outdoors!

Every year SOLE aims to address this need through our Reach & Teach Campaign so under-served rural youth are provided affordable access to intentional and transformational to educational experiences outdoors at our Mountain Field Campus at Schweitzer. To date, through this annual fundraising campaign, SOLE and our donors have provided programs for over 4,800 youth totaling over 38,000 hours of direct, hands-on instruction outdoors.

That said, the work continues.

Without the necessary financial support each year, SOLE would not be able to adequately develop and sustain these resources for our local and regional stakeholders.

Your donation today will ensure that under-represented youth are afforded the opportunity tomorrow to explore, achieve, and lead outdoors in a safe and positive manner, despite existing socioeconomic barriers.

Want to showcase your brand while supporting our mission? Become a sponsor!

Reach Sponsor:

Help SOLE ‘Reach & Teach’ by providing a safe and positive learning environment for under-served youth throughout the year, as well as an interpretive outdoor learning center for our community!

SOLE’s Reach Sponsorship Level is the premier opportunity to showcase your business, agency, foundation, or institution. As a Teach Sponsor, you will receive maximum benefits, including but not limited to premier marketing opportunities, including placing their logo on signage at SOLE’s Mountain Field Campus in high-traffic areas, social media and email marketing campaigns, organization and program webpages, program fundraising and outreach events, and other direct/indirect forms of communication.

Reach Level donors will sponsor an entire school for 3-day place-based experiential education program.

(4) Opportunities at $2,500

Teach Sponsor:

Being a Teach Sponsor is great way to help SOLE provide affordable and accessible SnowSchool Experience programs each year while showcasing your business, agency, foundation, or institution! As a Reach Sponsor you will receive great opportunities to showcase what you do while sponsoring Bonner County under-served youth each year on-the-snow through SOLE’s award winning and nationally recognized SnowSchool Experience program, and other place-based experiential education programs..

Marketing opportunities, including receiving a picture of the class you sponsor to hang in your place of business, placing your logo on program-specific social media and email marketing campaigns, program-specific web pages, program-specific outreach and fundraising events, and other program-specific direct/indirect forms of communication.

Teach Level donors will sponsor an entire class for a 3-day place-based experiential education program.

(4) Opportunities at $1,000

Sponsors can choose a specific class or an entire school. The sky is the limit!

*All other donor levels will provide individual student scholarships, teaching materials, equipment and gear for our Mountain Field Campus sites. Donors will receive recognition at program-specific outreach and fundraising events, and other program-specific direct/indirect forms of communication.

Background on SOLE:

Since 2011, the communities of the Inland Northwest have relied on SOLE to develop and facilitate intentional and transformational experiential education programs. As we have grown so has our capacity and need. SOLE's Mountain Field Campus sites provide an essential resource for youth participants to get a first-hand experience exploring and learning outdoors. By providing a safe and positive learning environment, youth are afforded the opportunity to build confidence that leads to future healthy outdoor pursuits. With a disconnected lifestyle on the rise, it is imperative that we provide the opportunity to unplug and reconnect.

SOLE provides transformational experiential education for our stakeholders, most of whom are rural youth. Many SOLE programs blend place-based education with outdoor education, allowing course participants to develop outdoor living and travel skills coupled with a firm understanding of the wild landscapes that they are traveling in. These interdisciplinary education experiences also provide less tangible outcomes such as social and emotional growth and leadership development.

SOLE's Core Values (Explore, Achieve, Lead, Reach, and Teach) and 4 Care Philosophy (Self, Others, Community, Resources) serves as the foundation of every SOLE Experience, fostering the opportunity to transfer knowledge and new skills into future settings. After all, we believe it is what happens after the SOLE Experience where the real transformation occurs.

Explore. Achieve. Lead. It's what we do.

Learn more at: www.soleexperiences.org

SOLE Reach & Teach Campaign

By SELKIRK OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP & EDUCATION

SOLE Reach & Teach Campaign

Can you help our "leaders of tomorrow"?