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 MAC Conditioning Hike

Seattle MAC Conditioning Hike - West Tiger Mountain No. 3 Cable Line

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Sunset + Glow in the dark conditioning hike to help prepare and train for backpack
Difficulty: Strenuous
Sat, Dec 6, 2025
Prerequisites
4 participants 1 chaperone
Registration closed Nov 25
Seattle Branch
Ana Maria Feito
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Hike

Seattle Pathfinders Hike - Discovery Park

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of hiking!
Sat, Dec 6, 2025
Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors 2 chaperones
Registration closed Dec 4
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Tacoma MAC Snow Skills Trip

Tacoma MAC Snow Skills Trip - Paradise

Climbing Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
MAC will head to the mountains to practice snow skills
Sat, Dec 6, 2025
No Prerequisites
0 participants 0 instructors
Registration closed Dec 4
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Seattle Explorers Hike

Seattle Explorers Hike - Ebeys Landing

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Easy
Sun, Dec 7, 2025
Prerequisites
3 participants 1 instructor 3 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 5
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Rappelling Workshop

Seattle MAC Rappelling Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Along with belaying and knot tying, rappelling is one of the fundamental skills of climbing.
Sun, Dec 7, 2025
Prerequisites
9 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Dec 5
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Climb Night

Seattle Pathfinders Climb Night - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Youth Programs open the climbing wall to students and families.
Tue, Dec 9, 2025
Prerequisites
22 participants
Registration closes Dec 7
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Holiday Party

Seattle MAC Holiday Party - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Celebrate the holidays with us at The Mountaineers!
Wed, Dec 10, 2025
Prerequisites
10 participants
Registration closes Dec 9
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader

Seattle MAC- Holiday Party

MAC Holiday party: potluck, gifts, community building.

Dec 10, 2025
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
Parent Trip Leadership Series #2 | Building the Calendar

Parent Trip Leadership Series #2 | Building the Calendar - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Youth Clubs Parent Skills Series
Part 1 of 2. This is a two-part leadership series teaching about trip leadership and
Thu, Dec 11, 2025
Prerequisites
7 participants
Registration closes Dec 9
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader

SEA Youth Clubs Parents Workshop: Trip Leadership Part II

SEA youth club parents come together to post their trips to the youth clubs calendar!

Dec 11, 2025
06:00 PM to 08:00 PM
Seattle Program Center
7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Cascade A, Cascade B
Seattle Junior MAC Hike

Seattle Junior MAC Hike - Talapus Lake Trail

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate, Moderate/Strenuous, Strenuous
Sat, Dec 13, 2025
Prerequisites
4 participants 0 instructors 2 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 11
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Hike

Seattle Pathfinders Hike - Wallace Falls

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sun, Dec 14, 2025
Prerequisites
0 participants 0 instructors 0 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 12
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Conditioning Hike

Seattle MAC Conditioning Hike - Mailbox Peak

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Time to check the mail before the year wraps and send a few messages of
Difficulty: Very Strenuous, Snow Scramble, Winter Scramble
Sun, Dec 14, 2025
Prerequisites
0 participants 2 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 12
Seattle Branch
Ana Maria Feito
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers Hike

Seattle Explorers Hike - Skyline Lake

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate, M1 Intremediate Ski, Winter Scramble
Sat, Dec 20, 2025
Prerequisites
2 participants 1 instructor 2 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 18
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Backpacking Trip

Seattle MAC Backpacking Trip - Ozette Triangle

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
MAC members go on a multiday backpack trip somewhere in Washington to celebrate the solstice!
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Sat, Dec 20, 2025 - Mon, Dec 22, 2025
No Prerequisites
9 participants 3 instructors on waitlist
Registration closes Dec 18
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Pierce County Juvenile Court - Snowshoeing

Pierce County Juvenile Court - Snowshoeing - Youth Trip

Snowshoeing Youth activity: Partner Program - Pierce County Juvenile Court
Youth Snowshoeing Trip
Sat, Dec 20, 2025
No Prerequisites
9 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Dec 18
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Junior MAC Hike

Seattle Junior MAC Hike - Lizard & Lily Lakes Loop

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sun, Dec 21, 2025
Prerequisites
4 participants 0 instructors 5 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 19
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Conditioning Hike - Hex Mountain

Seattle MAC Conditioning Hike - Hex Mountain

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
This snowshoeing route on the sunny side of the Cascades delivers sweeping views and a
Difficulty: M1 Intremediate Ski, Strenuous
Fri, Dec 26, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant 0 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 24
Seattle Branch
Seattle Pathfinders XC Skiing

Seattle Pathfinders XC Skiing - Hyak Lake, Nordic Pass, Windy Pass & Mount Catherine

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of XC skiing!
Difficulty: G-XC 3 Intermediate Groomed, G-XC 4 Advanced Groomed
Sat, Dec 27, 2025
Prerequisites
2 participants on waitlist 0 instructors 1 chaperone on waitlist
Registration closes Dec 25
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers XC Skiing

Seattle Explorers XC Skiing - Cabin Creek

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a xc ski adventure!
Difficulty: G-XC 3 Intermediate Groomed, G-XC 1 Beginner Groomed, G-XC 2 Advanced Beginner Groomed
Mon, Dec 29, 2025
Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors 2 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 27
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Junior MAC XC Skiing

Seattle Junior MAC XC Skiing - Cabin Creek

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of xc skiing!
Difficulty: G-XC 3 Intermediate Groomed, G-XC 1 Beginner Groomed, G-XC 2 Advanced Beginner Groomed
Mon, Dec 29, 2025
Prerequisites
0 participants 0 instructors 0 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 27
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Backcountry Ski Trip

Seattle MAC Backcountry Ski Trip - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Advanced backcountry skiing in the wilderness that involves using climbing skins to go uphill and
Tue, Dec 30, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 0 instructors
Registration closes Dec 28
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Snowshoe Trip

Seattle MAC Snowshoe Trip - North Mountain Lookout

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Come Join MAC on a New Year's Day snowshoe adventure.
Difficulty: *Varies*, Easy, Winter Scramble
Thu, Jan 1, 2026
Prerequisites
0 participants 0 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 30
Seattle Branch
Ana Maria Feito
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Snow Play

Seattle Pathfinders Snow Play - Gold Creek Pond

Youth Lecture: Pathfinders
A day spent snow playing at a local Sno-Park or other snowy recreation areas!
Fri, Jan 2, 2026
Prerequisites
3 participants 0 instructors 4 chaperones
Registration closes Dec 31
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
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, Jan 7, 2026
No Prerequisites
4 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Jan 6
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

Jan 07, 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 Pathfinders Snowshoeing

Seattle Pathfinders Snowshoeing - Paradise Area (winter)

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of snowshoeing!
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Jan 10, 2026
Prerequisites
0 participants 1 instructor 0 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 8
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Junior MAC Stewardship Day

Seattle Junior MAC Stewardship Day - Discovery Park

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of stewardship! The location is TBD - but it will
Sat, Jan 10, 2026
Prerequisites
7 participants 5 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 8
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers Stewardship Day

Seattle Explorers Stewardship Day - Discovery Park

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a day of stewardship! Location TBD but we will be at a
Sun, Jan 11, 2026
Prerequisites
11 participants 6 chaperones
Registration closed Oct 19
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Climb Night

Seattle Pathfinders Climb Night - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Youth Programs open the climbing wall to students and families.
Wed, Jan 14, 2026
Prerequisites
28 participants
Registration closes Jan 14
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader