Amplifying Voices Across Our Community

Everyone deserves access to trails. We're supporting community partners and breaking down barriers, so that the trails of the future belong to everyone. And by amplifying voices from across the trail community and sharing stories, we can help people know we all belong in the outdoors.

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Rockstar Community Leaders Champion Outdoor Adventures

Dec 20, 2018

Meet three determined outdoor leaders who led memorable trips for their schools and programs this year.

I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams

by Bam Mendiola

3 Organizations That Go Outside to Train the Next Generation of Scientists

Nov 13, 2018

Three ways that graduates from WTA's Outdoor Leadership Training program are taking kids outside to learn about science and inspire the next generation of outdoor leaders.

At Home in Nature

People might not always be welcoming, but when I'm outside, I can breathe freely and find peace | by Hamziye Aman

GirlTrek: Walking as a Radical Act of Self-Care

Jun 28, 2018

GirlTrek started as a hiking club. It quickly grew into a movement to reverse the systemic health crisis experienced by black women and transform the health and well-being of entire communities.

Back to Strength

After a major illness, trails were how I recovered | by Angelina Boulicault

A Path to Healing

OCD, anxiety and eating disorders once controlled me. Discovering hiking showed me a way back to myself | by Christina Hickman

Trails for All

As hiking's popularity booms, that includes a new wave of ethnic and racial diversity | by Lornet Turnbull

How a Teacher Is Opening Up a Whole New World for Seattle Teens

Dec 27, 2017

We sit down with Center School teacher Alex Scilletta to find out how a simple snowshoe adventure can make a difference in the lives of students.

Join WTA at our Outdoor Workshops for Educators

Dec 13, 2017

Do you work with youth? Would you like to get them outside? WTA can help!

Sharing Joy in the Outdoors

Nov 29, 2017

At Pinnacle Explorations, the goal is simple: to help kids have a good time outside. With the help of WTA's Gear Library, Pinnacle is able to offer hands-on, outdoor workshops at an accessible cost for youth and families.

In Defense of Well-Traveled Trails

Dec 05, 2017

Not all hikes require rough roads and long drives to find a dose of solitude. Well-traveled trails offer something different: they offer a community of hikers—many who are first-time users trying their hand at a new sort of adventure.

The Beauty and Power of Urban Forests

Apart from the pleasure of a green view, there are many tangible benefits associated with urban forests, including improved mental and physical health, economic advantages and community health | by Keiko Betcher

WTA's Gear Library Grows to Meet Increasing Demand for Outdoor Experiences

Sep 08, 2017

We are excited to share that our gear library now has a new home in a larger space, which will better accommodate the growing community of program partners and the ever-increasing amount of items available to borrow.

OLT Program Provides New Skills for International Students

Sep 18, 2017

Every August, WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT) program treks down to Green River College in Auburn for a workshop that gives WTA the chance to work with international students and gives those students the skills they need to lead outdoor trips. Our team is joined by six students from the International Student Ambassador (ISA) program, along with Green River staff.

Latina Youth Trail Crew Building Trails, Looking to the Future at Mount Rainier

Aug 15, 2017

Nine young women recently spent a week improving Mount Rainier trails, contemplating equity in the outdoors and stoking a passion for adventure, with a little help from Latino Outdoors, WTA and many others.

Ready to Explore

Jul 25, 2017

WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training program provides resources to youth groups looking to expand their horizons in the outdoors. From planning and facilitating to outfitting these outdoor adventures, WTA resources for youth groups can be critical in breaking down barriers to getting outside.

Learn, Lead & Inspire: WTA's New Outdoor Leadership Program

Jun 04, 2014

WTA’s new Outdoor Leadership Training Program (OLT) will be oﬀering four resources to adults interested in leading trips on their own: workshops on a variety of trip-leading topics, a free gear-lending library, mini-grants for transportation and trip costs and ongoing community support to foster connections and crowdsource solutions to common problems.

Outdoor Leadership Training: Backpacking

Sep 15, 2016

Getting teachers and youth program coordinators out into the wilderness was a milestone in rounding out the suite of WTA learning experiences (including hiking, snowshoeing and camping workshops) available to schools and community organizations that want to increase access to the outdoors for the youth they serve.

A Transformative Experience

Jul 19, 2017

Every spring, a group of eighth grade students from Licton Springs K-8 School in Seattle embark on a week-long backpacking trip in one of Washington’s iconic locations. This June, the students headed out on a six night trip along Ross Lake in the North Cascades. To help make that trip possible, the students borrowed tents, packs, shoes and sleeping bags from WTA’s gear library.