Olympia Explorers Ages 10-13
YOUTH-DRIVEN, ADULT-GUIDED
Explorers have programs throughout the year and provide outdoor adventures and skills for youth ages 10-13 who want to learn new outdoor skills and make lasting friendships with fellow adventurers. This program will allow youth to develop skills in various settings as activities rotate with the seasons and include outings for all interests. Activities include ROCK CLIMBING in the FALL, SNOWTRAVEL in the WINTER, and BACKPACKING, HIKING in the SPRING, and ROCK CLIMBING in the SUMMER. This is an excellent opportunity to meet new friends while enjoying the outdoors!
Explorers members are generally offered two weekend outings per month. One of the trips will be shorter and closer to Olympia, while one will be a longer adventure, farther away from home.
Parents who have children in the 9-10 age range may choose which program better suits their child's needs. Pathfinders-only trips will be shorter, easier, and less technical, while Explorers-only trips may be longer, more strenuous, and place more emphasis on developing technical skills.
Trips, Skills, and Meetings
TRIPS:
Mountaineers staff, leader volunteers, and parents plan and lead trips, which are held one weekend per month, including overnighters. These trips focus on the topic of the season and range from single-day trips to multiple-day overnight trips. Parents are welcome on trips and are encouraged to participate as leaders (we'd like a minimum of 2 parent chaperones per trip), but they are not required.
MEETINGS:
Students typically meet on the second Tuesday of each month in Olympia (or occasionally Tacoma) to learn about various outdoor topics related to the season. These meetings are also used for trip planning and Q&A.
SKILLS:
Students are offered the opportunity to learn and build on their skills, with a focus on rock climbing in the fall, snowshoeing in the winter, and backpacking in the spring.
GEAR
Outdoor equipment can almost always be borrowed from The Mountaineers when given enough notice (usually 1–2 weeks before the trip). If you need gear, please get in touch with the trip leader once you are aware of this need, and we will do our best to get you geared up.
BECOME INVOLVED
SIGN UP FOR A FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
To get involved, you'll need to sign up for a Family Membership with us. Once you have created your new account, add your kids by clicking on the "Membership" tab and adding a family member. Here is an FAQ on that process.
ENROLL IN EXPLORERS
Registration for all programs is available in October and will continue on a rolling basis for those interested.
For Questions, email OlympiaYouth@mountaineers.org
We are looking forward to a great season!