BENZIE COUNTY — A mentorship program has partnered with a northern Michigan ski resort to give students taste of life up north.
Students from Hamtramck High School don’t always have the opportunity to hit the slopes in northern Michigan. Several non-profits including SOS Outreach and Crystal Community Ski Club have partnered to make this trip a reality.
“Oh, the community. I think that’s what makes this program special,” shares Uday Parom, Student, “Because we know that there’s a there someone that you can, like, count on to support you in all the good things you’re doing. Or to support you in any crisis you are in.”
SOS Outreach is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with a mission to ‘spread the love.’ Students from Hamtramck High School’s Adventure Club participate in the program where they receive mentorship and the skills to learn a winter sport. The reward after being in the program for a year is a trip to Crystal Mountain in Benzie County. Hunter Steinkamp, Crystal Community Ski Club Executive Director shares what it’s like to be a part of this experience.
“That’s sort of the magic about why 501(c)(3) is like Crystal Community Ski Club exists, is to give a kid an opportunity to do something they may have never been able to do, to give them the opportunity to excel at what they want to do.”
Many students from Hamtramck High School have either immigrated to the United States or are first generation. This program has presented many of them to learn a new sport they have never heard of before.
“I would say just the opportunity to, like, be able to do this because, honestly, my parents, even my friends, they never knew what skiing was,” explains Habiba Chowdhury, Senior, “This is like, the first time that I’ve ever heard of this... And honestly, it’s been like, such a big privilege to be able to come here.”
The program’s goal is to give to the students, in hopes that one day they give back to others. Foley Decoste, SOS Outreach Program Coordinator says the program offers the student several positive life experiences.
“Kind of the community that we build around our shared activity, our passion for skiing and snowboarding, our kids, you know, you see subtle things like confidence. The way that they interact with their peers and adults, you know, we see a lot of students that might not ever become friends, in the, in the classroom, within the school laws,” shares DeCoste, “But out here, we get to kind of break down barriers and kids form, like, these really strong bonds.
