E.P.I.C. Adventures with Kids

Part 1

Have you been wanting to learn more tips on how to have a successful trip with youth outdoors? Have you been wanting to volunteer with youth programs? Are you a parent or caregiver who wants your children to love the outdoors as much as you do? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come join our seminar.

Kelly Hampton and Katy Snyder will be sharing their experiences, knowledge, and pro tips on how to take youth outdoors and have a successful day for all involved! We will be focusing on preschool and elementary age youth, but many of the concepts we will discuss apply to youth of all ages. During our virtual presentation, we will establish what “having fun” outdoors means; discuss how to set expectations; create a fail-proof checklist before you head outside; recognize how developmental stages play a part in the journey; provide fun tips and tricks; and discuss scenarios related to youth in the outdoors. 

Part 2 

Are you ready to be the BEST youth hike leader? The MOST FUN adult on the climb? Do you need tools as a parent to make your adventure more child friendly and fun? If that is you, then come join this seminar and get ready to see kids smile and laugh while adventuring outdoors. 

In this seminar, Kelly Hampton and Katy Snyder will be teaching you fun and engaging games and activities that you can use to kill time, encourage kids to hike more than 30 seconds at a time, and to ease youth into the outdoors and make it more comfortable for them. Come ready to channel your inner child and play some fun games and laugh as a group!

This is also a great seminar to join if you’re thinking about becoming a camp counselor since a lot of these skills are transferable.

HYBRID SERIES

This is a two-part series. Part 1 will be online only and presented through Zoom. Part 2 will be in-person and teach you games and help you add to your toolbox of fun activities to do with kids outdoors. You are not required to attend both, but we definitely encourage you to join us at both seminars!

MULTI-WEEK SERIES

 E.P.I.C Adventures with Kids is a 2-part training—however you can attend either workshop if you are unable to participate in both. Each workshop will also include one voluntary breakout group. If you have any questions or requests, please contact Michelle Song at michelles@mountaineers.org directly.

Part 1: Online through Zoom on  April 26, 6-8pm PST 
Part 2: In-person at The Seattle Program Center, Cascade A and B on May 10, 6-8pm PST

PRESENTERs

Kelly Hampton

Kelly Hampton is a preschool and early elementary educator and a parent coach in Seattle, WA. She holds a deep passion for empowering children’s natural curiosity, imagination, and sense of discovery. As a parent coach she helps caregivers discover their path to parenting with dignity, respect, and compassion, while finding joy along the way. Kelly discovered first hand the true power of fresh air and uneven ground while teaching preschoolers and watching the ways it calmed and centered their minds and bodies. Since then Kelly has become a true advocate for getting families outside. In addition to participating in the Mountaineers youth program with one of her daughters, Kelly’s family loves to ski, hike, camp, and play outside—even if it’s raining. 

Katy Snyder

Katy is an outdoor enthusiast, people-person, and visual designer. She was born and raised in Seattle, but considers Ireland to be her second home after living there for one year post graduation (6 months as an au pair for three elementary age youth). Her passion for the outdoors was born in high school when she joined The Mountaineers, becoming a founding member and president of the Mountaineers Adventure Club (MAC). Since then, she has led dozens of technical outdoor excursions in the backcountry for youth ages 5 and up, encouraging curiosity and exploration. These trips have ranged from snow play days with the younger ones to week-long climbing trips with college students and anywhere in between. When adventuring and traveling, she loves immersing herself in unfamiliar cultures; finding peaks to summit; sketching the sites; meeting locals and eating their cuisine (including Labskaus in Germany and Crni Rižot in Croatia); and consuming ice cream almost everywhere she goes.