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:

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 13, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 2 instructors
Registration closes Apr 11
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers Hike - Lord Hill Regional Park

Seattle Explorers Hike - Lord Hill Regional Park

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a morning of urban foraging. We will learn how to ethically harvest
Difficulty: Easy, Easy
Sun, Apr 13, 2025
Prerequisites
6 participants 4 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 11
Seattle Branch
Dragana Lassiter
Qualified Youth Leader
TAC MAC Scramble

TAC MAC Scramble - Mount Washington (Olympics)

Scrambling Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
Snow scramble and possible backcountry ski
Difficulty: Technical 3, Strenuous 3, Basic Alpine Climb, Intermediate Ice Climb
Sun, Apr 13, 2025
No Prerequisites
6 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Apr 11
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Seattle Pathfinders Hike - Lord Hill Regional Park

Seattle Pathfinders Hike - Lord Hill Regional Park

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of foraging!
Difficulty: Easy, Easy
Sun, Apr 13, 2025
Prerequisites
5 participants 3 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 11
Seattle Branch
Dragana Lassiter
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers Meeting

Seattle Explorers Meeting - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Explorers meet once a month at the Seattle Program Center from 6-8pm
Wed, Apr 16, 2025
Prerequisites
5 participants 5 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 14
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Junior MAC Meeting

Seattle Junior MAC 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, Apr 16, 2025
Prerequisites
4 participants 4 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 14
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Climbing

Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Climbing - Smith Rock

Youth Youth activity
Difficulty: Moderate
Thu, Apr 17, 2025 - Sun, Apr 20, 2025
Prerequisites
7 participants on waitlist 1 leader
Registration closes Apr 15
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Snow 1 Field Trip

Seattle MAC Snow 1 Field Trip - Stevens Pass Ski Area

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
This one day field trip is meant for students who already have experience with glacier
Sat, Apr 19, 2025
Prerequisites
6 participants 1 instructor 2 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 17
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Climbing

Seattle Pathfinders Climbing - Exit 38

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of climbing at a local crag!
Sun, Apr 20, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 0 instructors 6 chaperones on waitlist
Registration closes Apr 18
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
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, Apr 23, 2025
Prerequisites
5 participants
Registration closes Apr 21
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
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.
Wed, Apr 23, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 2 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 21
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
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
Wed, Apr 23, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 3 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 21
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
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.
Thu, Apr 24, 2025
Prerequisites
15 participants 9 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 22
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Explorers

After-School Program Day - Explorers - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: After School - Spring
A typical day of after-school programming!
Thu, Apr 24, 2025
No Prerequisites
6 participants 4 instructors
Registration closes Apr 23
Seattle Branch
Julia Knight
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Snow 1 Field Trip

Seattle MAC Snow 1 Field Trip - Paradise

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
The first snow skills field trip for MAC. Covering glacier travel basics - ice-ax self
Difficulty: Easy, Easy/Moderate
Sat, Apr 26, 2025 - Sun, Apr 27, 2025
Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors 3 chaperones
Registration closes Apr 24
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Conditioning Hike - Bible Rock

Seattle MAC Conditioning Hike - Bible Rock

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
A conditioning hike to help prepare and train for backpack trips, glacier climbs, alpine rock
Difficulty: Moderate
Sat, Apr 26, 2025
Prerequisites
9 participants 0 instructors 1 chaperone
Registration closes Apr 24
Seattle Branch
Birgit Grimlund
Qualified Youth Leader
Bailey Gatzert - Climbing

Bailey Gatzert - Climbing - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountain Workshop - Bailey Gatzert Elementary School
Bailey Gatzert Climbing
Sat, Apr 26, 2025
No Prerequisites
0 participants 9 instructors
Registration closes Apr 24
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
Qualified Youth Leader
Pierce County Parks - Climbing

Pierce County Parks - Climbing - SPIRE Rock

Climbing Youth activity: Partner Program - Pierce County Parks
Climbing clinics for youth through Pierce County Parks
Sat, Apr 26, 2025
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Apr 24
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Hike

Seattle Pathfinders Hike - Margaret's Way

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sun, Apr 27, 2025
Prerequisites
9 participants 5 chaperones
Registration closed Mar 7
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Explorers

After-School Program Day - Explorers - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: After School - Spring
A typical day of after-school programming!
Thu, May 1, 2025
No Prerequisites
6 participants 4 instructors
Registration closes Apr 30
Seattle Branch
Julia Knight
Qualified Youth Leader
TAC MAC Alpine Climb - Eldorado Peak/Inspiration Glacier

TAC MAC Alpine Climb - Eldorado Peak/Inspiration Glacier

Climbing Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
Alpine climb for Tacoma MAC
Difficulty: Basic Glacier Climb, Strenuous 3, Technical 2
Sat, May 3, 2025 - Sun, May 4, 2025
No Prerequisites
9 participants 1 instructor
Registration opens Apr 1; Instructor registration open now
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Seattle MAC Snow 2 Field Trip

Seattle MAC Snow 2 Field Trip - Mount Baker/Easton Glacier

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
This snow 2 field trip conflicts with the multipitch workshop - so we ask that
Difficulty: Technical 3, Strenuous 3, Basic Glacier Climb, M3G Expert Glacier Ski
Sat, May 3, 2025 - Sun, May 4, 2025
Prerequisites
2 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes May 1
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Multipitch Skills Workshop

Seattle MAC Multipitch Skills Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Skill building day at The Mountaineers to learn multi-pitch systems. This skill is a prerequisite
Sun, May 4, 2025
No Prerequisites
7 participants 1 instructor 1 chaperone
Registration closes May 2
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
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, May 7, 2025
No Prerequisites
12 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes May 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

May 07, 2025
07:00 PM to 09:00 PM
Seattle Program Center
7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Goodman B, Goodman C, Goodman C: Ice Walls, Goodman C: Rock Walls
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.
Thu, May 8, 2025
Prerequisites
15 participants 9 chaperones
Registration closes May 6
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Backpack - Ancient Lake

Seattle Pathfinders Backpack - Ancient Lake

Backpacking Youth activity: Pathfinders
Pathfinders will enjoy early spring on the dry side of the Cascades and go backpacking
Difficulty: *Varies*, Bikepacking MTB I
Sat, May 10, 2025 - Sun, May 11, 2025
Prerequisites
15 participants on waitlist 6 chaperones on waitlist
Registration closes Apr 24
Seattle Branch
Dragana Lassiter
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Explorers

After-School Program Day - Explorers - Exit 38

Youth Youth activity: After School - Spring
Our final day out is a Saturday adventure! Either climbing or hiking depending on the
Sat, May 10, 2025
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes May 7
Seattle Branch
Julia Knight
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Multipitch Skills Workshop

Seattle MAC Multipitch Skills Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Skill building day at The Mountaineers to learn multi-pitch systems. This skill is a prerequisite
Sun, May 11, 2025
No Prerequisites
6 participants 2 instructors 2 chaperones
Registration closes May 10
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Camping & Climbing Trip

Seattle Pathfinders Camping & Climbing Trip - Leavenworth

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a weekend of car camping and climbing!
Difficulty: *Varies*, Crag Rock Climb, Strenuous 3, Technical 2
Fri, May 16, 2025 - Sun, May 18, 2025
Prerequisites
6 participants 1 instructor 8 chaperones on waitlist
Registration opens Apr 1; Instructor registration open now
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader