Volunteers Blog

Meet Rich, a Foothills hike and naturalist leader, Key Leader, Super Volunteer, and Mountaineers Leader of the Year who loves showing people the wonders of the natural world.  Read more…

The Foothills Cross-Country Skiing Committee has a new Chair! We’d like to thank the outgoing Chair John Gilbert for his service to the branch, and welcome the new Chair Birgit Grimlund. Please read Birgit’s warm introduction. Read more…

Danielle Graham joined The Mountaineers in 2016. She enjoys being outside with the club in almost every activity. In addition to serving as the Foothills Safety Officer, Danielle currently leads the Foothills Women’s Scramble course and represents The Mountaineers as a member of Outdoor Alliance's Grasstops Collective, a new leadership development and advocacy training program. Past leadership roles include co-leading the Intro to the Natural World course, serving as an At-Large member of the Foothills Branch Council, and chairing the Foothills Cross Country Ski Committee. Read more…

Lori joined The Mountaineers in 2016 and has been serving as Foothills Branch Secretary and Communications Chair since 2019. As Secretary, Lori is the custodian of all Branch records. She also prepares and distributes agendas and minutes for Branch Council meetings, and serves as the Branch liaison with Mountaineers staff for annual elections. Read more…

Meet Becky, a Foothills hike and urban walk leader, Key Instructor, Key Leader, and Super Volunteer who is passionate about helping others get outside to discover the wonders of nature. Read more…

Meet Terri, a Foothills hike and urban walk leader who is inspired to give back to the outdoor community that has provided her with so many beautiful experiences. Read more…

Erik joined The Mountaineers in 2022 and has been serving as Foothills Branch Treasurer since 2023. In this role, Erik works with Foothills Committee Chairs and Committee Treasurers as well as Mountaineers staff to manage the overall financials for the branch, approve expenses, and prepare the annual budget. As a branch treasurer, he is also part of the Branch Treasurer Committee and The Mountaineers Finance Committee. Read more…

Meet Rob, a Foothills backpack, hike, snowshoe, and urban walk leader, Key Leader, Super Volunteer, and Mountaineers Leader of the Year who loves to spread the joy of the outdoors and mentor new leaders. Read more…

In 2024, I joined The Mountaineers after a life-changing experience in the Sierra Nevada. I had a close call falling into a snow bridge, which made me realize how much I had yet to learn about traveling safely in the mountains. A close friend pointed me to The Mountaineers, and that recommendation set me on a path of challenge, growth, and deep connection. Read more…

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members. For our member profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Meet Val Ensor, a Foothills Urban Walk Leader and Peak Society member who loves to share her love of the outdoors and knowledge of local history with those attending her Urban Walks. Read more…

This past year, our volunteers remained at the core of our operations. Thank you to the nearly 3,000 members who volunteered their time during fiscal year 2023 (October 2022-September 2023), and to the many others who supported from afar! Each of you has made a difference. Read more…

Meet John, a hike, scramble, snowshoe, and cross-country ski leader who is also the Chair of the Foothills Cross-Country Skiing Committee and organizes the Foothills Wilderness Navigation course. John has earned numerous Key Leader, Key Instructor, and Super Volunteer badges for his contributions to The Mountaineers. Read more…

I am afraid of going downhill. Everyone is afraid of something, and for me it’s moving fast downhill on trail, rock, or snow. I am sometimes tempted to hide my fears and insecurities, but when I started the Scrambling course, I knew I would have to share this fear with my instructors and classmates. It felt like a true confession. Read more…

Each month, we introduce you to the Foothills Branch Council members or activity committee chairs who make our Foothills Branch thrive. This month, meet Foothills Branch Director and Urban Walks Committee Chair, Liz McNett Crowl. Read more…

Meet Erin Vagley, a Foothills Hike Leader and Qualified Youth Leader. Erin is also the Leader Development and Leader Certification Coordinator for the Foothills Hiking, Backpacking, and Urban Walks Committee. She has led hikes for the Foothills Yoga for Hikers, Backpackers, and Trail Runners course and for the GoHike course. Erin was recognized for her leadership with the Key Instructor badge in 2023. Read more…

