Pencil_Pusher Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Anyone know of volunteer opportunities to help kids get out and enjoy the wilderness, or organizations that need help from us climber-types with some ropes course or equivalent? I was thinking the Boy Scouts might have something along these lines. Maybe Big Brothers/Sisters too, but does anyone happen to know for sure by chance? Maybe special ed or disabled kids/adults orgs as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolyn Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 Check out the Special Olympics chapter near you if you want to work with people who have disabilities. They might not have "climbing/ropes course" type activities, however I would be willing to bet they could send you in the right direction. Also, the YMCA and YWCA typically have a zillion programs revolving around youth and adventure related activities. I bet figger8 would have some good suggestions for ya there. Do you have ropes course experience? Just curious. I facilitate out here in MN. Great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squid Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 There are a bunch of local summer camps designed to expose kids with various challenges to the outdoors. I don't have first-hand knowledge of any of them, but friends who've volunteered for these types of organizations (Camp Goodtimes) say the experience rocks- if you're into that touchy-feely love-and -nurture type of stuff. I considered it, then selfishly decided to pursue my own climbing agenda. Here's a link to some local camps, if you're into that sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pencil_Pusher Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 I don't have ropes course experience, I just pulled that phrase out of my head somewhere, I think. What does this entail? I'm not much interested in a long-term commitment with any org right now, I just figured it'd be nice to help out a little. Squid, thanks for the goldmine of info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 The Mountaineers have a Youth Activities group for teens 14 years old and up. They climb, scramble, hike, snowshoe, whitewater raft or whatever they want to do as a group. Colin Haley was involved for a couple years with his brother Booth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thinker Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 I have several friends who devote a lot of time to this group and derrive loads of satisfaction from it. http://ico.sierraclub.org/ico/seattle/public/volunteer.asp The last I heard, they don't do anything that requires a rope or harness...due to liability....but the hiking and scrambling outings I've heard described sound pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted July 23, 2003 Share Posted July 23, 2003 My wife and I lead a group of kids through Camp Fire. They are all girls and they are a great bunch. We can't do any roped climbing other than at rock gyms due to liability concerns, but we have fun doing all sorts of outdoor stuff. We took a 12 year old girl up Mt. St. Helens two years ago. We started the group at the request of a Camp Fire staff member who wanted to have something that would keep the older kids interested. We have been doing it for three years. I see that you are not sure about a long term commitment, but you might contact your local Camp Fire office and see if they need any help. I can email you a link to our website if you would like. I can't post it here as it has some identifying information about the girls. I will say that introducing people, especially kids to the wilderness is a lot of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPaul_Hansen Posted July 26, 2003 Share Posted July 26, 2003 You might want to check out volunteer opportunities with BSA in their older youth program [formerly ' Explorers'], now named 'Adventurers. Believe some BSA councils have such group devoted to high adventures, including roped ascents... Be advised, one must first be screened, given unfortunate incidents involving a small number of persons with less than positive motives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pencil_Pusher Posted July 26, 2003 Author Share Posted July 26, 2003 MPaul_Hansen said: Be advised, one must first be screened, given unfortunate incidents involving a small number of persons with less than positive motives. Y'all haze newbies? "THANK YOU SIR, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER?!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STORER Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 I'm from Cleveland, so it might be a lot different from the Pacific Nortwest, but our local metro parks always have volunteer opportinities. Why don't you check out your local park system? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpinfox Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 There is a group called "Girls Rock" that partners an adult female belayer/coach/mentor with a "troubled" girl. Vertical World in Seattle hosted the program. I looked into it, but apparently there is not a male equivalent in Seattle, so I was out of luck. A couple of people suggested I start the program from ground zero, but I'm too lazy for that. Maybe you have more energy? Does Outward Bound have volunteer mentors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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