Volunteer with Youth Programs

Thinking about getting involved in Youth Programs? Fantastic! The Mountaineers run a variety of programs designed to foster a love of the outdoors. We are always looking for volunteers who are excited about sharing their skills and being mentors. Find out about types of programs, volunteer requirements, and current opportunities!

 

Programs where we need your help

Partner Programs 

The Mountaineers offers a variety of custom partner programs, called Mountain Workshops, for  youth serving organizations. Mountain Workshops are single or multi-day experiences designed in collaboration with partner organizations to meet the educational goals of their group. Programs happen mid-week, on weekends, and in the evenings, and need volunteers to help belay, teach basic first aid, navigation, outdoor cooking, and much more. It's easy, fun, low-commitment, and very rewarding. 

 Summer Camp

Mountaineers summer campers ages 6–12 spend their days climbing, swimming, learning outdoor curriculum, completing stewardship projects, and exploring the great PNW. Volunteers are invited to belay campers every Friday morning from 9:30am–12:00pm. It's a fun, easy way to connect with campers and give back to The Mountaineers community.

  year-round Youth Clubs

Join youth ages 6–13 outside all year long in the full array of outdoor activities offered by The Mountaineers. Get involved by helping belay at a skills workshop, or teach backpacking basics, navigation, or how to cook a favorite camping meal at a monthly meeting for our families.   

Hoping to help out with our Teen Club? Head on over to the Seattle Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC) page to learn more. 

Ready to jump in? Click on an activity, choose register an instructor on the right side, and sign up for the activity. If you have any questions contact the event lead listed.

 

Upcoming Activities:

Seattle Explorers Rappelling and Anchor Cleaning Workshop

Seattle Explorers Rappelling and Anchor Cleaning Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
A chance for Explorers families to come in to the Mountaineers to learn how to
Thu, Mar 19, 2026
Prerequisites
4 participants 1 instructor 6 chaperones
Registration closed Mar 18
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle Junior MAC Rappelling and Anchor Cleaning Workshop

Seattle Junior MAC Rappelling and Anchor Cleaning Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
A chance for Junior MAC families to come in to the Mountaineers to practice rappelling
Thu, Mar 19, 2026
Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors 3 chaperones
Registration closed Mar 18
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle MAC Climbing Trip

Seattle MAC Climbing Trip - Tieton River: Royal Columns

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
An overnight cragging trip. This trip has prerequisites. See leaders notes for details. If weather
Difficulty: Crag Rock Climb
Fri, Mar 20, 2026 - Sun, Mar 22, 2026
No Prerequisites
6 participants
Registration closed Mar 18
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Stewardship Day

Seattle Pathfinders Stewardship Day - East Lake Sammamish Trail

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of stewardship!
Difficulty: Easy, Bikepacking Gravel I
Sat, Mar 21, 2026
Prerequisites
8 participants 5 chaperones
Registration closes Mar 19
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Jr. MAC Hike

Seattle Jr. MAC Hike - Teneriffe (Kamikaze) Falls

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sat, Mar 21, 2026
Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors 4 chaperones
Registration closed Mar 5
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Backcountry Ski Trip

Seattle MAC Backcountry Ski Trip - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Advanced backcountry skiing in the wilderness that involves using climbing skins to go uphill and
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sun, Mar 22, 2026
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 0 instructors 1 chaperone
Registration closes Mar 20
Seattle Branch
Richard Lambe
Qualified Youth Leader
Climbing Skills Series | Rappelling

Climbing Skills Series | Rappelling - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Youth Clubs Parent Skills Series
Clubs parents will be learning and practicing rappelling w/ an extension
Sun, Mar 22, 2026
Prerequisites
3 participants 1 instructor
Registration closed Mar 6
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle MAC Student Leadership Team Meeting

Seattle MAC Student Leadership Team Meeting - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
The elected MAC student leadership team meets monthly on the last or 2nd to last
Wed, Mar 25, 2026
Prerequisites
6 participants
Registration closes Mar 24
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Jr. MAC General Meeting

Seattle Jr. MAC General Meeting - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Jr. MAC meet once a month at the Seattle Program Center from 6-8pm
Wed, Mar 25, 2026
Prerequisites
13 participants 7 chaperones
Registration closes Mar 24
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle Explorers General Meeting

Seattle Explorers General Meeting - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Explorers meet once a month at the Seattle Program Center from 6-8pm
Wed, Mar 25, 2026
Prerequisites
11 participants 8 chaperones
Registration closes Mar 24
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle MAC Climbing Trip

Seattle MAC Climbing Trip - Mount Erie

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
A single-day or overnight cragging trip. This trip has prerequisites. See leaders notes for details.
Fri, Mar 27, 2026 - Sun, Mar 29, 2026
No Prerequisites
10 participants on waitlist 2 instructors 2 chaperones
Registration closes Mar 23
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Jr. MAC Hike

Seattle Jr. MAC Hike - East Sunset Way Trailhead

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sat, Mar 28, 2026
Prerequisites
10 participants 6 chaperones
Registration closes Mar 26
Seattle Branch
Melanie Martin
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Snow Cave Building

Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Snow Cave Building - Paradise

