Explorers

THE CLUB

Explorers is a year-round outdoor adventure program for youth ages 10-11 who want to learn new outdoor skills and make lasting friendships with fellow adventurers. The program is designed to expose youth to a variety of outdoor activities, including climbing, hiking, paddling, xc skiing, and more. While both parents/guardians are not required to attend outings, a parent/guardian chaperone support is required for all trips. This is a great opportunity for you to get outside with your Explorer!

We also offer climbing skills sessions and leadership opportunities for the parents! Parents will have the opportunity to take part in a climbing skills series, learning what it takes to set up and take down ropes from the top of a climb. We will also be offering a leadership series, providing the tools and guidance in planning and leading trips for the clubs.

PRICING

Explorers membership is $1600 for families joining in October. Students joining in the winter will be prorated. The standard payment structure will be a single payment of the total amount upon registration. Upon request, members may opt-in to a 4-installment payment plan. 

To join, members must pay the entire course fee on this page when registering. If members wish to opt-in to the payment plan, they may make that request upon being offered a place in the club after the lottery. In that case, registration will be handled manually by staff. Interested members will have the opportunity to join in on at least trip before paying and committing.

We offer financial assistance! To apply for financial assistance click here.

REGISTRATION

WHEN CAN I REGISTER FOR Explorers?

For those interested in joining the youth clubs for the 2024-2025 program year, please fill out our enrollment lottery. Anyone wishing to join Explorers must have completed the enrollment lottery, regardless of participation in the clubs for 2023-2024. On September 11th at 12pm, the lottery will close and placement in the club will be offered the following morning. 

 Here is a video that demonstrates the registration process for individual trips, which will be a helpful reference after accepting your offer to join the club per lottery results.

KICKOFF TRIP

To register for the Explorers Kick-Off Trip, register on the activity page, which is listed as a stand-alone seminar in order to allow prospective members to register themselves. 

Register here for the Mt. Erie Kickoff Trip October 4-6 2024

Explorer / Jr. MAC COMBO TRIPS

We also offer Explorer/Jr. MAC combo trips! These trips are open to both Explorers and Jr. MACers. Combo trips will unfortunately not be visible here on the course page. To see the combo trips offered, check out the Explorers/Jr. MAC Calendar.

If you'd like to register for the combo trip, please sign up on the activity page itself, NOT here on the course page.

ALL OTHER TRIPS

To register (or cancel) for trips, make sure to always do it from this page. Here is a video that demonstrates the registration process both for the club as a whole and for individual trips.

1. Click on "Manage Registration" on the right side of this page
2. Check the box(es) of the trip(s) you'd like to register for
3. Scroll to the bottom and click "save"
4. Double check what you are signed up for by viewing the "My Activities" section of your profile. 

Cancelling from a trip

Cancelling yourself or your child from a trip is quite simple; it's just the reverse of registering for trips.

1. Click on "Manage Registration" on the right side of this page
2. UNCHECK the box(es) of the trip(s) you'd like to cancel your registration
3. Scroll to the bottom and click "save"

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

If it's not letting you register your child: check to make sure your child's "Youth Information Form" and "Youth Programs Form" and "Youth in Adult Programs Form" are filled out on their profile. 

If it's not letting you register as a chaperone: check to make sure your Mountaineers waiver is filled out on your profile and that you still have your QYL badge .

If it's still not letting you register as a chaperone: double check to make sure you are listed as a chaperone on the roster on this course page. Scroll down and click the blue "Roster" tab to check.

VACCINATION

We are not requiring you to be vaccinated to be a part of the club, though various trip leaders might require it. If you'd like to learn more about our COVID guidance within the youth programs and in general at The Mountaineers, please check out our Guidance Document.

RESOURCES

Check out the blue "Program Materials" tab to find additional resources including the handbook, reimbursement form, general gear lists, trip leadership resources, and more!