Youth Blog

With five years of youth programs under our belts, The Mountaineers has had an opportunity to experience what works and what doesn't, and the time has come to take a new look at our Youth & Family Policies. Read more…

Our minions were busy late last year into the early days of 2016 to give us mountaineers.org 2.5, including improvements for seminars & clinics and site-wide search, and new features for our youth programs. Read more…

It’s pushing 95 degrees in Portland, and I’m biking home in the uncharacteristic and unforgiving sunshine, squinting even behind my sunglasses. It’s been over 90 all week. Read more…

Walking down the steep switchbacks to the creek, I was startled by the sound of a herd of third graders yelling, “I see them! There they are!” I was being particularly careful to focus on the trail and keep a hold not only of my footing but my camera as well. I thought to myself what everyone else was thinking, “Boy, I didn’t bring the right shoes for this trip.” The ground was wet and everyone was excited to keep moving, which made navigating the exposed roots difficult and our trip down to Wildcat Creek slow going. I could feel the anxiousness rising when one boy stopped to tie his shoe. The whole line stopped. I took a breath and looked around at the dewy forest canopy covered in rich green moss. I was on a Salmon Safari.  Read more…

Twenty-five years ago Cold War Enemies, united by climbing, stood together on the highest point on earth honoring world peace and the environment. Join us September 17 to celebrate this ground-breaking anniversary.  Read more…

Hello! My name is Adry and I'm the Summer Camp Coordinator. I am so excited to be creating our Summer Camp blog this summer. From July 6-10, the theme here at the Mountaineers will revolve around Survival! I'll be posting daily updates so check back for general information, photos, field trip updates, and daily camp reflections. Click here any time to see pictures of our adventures!  Read more…

Hello! My name is Adry and I'm the Summer Camp Coordinator. I am so excited to be creating our Summer Camp blog this summer. I'll be posting daily updates so check back for general information, photos, field trip updates, and daily camp reflections. Click here any time to see pictures of our adventures!  Read more…

SheJumps and The Mountaineers Youth Education Department are teaming up to get girls outside on May 30th. We will be rock climbing and learning first aid, navigation, and about the 10 Essentials/Leave No Trace. Read more…

Ever since we were quite young, the out-of-doors has been an important companion in our games and studies. As we grew older, however, a dream to partake more seriously in the joys and dangers of the wilderness took firm root. When our family moved back to our native Pacific Northwest after living in the rural Midwest and East for a number of years, it began to look like the dream might just become a reality. Read more…

Over the past four years, Mountaineers youth programs have grown at an extraordinary rate, all thanks to the commitment and investment of our volunteers and donors. This Friday, I had a chance to get out of the office and spend the afternoon with a remarkable group of young people and some incredible volunteers at our Everett Branch's first youth program. Read more…

The Mountaineers year round program Explorers is for youth 10-13. Join us to learn how to rock climb, kayak, hike, explore, and other essential outdoor skills!  Read more…

I was 13 when I climbed Boulder Peak in the Olympic Mountains by myself—and I guess you can say that I never stopped climbing after that. Read more…

The summer that I was three years old, my family went backpacking for three days, hiking three miles a day. At four years old, it was four days, four miles. You get the idea. This was part of my parents’ system for introducing us to the outdoors. Read more…

Aki Kurose, located in the Rainier Valley neighborhood, is a school where the students do not often get the opportunity to get outdoors. They are located in an economically depressed neighborhood, and lack transportation to get their students engaged in outdoor pursuits. Our education department teamed up with Robin Gannet's special education class to get these youth outdoors! Read more…

The Seattle Explorers group, a year round program for youth 10-13, hiked to Barclay lake over the weekend! The forecast called for rain, but we narrowly missed a wet hike. Read more…