Youth Youth activity
Build snow caves and practice winter camping!
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Mar 28, 2026 - Sun, Mar 29, 2026
Prerequisites
4 participants 1 leader
Registration closed Jan 29
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
TAC MAC Scramble

TAC MAC Scramble - Mount St. Helens/Worm Flows

Scrambling Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
Scrambling outing for MAC Tacoma students
Difficulty: Strenuous 5, Technical 4, Winter Scramble
Sun, Mar 29, 2026
No Prerequisites
3 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes Mar 27
Tacoma Branch
Kevin DeFields
Qualified Youth Leader
TAC MAC Skills Night

TAC MAC Skills Night - Mountaineers Tacoma Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
MAC Meeting and Skills Practice
Wed, Apr 1, 2026
No Prerequisites
7 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Mar 31
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt

Seattle MAC- General Meeting

The MAC cohort meets on the first Wednesday of the month. We'll learn new skills, discuss upcoming trips, and plan activities

Apr 01, 2026
07:00 PM to 09:00 PM
Seattle Program Center
7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Goodman A, Goodman B, Goodman C, Goodman C: Ice Walls, Goodman C: Rock Walls
Seattle Explorers Hike

Seattle Explorers Hike - Wallace Falls

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sat, Apr 4, 2026
Prerequisites
3 participants 1 instructor 3 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 2
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle Pathfinders Camping & Climbing Trip

Seattle Pathfinders Camping & Climbing Trip - Mount Erie

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a weekend of car camping and climbing!
Sat, Apr 4, 2026 - Sun, Apr 5, 2026
Prerequisites
5 participants on waitlist 0 instructors 4 chaperones on waitlist
Registration closes Apr 2
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Franklin Pierce HS - Hiking

Franklin Pierce HS - Hiking - Mount Si Main Trail

Day Hiking Youth activity: Partner Program - Franklin Pierce HS
A Hiking adventure for Franklin Pierce HS students!
Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous
Sat, Apr 4, 2026
No Prerequisites
9 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Apr 2
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Climbing Trip

Seattle MAC Climbing Trip - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
A single-day cragging or scramble.
Sat, Apr 4, 2026
No Prerequisites
9 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes Apr 2
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Climbing Skills | Culminating Skills Practice

Climbing Skills | Culminating Skills Practice - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Youth Clubs Parent Skills Series
Part 6 of 6. Clubs parents will be practicing all of the skills they have
Sun, Apr 5, 2026
Prerequisites
6 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes Apr 3
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle Explorers Hike

Seattle Explorers Hike - Oyster Dome

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sun, Apr 5, 2026
Prerequisites
10 participants 5 chaperones
Registration closes Mar 26
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Jr. MAC | Lead Climbing Skills Workshop

Seattle Jr. MAC | Lead Climbing Skills Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
This is a skills workshop for Jr. MACers interested in learning to lead climb and
Tue, Apr 7, 2026
Prerequisites
7 participants 1 chaperone
Registration closes Apr 7
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Seattle Explorers Lead Climbing Skills Workshop

Seattle Explorers Lead Climbing Skills Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Avalanche Safety Lecture: Explorers
This is a skills workshop for Explorers interested in learning to lead climb and belay.
Tue, Apr 7, 2026
Prerequisites
10 participants 5 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 7
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
TAC MAC Scramble

TAC MAC Scramble - Mount Ellinor (winter)

Scrambling Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
Scrambling outing for MAC Tacoma students
Difficulty: Technical 3, Strenuous 3
Sat, Apr 11, 2026
No Prerequisites
2 participants on waitlist 1 instructor
Registration closes Apr 9
Tacoma Branch
Kevin DeFields
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Climbing Trip

Seattle MAC Climbing Trip - Smith Rock

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
A single-day or overnight cragging trip. This trip has prerequisites. See leaders notes for details.
Difficulty: Moderate
Sat, Apr 11, 2026 - Wed, Apr 15, 2026
No Prerequisites
4 participants 3 instructors 1 chaperone
Registration closes Apr 6
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Jr. MAC Hike

Seattle Jr. MAC Hike - Poo Poo Point via High School Trail

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 11, 2026
Prerequisites
10 participants 6 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 9
Seattle Branch
Melanie Martin
Qualified Youth Leader
TAC MAC Alpine Climb

TAC MAC Alpine Climb - Whitehorse Mountain/Northwest Shoulder

Climbing Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
This will be an extremely strenuous day, gaining almost 7,000 feet, bushwhacking, glacier travel, and
Difficulty: Basic Alpine Climb, Strenuous/Very Strenuous
Sun, Apr 12, 2026
No Prerequisites
4 participants 1 instructor
Registration opens Apr 1; Instructor registration open now
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Break Camp In-Town Day - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Break Camp In-Town Day - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth & Climbing Youth activity: Spring Break Camp
A typical day at Seattle Mountaineers Camp.
Mon, Apr 13, 2026
No Prerequisites
15 participants
Registration closes Apr 19
Seattle Branch
Julia Knight
Qualified Youth Leader
Break Camp In-Town Day - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Break Camp In-Town Day - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth & Climbing Youth activity: Spring Break Camp
A typical day at Seattle Mountaineers Camp.
Tue, Apr 14, 2026
No Prerequisites
15 participants
Registration closes Apr 13
Seattle Branch
Julia Knight
Qualified Youth Leader