PURGATORY – Thirty-five high school-age students Thursday completed a five-week program featuring a curriculum not directly taught in classrooms.

They are participants in SOS Outreach-Durango, which teaches respect for self and others, builds self-confidence, develops leadership skills and promotes a positive outlook. All this through what once was considered a renegade sport: snowboarding.

The program’s core values are courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom and compassion.

“Snowboarding – either learning the basics or advancing skills already learned – is the carrot we hold out to attract them,” Joe Bishop, director of SOS, as it’s commonly known, said Thursday at a ceremony honoring the students, their mentors and snowboarding instructors.

SOS asks teachers and counselors at Durango High School, Escalante and Miller middle schools, two alternative schools – Phoenix and Big Picture – and the Robert DeNier Youth Center to recommend students who could benefit from the program.

The young participants might be aimless, headed down a wrong path or struggling with hardship.

“They frequently are youngsters who have never clicked with anything in their life,” said Krista Brundage, the manager of SOS.

Students meet with mentors, known as sherpas, and snowboarding instructors once a week for five weeks at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort – middle schoolers on Wednesday, high school students on Thursday.

At the beginning of each session, students form a circle on the mountain and each one reads his or her definition of the value for that day – courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom and compassion.

They work in small groups with a sherpa, who keeps the conversation going about the targeted value. The payoff is snowboarding for the remainder of the day.

Students who satisfy the stipulations of the contract they signat the beginning of the program – regarding academics, attendance, behavior and community service – get a free pass for the remainder of the DMR ski season and loaned equipment from SOS.

They also can be invited back in following years.

SOS Outreach was founded in 1993 at Vail as the “Snowboard Outreach Society.” It expanded to include skiing and snowshoeing and, after merging with Meet the Wilderness, offers rock climbing, hiking and camping.

SOS has programs in 14 states and New Zealand.

SOS Outreach-Durango just completed its sixth year. A couple of participants have been with the program for the entire time. About 60 middle school students and 40 high school students participate.

Sherpas aren’t simply good-time buddies on the mountain. They stay in contact with their charges during the week to offer help, advice, encouragement and, if necessary, be first-sergeant tough.

Shane McCarthy, 28, a bartender at the Strater Hotel and Ken and Sue’s restaurant, signed on this year as a mentor through friendship with Brundage and Bishop.

“I consider myself a life adviser,” McCarthy said. “If these kids live up to the five words every day, they’ll be alright people.”

Monique Cordelle, 25, a substitute teacher in Aztec, is in her second year as a sherpa.

“I like SOS because it makes a large impact,” Cordelle said. “It builds a moral foundation in addition to academics.”

Cody Reizer, 15, said the five words have made a difference with his performance at Durango High School. He has participated in SOS for three years.

“Life is different,” Cody said. “I’ve been able to bring up my grades.”

Cody said he’s gained enough confidence to try things he was afraid to do.

Like what?

“Reading and writing,” Cody said.

Tobi Romero, a 17-year-old junior at Durango High School, was irrepressible.

“This was the best day in my life,” Tobi said. “I’ve been snowboarding on the bunny slope, but today I went down all the way from the top. I’m thrilled.”

daler@ durangoherald.com