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:

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
2 participants on waitlist 2 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 7
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Winter Scramble

Seattle MAC Winter Scramble - Mildred Point

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Join MAC for a scramble of a peak or summit in the Cascades which includes
Difficulty: Moderate, Winter Scramble
Sat, Jan 11, 2025
No Prerequisites
0 participants 1 instructor 1 chaperone
Registration closes Jan 9
Seattle Branch
Andy Cahn
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 12, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant
Registration closes Jan 3
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 - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Pathfinders!
Tue, Jan 14, 2025
No Prerequisites
7 participants
Registration closes Jan 12
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Explorers

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

Youth Youth activity: After School - Explorers - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Explorers!
Thu, Jan 16, 2025
No Prerequisites
13 participants
Registration closes Jan 12
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
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
10 participants 1 instructor 2 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 14
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
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
12 participants 4 chaperones
Registration opens Nov 29
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 - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Pathfinders!
Tue, Jan 21, 2025
No Prerequisites
7 participants
Registration closes Jan 19
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
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
3 participants on waitlist 8 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
3 participants on waitlist 8 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 20
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 - Explorers - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Explorers!
Thu, Jan 23, 2025
No Prerequisites
13 participants
Registration closes Jan 23
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Wilderness First Aid

Seattle MAC Wilderness First Aid - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
MAC learns and gains certifications in Wilderness First Aid (WFA)!
Sat, Jan 25, 2025
No Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 6 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 23
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Climbing Skills Series | Anchors, Cleaning & Lowering

Climbing Skills Series | Anchors, Cleaning & Lowering - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Youth Clubs Parent Skills Series
Part 2 of 6. Clubs parents will be learning and practicing how to build G.R.E.A.T.
Sun, Jan 26, 2025
Prerequisites
3 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Jan 25
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorers Snowshoe - Franklin Falls

Seattle Explorers Snowshoe - Franklin Falls

Youth Youth activity: Explorers
Join us for a day of snowshoeing to see frozen waterfalls. If waterfalls are not
Difficulty: Easy
Sun, Jan 26, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant on waitlist 0 chaperones
Registration closes Jan 24
Seattle Branch
Dragana Lassiter
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Pathfinders

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

Youth Youth activity: After-School - Pathfinders - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Pathfinders!
Tue, Jan 28, 2025
No Prerequisites
7 participants
Registration closes Jan 26
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, Jan 29, 2025
Prerequisites
4 participants
Registration closes Jan 27
Seattle Branch
Hank Stein
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Explorers

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

Youth Youth activity: After School - Explorers - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Explorers!
Thu, Jan 30, 2025
No Prerequisites
13 participants
Registration closes Jan 28
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
Qualified Youth Leader
Climbing Skills Series | Lead Belaying

Climbing Skills Series | Lead Belaying - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Youth Clubs Parent Skills Series
Part 3 of 6. Clubs parents will be learning and practicing lead belaying
Sun, Feb 2, 2025
Prerequisites
1 participant 1 instructor
Registration closes Jan 31
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
After-School Program Day - Pathfinders

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

Youth Youth activity: After-School - Pathfinders - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Pathfinders!
Tue, Feb 4, 2025
No Prerequisites
7 participants
Registration closes Feb 2
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
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, Feb 5, 2025
No Prerequisites
15 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Feb 4
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

Feb 05, 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
After-School Program Day - Explorers

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

Youth Youth activity: After School - Explorers - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Explorers!
Thu, Feb 6, 2025
No Prerequisites
13 participants
Registration closes Feb 4
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
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.
Fri, Feb 7, 2025
Prerequisites
16 participants 9 chaperones
Registration closes Feb 5
Seattle Branch
Trenton Bick
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Cross-Country Ski Day Trip - Amabilis Mountain

Seattle MAC Cross-Country Ski Day Trip - Amabilis Mountain

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Ski together as a group! Get our blood flowing on the way up, enjoy hot
Difficulty: G-XC 3 Intermediate Groomed
Sat, Feb 8, 2025
Prerequisites
6 participants 0 instructors 1 chaperone
Registration opens Jan 1; Instructor registration open now
Seattle Branch
Birgit Grimlund
Qualified Youth Leader
TAC MAC Scramble

TAC MAC Scramble - Youth Trip

Youth Field trip: Mountaineers Adventure Club - Tacoma
Snow scramble, destination TBD
Sat, Feb 8, 2025
No Prerequisites
9 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Feb 6
Tacoma Branch
Kevin DeFields
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle MAC Backcountry Ski Trip

Seattle MAC Backcountry Ski Trip - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Mountaineers Adventure Club
Advanced backcountry skiing in the wilderness that involves using climbing skins to go uphill and
Sat, Feb 8, 2025
Prerequisites
5 participants 2 instructors
Registration closes Feb 7
Seattle Branch
Richard Lambe
Qualified Youth Leader
Climbing Skills Series | Lead Climbing

Climbing Skills Series | Lead Climbing - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center

Youth Youth activity: Youth Clubs Parent Skills Series
Part 4 of 6. Clubs parents will be learning and practicing lead climbing.
Sun, Feb 9, 2025
Prerequisites
2 participants 0 instructors
Registration closes Feb 7
Seattle Branch
Alvaro Juarez
Qualified Youth Leader
Seattle Explorer & Jr. MAC Snowshoe

Seattle Explorer & Jr. MAC Snowshoe - Talapus Lake Trail

Youth Youth activity
Difficulty: Moderate, Moderate/Strenuous, Strenuous
Sun, Feb 9, 2025
Prerequisites
9 participants
Registration closes Feb 7
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 - Winter
A typical day of after-school programming for Pathfinders!
Tue, Feb 11, 2025
No Prerequisites
7 participants
Registration closes Feb 9
Seattle Branch
Christine Kler
Qualified Youth Leader