Pioneers

 Our Pioneers program provides youth ages 7-8 . and their parents/guardians with the opportunity to get outside once a month. Pioneers is designed to expose youth to a variety of outdoor activities and have fun! Participants will have the chance to climb, hike, paddle, explore, and learn how to be safe in the outdoors. The group will be supported by Mountaineers staff, but parents will be expected to play an active role in planning and even leading some trips.* Staff will provide opportunities for parents to advance their own outdoor skills as well as learn key skills for leading kids safely in the outdoors. This program will focus on skill-building for both youth and adults, and on building an outdoor community.

*Note that while  parents/guardians are expected to be active participants in the club, there is plenty of flexibility so that youth can participate in a trip even if a parent/guardian can't make it.

Pioneers is a club and requires a time commitment and program fee of $750 (which can be paid in monthly installments). In return, members gain a community of outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy spending time learning skills together. As families grow through our programs, lifelong friendships are built. When graduates of our teen program come home from college, they meet up with other Mountaineers friends to go hiking, backpacking and climbing. This program is just the beginning.