• The Mountaineers
  • Mountaineers Books
  • Log in / Join
  • Donate
  • Logo The
    Mountaineers
  • Donate
  • Log in / Join
  • Activities
    • Find Activities
    • Find Volunteer Activities
    • Activity Overviews
    • Find Routes & Places
    • View Trip Reports
    • Lodge Reservations
    • Upcoming Events
    • Youth Programs
    • Schedule & Manage
  • Courses
    • Find Courses, Clinics & More
    • Find Volunteer Activities
    • Virtual Education Center
    • Course Overviews
    • Course Calendar
    • Badges
    • How To
  • Conservation
    • Education
    • Stewardship
    • Advocacy
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer With Us
    • Find Volunteer Activities
    • Schedule & Manage
    • Leader Resources
    • Branches & Committees
    • Equity & Inclusion Resources
  • Youth
    • Programs by Location
    • Programs by Age Group & Type
    • Summer Camp
    • Family Programs
    • Partner Programs
    • Volunteer with Youth
    • Resources & FAQs
  • Membership
    • Join The Mountaineers
    • Getting Started
    • Benefits
    • Gear Library
    • Give a Gift Membership
    • Scholarships
    • Badges
  • Locations & Lodges
    • Bellingham Branch
    • Everett Branch
    • Foothills Branch
    • Kitsap Branch
    • Olympia Branch
    • Seattle Branch
    • Tacoma Branch
    • Seattle Program Center
    • Seattle Program Center Bookstore
    • Tacoma Program Center
    • Baker Lodge
    • Meany Lodge
    • Stevens Lodge
    • Irish Cabin Property
    • Kitsap Forest Theater
  • Events
    • Virtual Events & Activities
    • Bellingham Branch
    • Everett Branch
    • Foothills Branch
    • Kitsap Branch
    • Olympia Branch
    • Seattle Branch
    • Seattle Program Center
    • Mountaineers Books
    • Tacoma Branch
    • Tacoma Program Center
  • Blog
    • Most Recent
    • History
    • Courses & Activities
    • Books
    • Conservation & Advocacy
    • Equity & Inclusion
    • How To
    • Mountaineer Magazine
    • News & Events
    • People
    • Safety Stories
    • Technology
  • About
    • History
    • Vision & Leadership
    • Land Acknowledgment
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Safety
    • Contact Us
  • Members
    • Mountaineers Books

      Changing lives since 1960.

      Shop
  • Logo
    Mountaineers
    Books
  • Donate
  • Log in / Join
  • Books & Maps
    *Books & Maps* by Subject
    • Imprints
    • Partner Publishers
    • Climbing
    • Conservation
    • Cookbooks and Foraging
    • Field Guides
    • Gift
    • Green Trails Maps
    • Hiking & Backpacking
    • Nature
    • Photography
    • Stories
    • Search More Subjects
    *Special* Book Lists
    • Coming Soon
    • New Releases
    • Best Sellers
    • Award Winners
    • Women Authors
    • Gear & Apparel
    • Campfire Stories Collection
  • Mission
    • Adventure with Purpose
    • Donors
    • Our Partners
    • 1% for Trails—Outdoor Nonprofits in Partnership
    • Barbara Savage Memorial Award
    • Name in the Book Campaign
  • Authors
    • Meet Our Spring 2025 Authors
    • Events & Web Series
    • Blog
    • Videos
  • About
    • Bookseller Info
    • Request a Catalog
    • Press Inquiries
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
  • Gear & Apparel
    • Get outside with us!

      The Mountaineers teaches skills and leads outdoor activities for all in the Pacific Northwest. Consider joining to unlock discounts on books & maps!

      Learn More
You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Youth
  3. Resources & FAQs
  4. Volunteering with Youth
Share this Page: Facebook Twitter Email
Navigation
  • Programs by Location
  • Programs by Age Group & Type
  • Summer Camp
  • Family Programs
  • Partner Programs
  • Volunteer with Youth
  • Resources & FAQs
    • Youth Handbooks
    • Enrolling in Youth Programs
    • Scholarships & Financial Assistance
    • Gear Library
    • Transportation
    • FAQs
    • Volunteering with Youth
      • Youth in Adult Programs Volunteering
      • Volunteer with Family Activities
      • Teen Clubs Volunteering
      • Kids Clubs Volunteering
      • Mountain Workshop Outreach Programs Volunteering
      • Camp Volunteering
Volunteer with Youth

