Youth Vacations

For High Schools Students

Are you a high school student age 14 - 18 who loves to be outdoors? Are you eager to experience new challenges, learn new skills and meet new people?

Click on the photo to see pictures from last year's Youth Volunteer Vacations!

This summer experience a Washington Trails Association Youth Volunteer Vacation, exclusively for high school students. Participants learn all about the world of building and maintaining hiking trails, experienced in a safe, teamwork-oriented environment in various regions on the state. You have the opportunity to experience projects near the ocean, in the scenic Cascade Mountains and in Northeast Washington. WTA provides you with experienced crew leaders, a great project, some camping gear (tents and sleeping pads provided for front country trips) and all of your meals for the week.

The cost of your first Volunteer Vacation is $150 for non-WTA members (includes a one-year membership) and $125 for WTA members. If you come out for more than one trip in a season, you only pay $75 for each subsequent trip. Full payment is due within two weeks of signing up for a trip. Please read through the "How to apply" section in the Youth Vacations FAQs.

Newly expanded Advanced Volunteer Vacations for Youth program!

For those with previous trail work experience, WTA is offering three unique backcountry trips. *To participate on these Advanced Backcountry trips, you must have had previous trail maintenance experience (with an overnight camping component) with WTA or a program such as Mountain Works or SCA. Please call the office before signing up if you are not sure your previous experience will qualify. On these trips you will be backpacking in to the work site and will have a chance to advance your trail and leadership skills under the supervision of a WTA crew leader. Approval from a previous crew leader is necessary.  Read about the criteria to join one of these trips.

For families with youth who are not quite old enough to join our program for high school students, but still want to experience a week on trail we encourage you to join WTA's first ever Family Vacation. This special backcountry Family Vacation is designed for families with children ages 10-14 who are interested in the outdoors and seeking a fun and exciting backcountry experience.

2008 Youth Volunteer Vacation Schedule

Note: You must be 14- 18 years old to join one of our Youth Volunteer Vacations.
*  Advanced Backcountry Trip - requires prior approval.
**  Family Vacation welcomes participants 10 - 14 years old and a parent.

Additional Information About Youth Vacations

• Common Questions about Youth Vacations
• Answers to Parents' Questions
• Parental Consent Form
• Pack List for Front country Youth
  
• Pack list for Backcountry Advanced Youth