News for Families

Get the latest advice for hiking with kids, opportunities for getting out with your family, and hear from family experts in the WTA community.

Be the first to know — sign up for our Families Go Hiking newsletter.

Post 84 helps hundreds of high schoolers get outside every year

Jun 11, 2025

Post 84, a partner with WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training program since 2018, helps teenaged campers from the Puget Sound area get outside by offering more than a dozen camping trips a year. WTA's gear library makes it possible for even more teens to attend the trips.

How youth are fighting climate grief with action

Apr 14, 2025

Time outside helps the youth with Climate Action Families in their work to advance climate justice. By Emory Ranes

WTA youth program wins national recognition

Jul 16, 2024

WTA's youth trail maintenance program recently won an award for efficient management of funds!

Young hikers build interactive art exhibit to educate about trails

Apr 12, 2024

A group of six students designed a built a tool to encourage responsible hiking and volunteering on Badger Mountain in the Tri-Cities. And they will show it off at a national event.

WTA crew leaders inspire fun and a love for nature in youth volunteers

Mar 22, 2024

On trail in March, WTA's Kaci Darsow celebrated six years as WTA's youth crew leader, but their milestone was only one of many to mark the growth and maturity of WTA's youth program.

Hiking Families Celebrate Summer’s Last Hurrah

Aug 25, 2023

Although Washington’s peak hiking season lasts well into fall, families are saying farewell to summer as they prepare to return to school. Check out these trip reports for ideas for your own end-of-summer hikes — or for weekend adventures this fall.

How One Outdoor Leadership Training Leader Creates Outdoor Experiences Through Science-Based Programs

Jul 24, 2023

A Lincoln High School science teacher teams up with WTA to get students learning outside alongside their peers and community partners.

Jokes to Keep in Your Back Pocket (or Backpack)

Jun 27, 2023

Why did the hiker laugh in the mountains? Because they're hill areas. At WTA, we love a good pun. Or any, pun, really. So we asked our Outdoor Leadership Training staff and partners to share some of their favorite punny jokes. Here they are — just in time to make your hiking companions laugh (or groan) on your next adventure.

Trip Report Roundup: Getting the Family Together — Outside

Jul 05, 2023

Hitting the trails is a great way to spend the day together as a family, and no one knows that better than our great hiking community! Here are some of our favorite recent trip reports from hikers who were able to round up the family to get outside.

Y-WE gets Youth Outside. WTA is Proud to Support that Mission.

Jun 21, 2023

Y-WE empowers young women to be leaders in their communities — one of the ways they do that is by taking them outdoors. A strong partnership between Y-WE and WTA have had a strong partnership since 2015, helping thousands and youth and adults get outside.

"C'mon, Let's Do It." — Our Outdoor Mentors: Mothers, Aunties and Grandmothers

May 12, 2023

As Mother’s Day approaches, we asked Washington Trails Association staff how the strong women in their lives — their mothers, aunties, grandmothers — were their outdoor role models and mentors, inspiring and cultivating a love of spending time outside.

Trails Make Space for New Memories

May 23, 2023

WTA marketing manager Linnea Johnson reflects on outdoor memories with family while making space for new ones. By Linnea Johnson

Trip Report Roundup: Earth Day 2023

Apr 25, 2023

Earth Day is a day to celebrate the earth, spend time outside and take action to take care of the environment. Here’s what some of our community members got up to this weekend.

Snapshot: Hikers Helping Hikers

Apr 14, 2023

"Where" and "when" are memorable parts of any hike, but "who" and how they made you feel sticks with you forever. Doug Diekema reflects on capturing a touching moment with family while on trail. By Doug Diekema.

Get ready for youth volunteer vacations this summer

Mar 26, 2024

This summer, youth ages 14-18 can join us on trail for extended volunteer work parties, either in the backcountry or car-camping trips. Here's what you need to know before applications open up on April 1.

Hiking with Kids: Trip Reporters' Tips, Tricks and Snacks

Aug 08, 2022

We reached out to three regular trip reporters who get out with their kids to hear about why they write trip reports, why they like hiking with kids and, of course, their favorite on-trail snacks and games.

Summer Survival Guide: Hiking with Babies, Kids and Teens

Jun 21, 2022

Motivating reluctant kids, backpacking with a baby or knowing when your teen is ready to hike without you — here are 5 articles to help you get your kids, from babies to teens, out on trail this summer.

Tips for Hiking With Kids, From a Trip Reporter and Mom of Six

Apr 26, 2022

Valene Ramseyer has been a hiker since she was a kid. Now, as the mom of six kids of her own, she likes to get out regularly with her family. We talked to her recently about hiking with her kids, and why she enjoys trip reporting.

Trip Report Roundup: Shifting from Winter to Spring

Apr 19, 2022

As we leave winter behind and continue deeper into spring, we dug into the trail conditions highlighted in recent trip reports.

How Wild Whatcom Brings Mindfulness to Trail Work Parties

Mar 29, 2022

Here are three of our favorite ways that Wild Whatcom makes time for mindfulness with youth.

Beating the Winter Blahs Thanks to WTA’s Gear Libraries

Feb 14, 2022

WTA has been excited to see our partners borrowing snowshoes to get outside with youth. We wanted to know how the trips were going, so we asked three groups to share the highlights of their snowy adventures.

Get Inspired: How Four Hikers Accomplished Their 2021 Hiking Goals

Jan 12, 2022

You've picked your hike, checked the trip reports, and refreshed your trail smarts. But if you need a little more motivation getting out the door, read how these four hikers achieved their hiking goals last year.

Hiking Firsts: Photos and Stories of Hikers Trying New Things

Jan 07, 2022

To celebrate the beginning of a new year, we're sharing some firsts, shared by contributors to our Northwest Exposure Photo Contest.

Celebrating a Successful Return to Youth Volunteer Vacations

Nov 17, 2021

Thanks to a lot of careful planning and hard work, we had a safe and fun summer with teen volunteers — and we got a lot of work done, too! And we're already looking ahead to next year.

Two Programs Emerge to Benefit the Health and Well-Being of Washington's Children and Adults

Aug 25, 2021

Two successes from the 2021 legislative session will help connect the benefits of nature with the people of Washington state: The Parks Rx Pilot Program and Licensing for Outdoor, Nature-Based Child Care.

Q&A: The Value of Trip Reports for Hiking with Kids

Jun 18, 2021

Trip reporter Robert “Ups n Downs” Shirk loves to get out on trail with his kids, and trip reports are a big part of how he researches trails. Ups N Downs is also a prolific trip reporter, and we caught up with him recently to hear more about why trip reports are so important to him for his adventures.

Hiker Headlines: Lingering Snow, Dog Mountain, Youth Trail Work, Trail Connections

Apr 01, 2021

Even though it’s officially spring, hikers should still plan for winter conditions on trail. Dog Mountain permits are now available online. The priority period for Youth Volunteer Vacation applications is now open. Libraries across the state are lending Discover Passes. In Bellevue, an important trail segment has been completed. And a few other news stories good for a laugh.

Youth Volunteer Vacations: What You Need to Know for 2021

Mar 16, 2021

At WTA, we know that the disruptions, stress and social isolation of the previous year makes outdoor opportunities for teens more important than ever. WTA is excited to resume our Youth Volunteer Vacation program in 2021, where youth ages 14-18 build trails and community together in beautiful places across Washington state.

Students at Seattle Nativity School Build Connections to Nature and Each Other on Trail

Dec 17, 2020

Seattle Nativity School hosts annual hiking trips with students across every grade, along with a summer backpacking trip for alumni. Two former students, Layla an Christian, reflect on these outdoor experiences and what memories have really stuck with them.

Hiking Every Day for a Month: 2 Young Hike-a-Thoners Tell Their Story

Dec 15, 2020

This year, two young hikers set an ambitious goal. For the month of August, as part of their Hike-a- Thon participation, Lu and Chloe, both 10, set a goal to hike on a trail every day.