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:

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, Nov 16, 2024
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Nov 14
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Junior MAC Hike

Seattle Junior MAC Hike - Middle Fork Snoqualmie River

Youth Youth activity: Junior MAC
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Moderate
Sun, Nov 17, 2024
Prerequisites
3 participants 2 chaperones
Registration closes Nov 15
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Hike

Seattle Pathfinders Hike - Twin Falls (Olallie State Park)

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of hiking!
Difficulty: Easy
Sun, Nov 17, 2024
Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration opens Oct 15
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Pathfinders

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

Youth Youth activity: After-School - Pathfinders - Fall
A typical day of after-school programming for Pathfinders!
Tue, Nov 19, 2024
No Prerequisites
1 participant
Registration closes Nov 17
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
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, Nov 20, 2024
Prerequisites
9 participants
Registration closes Nov 18
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Explorers

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

Youth Youth activity: After-School - Explorers - Fall
A typical day of after-school programming for Explorers!
Thu, Nov 21, 2024
No Prerequisites
0 participants
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Stewardship Day

Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Stewardship Day - Longfellow Creek & Pigeon Point

Youth Youth activity
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Sat, Nov 23, 2024
Prerequisites
14 participants
Registration closes Nov 21
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Lead Climbing Workshop

Seattle MAC Lead Climbing Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Climbing Lecture: Mountaineers Adventure Club
These workshops cover the foundational skills of lead climbing - basic knots, lead belaying, and
Sat, Nov 23, 2024
Prerequisites
11 participants 2 instructors 2 chaperones
Registration closes Nov 21
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader

Seattle MAC Skills Night

Seattle MAC Skills Night

Nov 28, 2024
06:00 PM to 08:00 PM
Seattle Program Center
7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Basement: Friction Slabs, Basement: North Bay, Basement: Overhanging Wall, Basement: South Bay, Basement: Vertical Wall, Goodman C, Goodman C: Ice Walls, Goodman C: Rock Walls
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, Dec 4, 2024
No Prerequisites
16 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Dec 3
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Qualified Youth Leader

Seattle MAC Skills Night

Seattle MAC Skills Night

Dec 05, 2024
06:00 PM to 08:00 PM
Seattle Program Center
7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Basement: Friction Slabs, Basement: North Bay, Basement: Overhanging Wall, Basement: South Bay, Basement: Vertical Wall, Goodman C, Goodman C: Ice Walls, Goodman C: Rock Walls
Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Hike - Ebeys Landing

Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC Hike - Ebeys Landing

Family & Youth Youth activity
Come and join us for a delightful and leisurely afternoon hike along a trail boasting
Difficulty: Easy
Sun, Dec 8, 2024
Prerequisites
6 participants
Registration closes Dec 5
Seattle Branch
Zuzana Regan
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 11, 2024
Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Dec 9
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Parent Trip Leadership Series #1 | How to Plan a Trip

Parent Trip Leadership Series #1 | How to Plan a Trip - 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
Fri, Dec 13, 2024
Prerequisites
15 participants
Registration opens Nov 11
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader

SEA Youth Clubs Parents Workshop: Trip Leadership Part I

SEA youth club parents come together to learn what it takes to plan and lead trips for the youth clubs.

Dec 13, 2024
06:00 PM to 08:00 PM
Seattle Program Center
7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115

Cascade A, Cascade B
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 15, 2024
Prerequisites
8 participants 3 instructors 1 chaperone
Registration closes Dec 13
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders Hike

Seattle Pathfinders Hike - Discovery Park

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
Join us for a day of hiking!
Sun, Dec 15, 2024
Prerequisites
12 participants
Registration opens Nov 13
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Tacoma MAC Snow Skills Trip

Tacoma MAC Snow Skills Trip - Paradise

Youth Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
Skills covered include ice arrest, snow travel, roped glacier travel, and crevasse rescue
Sun, Dec 15, 2024
No Prerequisites
10 participants 1 instructor
Registration closes Dec 13
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC XC Skiing

Seattle Explorers & Jr. MAC XC Skiing - Lake Easton

Youth Youth activity
Difficulty: G-XC 1 Beginner Groomed
Sun, Jan 5, 2025
Prerequisites
8 participants
Registration closes Jan 3
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.
Tue, Jan 7, 2025
Prerequisites
22 participants 13 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 5
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
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 8, 2025
No Prerequisites
16 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Jan 7
Tacoma Branch
Sarah Holt
Qualified Youth Leader

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 08, 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
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 2 of 2. This a two-part leadership series teaching about trip leadership and planning
Thu, Jan 9, 2025
Prerequisites
16 participants
Registration closes Jan 7
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
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.
Thu, Jan 9, 2025
Prerequisites
7 participants 6 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 7
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
Thu, Jan 9, 2025
Prerequisites
4 participants 4 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 7
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Navigation Workshop

Seattle MAC Navigation Workshop - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Evening navigation workshop at The Mountaineers. Students must have completed the online course pre-work in
Thu, Jan 16, 2025
Prerequisites
15 participants 1 instructor 2 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 14
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
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, Jan 18, 2025
No Prerequisites
11 participants
Registration closes Jan 16
Tacoma Branch
RyAnn Peverley
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Pathfinders XC Skiing

Seattle Pathfinders XC Skiing - Cabin Creek

Youth Youth activity: Pathfinders
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
Sun, Jan 19, 2025
Prerequisites
16 participants
Registration opens Oct 26
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
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, Jan 22, 2025
Prerequisites
10 participants 10 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 20
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, Jan 22, 2025
Prerequisites
9 participants 9 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 20
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader