This guide is for:  

• Students interested in spending more time outdoors, making friends, and learning new skills.

• Teachers and staff members who enjoy creative ways to build meaningful relationships with their students.

• Principals and school administrators who want to offer their students a healthy way to build social connections, personal resilience, and a sense of independence and self-reliance that will follow them through life.

Read how one motivated student began an outdoor club at her high school.

Getting Started: The Basics

• Contact Teens to Trails at info@teenstotrails.org. We’re happy to help you get started. Every school is different and we would love to connect you to resources in your area, create a club that works for your school’s specific needs and connect you with other clubs in your region. If your administration has questions or concerns, we can help answer them and connect your principal with schools with successful outdoor clubs.

• Identify at least one adult advisor who will provide leadership and carry out administrative responsibilities.

• Obtain permission from your principal to start the club.

• Register your Club with Teens to Trails to become eligible for grants, seasonal programs, trip lotteries and more helpful support.

• Recruit members. Consider having a table at your school’s activity fair, include information about the club in school announcements, use this poster or design your own to hang in hallways.

• Set goals and brainstorm some easy to do activities for your club, like a walk at a local nature preserve.

• Ask prospective members what trips they are interested in and get a good list going.

• Hold a meeting and plan your first adventure together.