Wilderness Skills Afterschool

Learn skills for camping, hiking, survival, and all things outdoors at Wilderness Skills Afterschool!

Explore the natural world through hands-on activities like nature scavenger hunts, shelter building, wildlife discovery, creek and forest exploration, outdoor games, team challenges, geocaching, nature crafts, and seasonal adventures. 

Every week is a new opportunity to build confidence, make friends, and experience the joy of being outdoors. As seasonal changes bring less light, a canopy, heater, and lantern will create a camping style program space to stay warm and dry.

Join us at your middle school for Wilderness Skills!

Price: $300 per session, bi-weekly payment plan available

Our mission is to make outdoor experiences available to all. Please fill out our sliding scale form if this program is not financially accessible for your family.

Meet Location: We meet students at the front entrance of the following schools:

Session 2: Mason, Meeker

Itinerary

• 2:15–2:30 PM | Arrival & Welcome. Students meet their instructors outside their school to check in, have a snack, play games, and connect with friends as everyone arrives.
• 2:30–4:30 PM | Outdoor Adventure. Depending on the weather and the time of year, this time may include nature hikes at local parks, hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, campfire time, and outdoor games.
• 4:30–5:15 PM | Games, Crafts & Wrap-Up. We return to the school grounds for group games, hands on crafts, and time to share highlights from the day’s adventure.
• 5:15-5:30 | Pick Up. Parents and guardians must pick up students between 5:15 and 5:30 PM.

Photo Gallery

Highlights

Exploration – Outdoor Skills – Building friendships

Difficulty Level

Easy: Outdoor activities in relatively accessible areas

2026-2027 School Year Schedule:

Session 1 September 25-November 20

Session 2 December 4-February 5

Session 3 February 19-April 16

Session 4 April 30-June 11

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“It [Lushootseed] is from the beginning strength of the people, and it is from what the Creator put down upon this land for people…. The earth speaks. The animals speak. Everything has a voice.”

Vi Hilbert, Grandmother Video Project

The Puyallup tribe in their own language call themselves a name that means “people from the bend at the bottom of the river.” They are one of twelve Lushootseed speaking tribes in the Puget Sound region. The language of Lushootseed has vast diversity and multiple dialects, with each group having their own way of speaking. All dialects were to be honored and respected, reflecting the values of Lushootseed culture such as ‘Be kind, be helpful, be sharing.’

The Lushootseed speaking peoples called the mountain that dominated their horizon Tacoma or Tahoma, a word that may have meant “the mother of all waters.” The Puyallup tribe is calling on the state of Washington to rename the mountain from its current official name of “Rainier.”

Today, the Puyallup Tribe is a recognizable force in the fight for tribal rights, and were a significant player in the Boldt Decision of 1974, establishing the rights of Native Americans in Washington State to fish using traditional methods.

~ This information was found on PuyallupTribe.com