Volunteer with Youth

Be a hero for a day, or a week, or all year-long! Kids in our youth programs know and admire our instructors who are volunteering because they want to help. In fact, many of our teens go on to volunteer themselves after being inspired by their instructors.

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How to Volunteer with Youth

First: Take the Qualified Youth Leader General Training

All people looking to volunteer with youth need to take the Qualified Youth Leader General Training. This online uses our Qualified Youth Leader Handbook and goes into:

Mountaineer Specific Youth Policies
Education Tools for Youth
Supervision of Youth
Board Youth Policies

You need to score at least 80% on the training quiz to pass the Qualified Youth Leader training. you will be directed to a Background Check Authorization form. You must agree to complete a background check in order to become a Qualified Youth Leader. If you choose not to complete a background check, it will not affect anything about your Mountaineers membership or status, you simply will not be able to become a Qualified Youth Leader.

Once you complete the content questionnaire and the Background Check Authorization form, you will receive an email from SterlingOne or TalentWise, with "pre-employment screening" in the subject line. This is NOT SPAM—this is your background check. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.

If you pass your background check, you'll be issued a "Qualified Youth Leader" Badge and sent a hard copy of our youth manual for you to reference at any time. The badge is good for 3 years, at which time you'll need to renew.

NExt: Complete Program Specific Trainings

Once you have passed the QYL General Training, you will need to complete program specific Skill Badges trainings through coassemble. Click on the links below for specifics on each training.

About our youth programs

After School

Offered in Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma, these programs will offer youths an opportunity to get together, in-person, with other kids once a week to socialize and learn outdoor skills.

Camps

Offered in Kitsap, Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma youth are invited to spend their summer and school breaks (SEA only), with The Mountaineers! Day camps are for youth ages 6–12 and adventure camps (including overnight camps) are for ages 10–14. These experience-based camps offer youth a chance to learn a variety of outdoor skills and spend time outside with new friends.

Outreach Programs

Offered in Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma. Get your youth group outside with us! The Mountaineers partners with over 40 youth organizations to provide introductory and progressive outdoor programs in the Puget Sound. Our programs are custom-designed with the partner agency, and can include rock climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, kayaking, wilderness first aid, team building, map and compass education, and Leave-No-Trace training.

Year Round Programs

Mountaineers Adventure Club | Ages 14–18
Offered in the Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma branches, youth meet monthly and go on a wide variety of outdoor trips, including hiking, rock climbing, skiing, rafting, camping, and mountaineering. Led by its members and mentored by adults, this program is our pinnacle outdoor leadership program. Join today to meet new friends, develop new skills, and become a teacher and mentor for other youth.

Explorers & Junior MAC | Ages 10–13
Offered in the Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma branches, youth ages 10–13 and their families meet monthly and explore new activities outdoors. These include hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, and more. This program is designed to encourage outdoor adventure, teach safety and independence, and prepare kids who wish to graduate into Mountaineers Adventure Club.

Pathfinders & Nomads | Ages 6–9
Offered in the Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma branches, youth meet to enjoy an outdoor adventure each month. Adventures include hiking, snowshoeing, climbing, camping, kayaking, and more. This program is designed to inspire a love of the outdoors and teach basic outdoor skills and preparedness.

Mini Mountaineers | Ages 2–5
Offered in Olympia, Seattle, Tacoma, Mini Mountaineers is designed to get tots/preschoolers and an accompanying adult outside to inspire a love for the planet in our future stewards. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters, friends... let us do the planning to get you and your little one outside with fellow outdoorsy families! We host multiple events a month during the school year, including meet-ups for local nature walks, hands on nature-based activities, and outdoor adventure activities.

Where can I help volunteer with youth?

Volunteer Opportunities