With great sadness we share the news that Jeff Bowman has passed away. Jeff was a 29-year Mountaineers member, 23-year member of our staff team, long-time volunteer with Stevens Lodge, Climb Leader, and volunteer contributor to Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills. Jeff passed away unexpectedly after recent health challenges. He was 57.  Read more…

Each month we introduce you to the Foothills Branch Council members or activity committee chairs who make our Foothills Branch thrive. This month, meet the At-Large Branch Council Members, Tom Eng, and Karen Wallace. Read more…

While unrestricted giving is critical to grow our mission impact across all program areas, some members seek to leverage donations to strengthen the community within their local Branch. One of our strategic goals is to deepen our culture of giving back by providing new opportunities to contribute.  Read more…

The outdoors has always been a source of inspiration and rejuvenation. It presents an opportunity to forge deep connections with nature, push our boundaries, and craft lasting memories. At The Mountaineers, we believe all people should have equitable access to the outdoors and the transformative benefits it provides. Through our volunteer-led programs, we strive to empower our members and foster a culture of belonging by providing outdoor skills education to individuals from all backgrounds. Read more…

For over 100 years, The Mountaineers has enriched the outdoor community by helping thousands of people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We take pride in that legacy, and want to honor our volunteer leaders who make it all possible! Read more…

From belaying at the Seattle Program Center to supporting students on backpacking trips in remote corners of the Pacific Northwest and beyond, there are ample opportunities to get involved as a volunteer with Mountaineers Youth Programs. 

Join us on Thursday, November 2 for an evening of good food, good company, and introductory information on supporting the next generation of climbers and outdoor explorers through our youth programs.  Read more…

Deloa Dalby has been the Foothills Conservation Committee Chairperson since its inception in 2019. With her experience as a member of the Board of Directors for the Mountains to Sound Greenway, she had just the right skills to establish a committee responsible for administering conservation, advocacy, restoration, and educational programs under the auspices of the Foothills Branch.  The Committee charter is organized under the CARE acronym for conservation, advocacy, restoration, and education. Read more…

Meet Matthew Shawhan, a stewardship leader for the Foothills Branch who coordinates the branch's stewardship activities with Shadow Lake Preserve and has worked for many years with the Mountains to Sound Greenway. Read more…

With the recent release of our annual impact report, we're celebrating all that donors and volunteers made possible through The Mountaineers in 2022. 

The model of volunteer-led outdoor education at The Mountaineers is imbued with a sense of purpose that cultivates friendships, mentorships, and lifelong learning opportunities. We approach our outdoor pursuits with more than a “one and done” attitude; we build a culture that fosters collaboration between students and teachers and care for the natural world. And as our community grows out of authentic relationships, consistent values crop up across all activities: safety, respect, communication, and the joy of being outside together. Read more…

Meet Renee Lenti, a Mountaineers Naturalist leader and instructor with the Introduction to the Natural World Course. Renee was recognized for her leadership and contributions with the Key Instructor Badge and the Super Volunteer Badge in 2022. Read more…

The Mountaineers is internationally known for high-quality outdoor education and experiences, yet many people are surprised when they find out that our programs are almost entirely led by volunteers.  Read more…

Each week we bring you a personal story from one of our members and volunteers. For our volunteer profile this week we talked to... Read more…

Every year, thousands of members generously share their time, expertise, and financial resources to give back to our outdoor community and to Adventure with Purpose. They care deeply about creating an inclusive community around outdoor education and conservation. And this week, we threw a Block Party to express our appreciation, celebrate our mission impact, and have a bit of fun, too!  Read more…

Among The Mountaineers properties are our three rustic lodges: Baker, Meany, and Stevens. Each nestled close to their own mountain terrain, our lodges provide a restful atmosphere after a long day outdoors. Read more…