Bri Vanderlinden
At The Mountaineers, we believe adventure means more than simply reaching a summit objective or snapping a photo at the perfect viewpoint. It’s about how we show up with curiosity, care, and a sense of responsibility—about connecting more deeply with nature, with one another, and with something bigger than ourselves.
Our vision is that our adventures extend beyond the reach of our own personal enjoyment, one where all people can confidently enjoy, and are inspired to protect, the natural world.
That’s the heart of our strategic plan: Adventure with Purpose, and it is only possible thanks to the generosity of Mountaineers members and volunteers.
You’ve probably heard that phrase from us before. But Adventure with Purpose is more than just a tagline—it’s our north star, the future we build toward every day. And thanks to the support of our community, Adventure with Purpose is now officially a registered trademark of The Mountaineers. This small but meaningful milestone reinforces our long-standing commitment to empowering our community to engage in purposeful adventure.
Future Vision: Adventure With Purpose
What does it look like to Adventure with Purpose?
For The Mountaineers, Adventuring with Purpose means creating inclusive, educational spaces that support both physical and emotional safety. In doing so, we build an accessible community where people of all backgrounds can grow their own relationship with nature and feel inspired to protect it. That’s what Adventure with Purpose ® is all about.
This guiding vision is woven throughout our 2023–2028 Strategic Plan, which centers around three core priorities:
- LEAD innovation in outdoor education - so that anyone inspired to learn outdoor skills has that opportunity with The Mountaineers.
- ENGAGE a vibrant and inclusive outdoor community - so that every individual can find inspiration and belonging in the outdoors through Mountaineers community, programs, and books.
- ADVOCATE on behalf of the natural world - so our community makes a meaningful, enduring impact in protecting our planet and the outdoor experience.
Every course we teach, every book we publish, every partnership we engage in flows toward a changed future where all people can confidently enjoy and feel inspired to protect the natural world.
Celebrating Impact: The Adventure With Purpose Award
One of the ways we celebrate this vision in action is through the Adventure with Purpose Award, given annually at our Gala, to honor leaders who align their life’s work with the values we hold dear.
In 2023, we were honored to present the inaugural award to Rue Mapp, founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro. She’s committed her personal and professional life to championing outdoor access and advocating for conservation of public lands across the U.S. When founding Outdoor Afro, Rue’s vision was simple: reconnect Black people with the outdoors through community-based programs and visual representation. She has been one of the most courageous and impactful leaders in recent history to make the outdoors more accessible to people of color.
Rue Mapp with Sally Jewell and the 2024 Adventure with Purpose Award. Photo by Matt Hagen.
At this year’s Gala on April 26, we recognized Art Wolfe, a renowned conservation photographer whose work has brought the wild world into view for millions. Art’s photography, advocacy, and reverence for indigenous cultures have helped protect some of our planet’s most cherished places and remind us that beauty can be a powerful force for change. “To know the world is to love it, and to love it is to protect it,” Art has said, and his work succeeds in inspiring people from across the globe to love and protect the places and people we cherish.
Kate Rogers with Art Wolfe and the 2025 Adventure with Purpose Award. Photo by Matt Hagen.
Celebrating outdoor champions like Rue and Art reminds us that Adventure with Purpose may manifest in different ways, yet always involves looking outward, and giving back.
What Does Adventure with Purpose Mean to You?
Adventuring with Purpose looks different for each of us. Whether you're volunteering to teach a course, picking up trash on your favorite trail, mentoring a new leader, or donating to help someone else access the outdoors, you’re helping bring Adventure with Purpose to life.
Here’s what some of our members have to say about what Adventuring with Purpose means to them:
“Adventure to me means pushing my limits. Whether it be physical, mental, or both, I adventure by pushing myself outside of my comfort zone (within a safe environment). This can also be on a daily basis, like having an adventure to the grocery store or solo-backpacking to remote alpine lakes; adventure comes in many forms. This is a reason I enjoy adventuring with The Mountaineers, they create a safe environment for me to push my limits.”
Scott Sorci, 1-year member
“Adventure for me is having new experiences. It is about learning to see the world from a different perspective. It is about going out of your comfort zone to see the beauty and growth it brings in me by being part of the journey. It means coming back home with a smile on your face, feeling inspired irrespective of success or failure.”Chitra Kosuru, 2-year member
“For me, adventure means stepping away from my desk job and doing something totally opposite. My day job is extremely intellectual and I live in a crowded city, so when it comes to my free time, I want to do something physical in a remote location, preferably with no cell phone signal. That way I can reconnect with the natural world that I feel so disconnected from during the week, and challenge myself in a different way.”Christina Black, 4-year member
“[Adventure means] anything that excites me with an element of unknown. That could even be walking into a local city park to explore for the first time. An adventure could still be well planned and/or done before, but the element of unknown comes with something different being experienced each time due to conditions, the company I keep, or even my own internal perspective...”Crystal Hudelson, 5-year member
We’d love to hear what Adventure with Purpose means to you. Share your story with us at magazine@mountaineers.org, or nominate yourself as a Mountaineer of the Week. We’d be thrilled to highlight more voices and experiences from our community.
Keep the Momentum Going
Each act of giving strengthens our bonds and deepens our roots. Your support—whether through our upcoming spring appeal, attending the Gala, or simply showing up with intention in your outdoor life—makes Adventure with Purpose possible, fueling our work, strengthening our community, and helping more people find belonging in the outdoors.
Thank you for being part of this movement. However you choose to adventure, we’re grateful you’re doing it with purpose.
The Mountaineers® is a 501(c)(3) organization supported through earned revenue and elevated through charitable contributions. Our staff work to support our seven branches (Bellingham, Everett, Foothills, Kitsap, Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma), three lodges (Baker, Meany, and Stevens), and our Kitsap Forest Theater. Tax ID: 27-3009280. 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
