Leslie Gobel
In a busy world, there’s nothing quite like spending time in community outdoors, especially when that time involves returning home each evening to a mountain lodge. Our Overnight Camps, held at The Mountaineers Stevens and Baker Lodges, invite campers ages 10-15 to engage deeply with the natural world while make lasting memories in some of our state’s most beautiful places.
The location of our Mountaineers lodges is what makes this camp experience unique. Set against the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, our lodges provide a cozy, rustic backdrop for camp living and fun, with easy access to nearby trails, rivers, and mountaintops. The lodges also provide a chance for campers to unplug and step away from screens and other distractions while prioritizing connections with new friends and places.
No matter your camper’s passions and skills, our themed weeks are sure to provide something exciting. Let’s take a look at some of the awesome activities in and out of the lodge that campers can look forward to this summer.
Water week campers rafting and swimming on the North Fork Skykomish River.
Water Weeks (Stevens Lodge)
Water Weeks offer campers the opportunity to cool off and enjoy time in Washington’s many bodies of water. Campers hike to crystal-clear alpine lakes perfect for a quick swim, and visit Lake Wenatchee, which offers pristine paddleboarding and kayaking along the lake’s shores. The highlight is a day of rafting on the Skykomish River. Known for its thrilling rapids and breathtaking scenery, the Skykomish provides an exciting chance to learn the ropes of rafting, allowing campers to practice working as a team, communicating, and respecting the power of nature.
Rocks Weeks (Stevens Lodge)
Rocks Weeks are full of skill building around one of The Mountaineers signature activities: rock climbing! Campers visit either Leavenworth or Index to climb at classic crags and practice top rope climbing, bouldering, rappelling, belaying (age dependent), and tying knots. With the help of our accomplished instructors, both beginner and experienced campers will have a chance to test their strength and determination. Rocks Weeks also include hiking and swimming in Lake Wenatchee, as we love the opportunity to see new views and take a dip on a hot summer day.
Trails Weeks (Baker Lodge)
Our Trails Weeks are being reimagined this year to focus on backpacking. Campers ages 13-15 will have the opportunity to learn and build upon their backpacking experience in the beautiful backyard of Baker Lodge. Depending on the week, campers spend either two or three nights in the backcountry hiking, swimming, and learning crucial outdoor skills such as cooking, efficient packing, setting up camp, and first aid. Trails Weeks are separated by experience level, so be sure to assess your camper’s abilities and trip preferences before registering.
Campers smiling from the balconies of Stevens Lodge on the first day of a fun-filled week of camp.
What’s new in summer 2026?
As a relatively new program, we’re constantly improving and brainstorming ways to provide safe, enjoyable, and accessible outdoor experiences for our participants. We’re excited to integrate new ideas and feedback into this summer’s Overnight Camps programming.
Based on feedback from parents and past participants, we’re excited to reimagine our Trails Weeks to incorporate more unique opportunities to build skills on the trail. While every week of overnight camp includes a hike (regardless of theme), the Trails Weeks backpacking trips take hiking to a new level by allowing students to fully immerse themselves in the outdoors. During Trails Week 1, novice campers will camp at a site for two nights, providing a safe space to grow outdoor skills in a new environment. During Trails Week 2, more advanced backpackers will camp at two different sites, allowing participants to experience new settings and practice travelling longer distances with higher elevation gain. Whether new to backpacking or experienced, campers will make lasting memories and expand their skills in a supportive and inspiring environment.
One of our primary goals is for Overnight Camps to be an accessible option for extended camp experiences for all PNW youth. In an effort to improve accessibility, The Mountaineers will provide transportation via bus to and from the lodges this summer. All you need to do is meet us at The Mountaineers Seattle Program Center for pick up and drop off, wave goodbye and hug hello to your kids, and leave the rest to us. Parents and guardians will still get a glimpse into their camper’s experience at the end of the week when we share pictures, bestow camp awards, and reflect on our favorite camp moments.
In addition, the Overnight Camps team is growing this year! Along with our year-round camp leadership, the team will now have a Program Coordinator and five Program Instructors, creating a more robust ratio of instructors to participants and thus improving risk management, activity offerings, and overall camper experience. We look forward to building another skillful team of outdoor educators who prioritize safety, community-building, education, and fun for every one of our participants.
How to register
Don’t miss out on the chance to give your child the adventure of a lifetime! Overnight Camps registration is open, and there is still room in a number of offerings. To secure a spot, visit the Seattle Summer Camps page on The Mountaineers website, navigate to Seattle Overnight Camps, review the available camp dates, and complete the online registration forms. Scholarships are available if finances are a barrier to participation.
If you have questions or need assistance, contact our camp team at summercamp@mountaineers.org. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
This article originally appeared in our 2026: Issue 2 of Mountaineer magazine. To view the original article in magazine form and read more stories from our publication, visit our magazine archive.
