Youth & Family Hike & Backpack Leader Application

If you are interested in volunteering as a Youth & Family hike or backpack trip leader, fill out this form and we will forward it to the nearest youth committee so they can review it and help you begin the process of familiarizing you with our guidelines, policies, and standards for these activities. All prospective Youth & Family hike, backpack leaders should attend a new Youth & Family leader seminar and do a mentored trip in addition to filling out this application.

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The look on a child's face when you get them outside and show them places they've never seen is one of the best rewards for volunteering. If you are interested in contributing to the mission of The Mountaineers by organizing and leading youth & family hikes and backpacking trips, please let us know by completing this simple application. Our committees vet new leaders to ensure everyone meets our activity standards, and this application provides relevant information about your goals and experience.  One of our volunteers will follow up with you on the next steps to get you certified as a youth & family hike or backpack leader!

Thank you for your interest!

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Are you a current Mountaineers member?   This is not a requirement to apply, but may help the equivalency evaluator assess your level of comfort on outdoor experiences. Ultimately, hike, backpack, and urban walk leaders must be Mountaineers members, at least 18 years old, with an up-to-date waiver on file. New hike, backpack, and urban walk leaders are strongly encouraged to go on a minimum of 3 activities with The Mountaineers, preferably with different leaders, before becoming a leader themselves. Please contact info@mountaineers.org before applying if you do not yet meet these requirements.



Which of the following activities do you want to lead?   Please select all that apply.

Please review the Youth & Family sections of:

The Mountaineers Hiking Standards
The Mountaineers Backpacking Standards

Can you comply with the standards for our hiking and backpacking programs?  


Thank you for your interest in our Youth & Family Hiking and Backpacking programs! We will forward your application on to one of our amazing volunteers, who will review it and get in touch with you about how to move forward. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@mountaineers.org.