Steps into Wilderness

Steps into Wilderness is a new program created to help schools and organizations get more youth outdoors. Our goal is to get kids ages 13-18 hooked on hiking and offer outdoor leadership and trip planning workshops to youth and their leaders.

The program is intended for organizations that do not yet lead their own hikes but desire to do so or organizations that lead their own hikes but need help overcoming the various obstacles faced in getting youth on trail. Our hope is that Steps into Wilderness will encourage youth and their adult leaders to become life-long hikers of the trail systems WTA helps maintain and protect.

Steps into Wilderness provides:

hiking knowledge and experience
encouragement to make hiking a life-long activity
outdoor ethics & Leave No Trace principles
engaging games and activities
leadership opportunities and workshops
an affordable & enjoyable way to get youth outside
stewardship and volunteer opportunities

Photos by: Andrew Jay, Chris Wall, and Arlo Smith

IF YOU DON'T HIKE:	IF YOU DO HIKE AND WANT HELP:
WTA facilitates the workshop(s) and hike(s) requested by your organization then shifts into a support role. Working with an organization’s teen leader, we collaborate, plan logistics, trouble-shoot, and create fun hikes for the participants. WTA staff assists and mentors youth leaders increasing their outdoor confidence to take youth hiking independently. The partnership continues with WTA remaining in a support role offering guidance and more advanced clinics as needed.	WTA provides resources and leadership training and assists youth leaders with planning hikes. WTA staff helps your organization in overcoming obstacles that hinder getting youth outside and hiking (e.g. youth attendance, transportation, training, trip-planning, gear, cost, & liability). Working with an organization’s leaders, we collaborate, plan logistics, trouble-shoot, and create fun hikes for the participants. The partnership continues with WTA remaining in a support role offering guidance and more advanced clinics as needed.

IF YOU DON'T HIKE:

IF YOU DO HIKE AND WANT HELP:

WTA facilitates the workshop(s) and hike(s) requested by your organization then shifts into a support role.

Working with an organization’s teen leader, we collaborate, plan logistics, trouble-shoot, and create fun hikes for the participants.

WTA staff assists and mentors youth leaders increasing their outdoor confidence to take youth hiking independently.

The partnership continues with WTA remaining in a support role offering guidance and more advanced clinics as needed.

WTA provides resources and leadership training and assists youth leaders with planning hikes.

WTA staff helps your organization in overcoming obstacles that hinder getting youth outside and hiking (e.g. youth attendance, transportation, training, trip-planning, gear, cost, & liability).

Working with an organization’s leaders, we collaborate, plan logistics, trouble-shoot, and create fun hikes for the participants.

The partnership continues with WTA remaining in a support role offering guidance and more advanced clinics as needed.

Steps into Wilderness Service Exchange:

There is no fee for the Steps into Wilderness program. Washington Trails Association’s only requirement is that within a year your organization signs up for a Day of Service doing trail maintenance. This stewardship opportunity earns students service hours which are often required to graduate. Not only is it a great chance to give back to the hiking community, but it's a fun way to get outside and foster a sense of caring for Washington’s wild places.

Steps into Wilderness Program Availability:

Workshops	Weekend Hikes	Afterschool Hikes
September through May	September through May	March to May and September to October

Note: The Steps into Wilderness program is not available during the summer due to our youth trail maintenance program. For Youth Volunteer Vacations information, click here.

Whether you are a school group, community center, scout troop, or other youth organization, chances are the Steps into Wilderness program has something for you. Washington Trails Association is currently piloting this new program and looking for new participant organizations!