Volunteer with Youth

Be a hero for a day, or a week, or all year-long! Kids in our youth programs know and admire our instructors who are volunteering because they want to help. In fact, many of our teens go on to volunteer themselves after being inspired by their instructors.
Embedly Powered
via Vimeo

 

How to Volunteer with Youth

First: Take the Qualified Youth Leader General Training

All people looking to volunteer with youth need to take the Qualified Youth Leader General Training. This online uses our Qualified Youth Leader Handbook and goes into: 

  • Mountaineer Specific Youth Policies
  • Education Tools for Youth
  • Supervision of Youth
  • Board Youth Policies

You need to score at least 80% on the training quiz to pass the Qualified Youth Leader training. you will be directed to a Background Check Authorization form. You must agree to complete a background check in order to become a Qualified Youth Leader. If you choose not to complete a background check, it will not affect anything about your Mountaineers membership or status, you simply will not be able to become a Qualified Youth Leader.

Once you complete the content questionnaire and the Background Check Authorization form, you will receive an email from SterlingOne or TalentWise, with "pre-employment screening" in the subject line. This is NOT SPAM—this is your background check. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

If you pass your background check, you'll be issued a "Qualified Youth Leader" Badge and sent a hard copy of our youth manual for you  to reference at any time. The badge is good for 3 years, at which time you'll need to renew.

NExt: Complete Program Specific Trainings

Once you have passed the QYL General Training, you will need to complete program specific Skill Badges trainings through coassemble. Click on the links below for specifics on each training.

  • Family Activities
  • Teen Clubs (Mountaineers Adventure Clubs)
  • Kids Clubs (Junior MAC, Explorers, Nomads, Pathfinders)
  • Mountain Workshop Outreach Programs
  • Camps (Summer Camp, Break Camp, After School)

About our youth programs

After School

Offered in Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma, these programs will offer youths an opportunity to get together, in-person, with other kids once a week to socialize and learn outdoor skills. 

Camps

Offered in Kitsap, Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma youth are invited to spend their summer and school breaks (SEA only), with The Mountaineers! Day camps are for youth ages 6–12 and adventure camps (including overnight camps) are for ages 10–14. These experience-based camps offer youth a chance to learn a variety of outdoor skills and spend time outside with new friends.

Outreach Programs

Offered in Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma. Get your youth group outside with us! The Mountaineers partners with over 40 youth organizations to provide introductory and progressive outdoor programs in the Puget Sound. Our programs are custom-designed with the partner agency, and can include rock climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, kayaking, wilderness first aid, team building, map and compass education, and Leave-No-Trace training.

Year Round Programs

Mountaineers Adventure Club | Ages 14–18
Offered in the Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma branches, youth meet monthly and go on a wide variety of outdoor trips, including hiking, rock climbing, skiing, rafting, camping, and mountaineering. Led by its members and mentored by adults, this program is our pinnacle outdoor leadership program. Join today to meet new friends, develop new skills, and become a teacher and mentor for other youth. 

Explorers & Junior MAC | Ages 10–13
Offered in the Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma branches, youth ages 10–13 and their families meet monthly and explore new activities outdoors. These include hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, and more. This program is designed to encourage outdoor adventure, teach safety and independence, and prepare kids who wish to graduate into Mountaineers Adventure Club.  

Pathfinders & Nomads | Ages 6–9
Offered in the Olympia,  Seattle, and Tacoma branches, youth meet to enjoy an outdoor adventure each month. Adventures include hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, camping, kayaking, and more. This program is designed to inspire a love of the outdoors and teach basic outdoor skills and preparedness.

Mini Mountaineers | Ages 2–5
Offered in Olympia, Seattle, Tacoma, Mini Mountaineers is designed to get tots/preschoolers and an accompanying adult outside to inspire a love for the planet in our future stewards. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, friends... let us do the planning to get you and your little one outside with fellow outdoorsy families! We host multiple events a month during the school year, including meet-ups for local nature walks, hands on nature-based activities, and outdoor adventure activities. 

Where can I help volunteer with youth?

Volunteer Opportunities

 

Share this Page: Facebook Twitter Email

The Mountaineers

Helping people explore, conserve, learn about, and enjoy the lands and waters of the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Feedback
  • Mountaineer Magazine
  • Employment

Mountaineers Books

An independent nonprofit publisher

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Bookseller Info
  • Press Inquiries
  • Employment
  • Submissions

Connect with the Mountaineers Community

Connect with the Mountaineers Books Community

YouTube

The Mountaineers®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 27-3009280.

Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers®, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 27-3009280.

Design: Neal Maher
Development by Percolator & Jazkarta. Powered by Plone.