Big City Mountaineers

Time in the backcountry heals. It rejuvenates. It feeds the soul. At Big City Mountaineers, we believe that every young person deserves the chance to experience that transformation—and we make it happen.

We create opportunities for youth—many of whom face systemic barriers to outdoor access—to connect with nature, with one another, and with themselves. Our expeditions are more than just camping trips. They’re weeklong journeys of growth, confidence, laughter, reflection, resilience, and community. And the change we see in just a few days is real, lasting, and powerful.

This year marks Big City Mountaineers’ 35th field season—a milestone that celebrates more than three decades of life-changing experiences in the outdoors. To honor this legacy, we’re spending the year collecting and sharing stories from the field—stories of challenge and connection, of joy and discovery. We’ll culminate the celebration with a special community event on September 21, where we’ll come together to reflect on the impact we’ve made and the trail still ahead.

Take it from David Taus, BCM’s Executive Director, who returned from a recent trip with more than just a sore back and soggy boots. He left behind his office title and joined a group of students in the Medicine Bow wilderness as just another volunteer. Amid lightning storms, freezing nights, and “penguin huddles” under tarps, he watched students uplift one another through shared challenges and discovered something humbling: the young people were the ones doing the inspiring.

"I was probably more down on the weather than they were," he reflected, "and felt some shame for not being the one to uplift the group during hard moments. Instead, the students buoyed my spirits." By the final morning, the group had transformed. Packs were lighter, steps were stronger, and gratitude flowed as freely as the trail mix. “I’m not gonna lie,” one student said as they reached the van, “I’d love to stay out here another day or two.”

This is the kind of transformation that BCM makes possible.

In Minnesota, first-time instructor Nitz worried they needed to force a powerful experience. But the “magic,” as they called it, unfolded naturally. Around a fire on the last night, one student opened up about the deep conversations he’d had with his tentmate, how he saw his friend learning, growing, and discovering himself. That kind of reflection doesn’t come from a lesson plan. It comes from the space and silence of wilderness—something BCM works hard to provide.

That same trip saw language barriers melt away as students from different backgrounds found connection in shared laughter, paddles in hand, and the joy of calling iodine tablets “pastillas mágicas” (“magic pills”) thanks to a little instructor improv. On another night, the group sat together on a rock, watching shooting stars streak across a Boundary Waters sky, the kind of moment that stays with you for life.

And that’s the thing. These moments do stay. As one of our storytellers at Denver's Outside Festival in May 2025 shared: “It shaped my life to be where I am now.” Over and over again, young people (and adults alike) tell us the same thing: that time in nature helped them feel calmer, more confident, more whole. That it helped them discover who they are and who they want to become.

We know the outdoors can be a place of healing, identity formation, and unfiltered joy. But too often, access to these spaces is limited by race, income, or geography. Big City Mountaineers exists to change that. We provide gear, meals and snacks, professional field guides, and a thoughtfully crafted environment for youth to disconnect from their fast-paced lives and reconnect with themselves and each other more deeply

Our model works because it’s built on trust, shared experience, and the power of simply showing up. Whether you're a youth participant, a volunteer, or a seasoned staff member, every BCM trip is an invitation to step into something bigger. To leave behind distractions and discover something essential.

As David put it: “Authentic connections are forged of the very sturdy stuff of shared experience. Being in nature and sharing a just-challenging-enough journey is one of the most effective ways for people young and old to heal, rejuvenate, and feed their soul.”

That’s why we do this work. Because every young person deserves to feel empowered, inspired, and at home in the outdoors. Because healing and transformation don’t just happen—they’re built, day by day, trail by trail, campfire by campfire.

And because sometimes, the greatest magic happens when we just open the door, step outside, and let nature do the rest.

Want to be part of the journey? Here’s how you can get involved:

• Volunteer(Se abre en una nueva ventana) on-trail during our 2026 program season to help guide and support life-changing youth expeditions.
  
  

• Help behind the scenes with front country and administrative volunteering to keep our programs running strong.
  
  

• Share your story—tell us how nature has shaped your life as part of our 35th anniversary storytelling campaign(Se abre en una nueva ventana).
  
  

• Join us on September 21 for a community celebration honoring 35 years of Big City Mountaineers(Se abre en una nueva ventana) in the field.
  
  

Together, we can continue to open the outdoors to more young people—and help the next generation discover just how powerful they truly are.

Photo Credit: Big City Mountaineers