What is Save Our Canyons Kids?

Save Our Canyons Kids (SOCkids) is a program that facilitates access to and education about the Wasatch Mountains to youth from throughout the valley by collaborating with different youth after-school and summer programs. The majority of the youth we work with have spent little or no time exploring the mountains. Bringing them to the mountains to hike and learn about their home helps them develop a sense of place and demonstrate how close and important this ecosystem is to their communities.

Through introducing and familiarizing local kids with Utah’s beautiful Wasatch Mountains while facilitating a positive, fun experience, we are teaching them to care about this environment, which will create the next generation of environmental stewards. As the new generation emerges, we must remember the importance of keeping our environment rich and unharmed, and instill those values in the younger generations.

We need your help to make all of this possible! SOCkids is solely supported by grant funding and donations. Printing field journals and buying materials to keep kids engaged on hikes can get expensive. Save Our Canyons is an organization driven proudly by its membership base.

Who does SOCKids work with?

SOCkids currently has partnerships with local schools such as Salt Lake Center for Science Education(SLCSE), and Quail Hollow Elementary. If you are associated with a class, after-school, or summer program and are interested in joining SOCKids, please email sam@saveourcanyons.org for more information.

SOCKids 2025 Summary & Gallery

The 2025 SOCKids season was full, vibrant, and deeply rooted in connection. Bringing students from across the Salt Lake Valley into the Wasatch to learn, explore, and build lasting relationships with the outdoors. Over the course of the season, we hosted a series of hands-on field days that introduced young people to local trails, watersheds, and ecosystems through guided hikes, interactive lessons, and plenty of time to simply be outside. From early-season outings that focused on watershed awareness and Leave No Trace principles, to later hikes where students observed changing conditions on the landscape, each event offered something a little different while building on a shared foundation of stewardship.

Students had the chance to step into places like Bells Canyon, Donut Falls, Millcreek Canyon, and other mountain environments, many for the very first time, where they learned directly from staff and partners about forest health, wildlife habitat, and the importance of protecting roadless areas. Along the way, they asked thoughtful questions, noticed small details, and began to see these spaces not just as destinations, but as something they are part of.

What stood out most this season wasn’t just the number of events or miles hiked, but the sense of curiosity and ownership that grew with each outing. Whether it was a student spotting their first watershed boundary, identifying native plants, or simply gaining confidence on the trail, these moments added up to something meaningful.