Pinecones
Pinecones
Pinecones offers kids ages seven to eleven a selection of trips introducing them to the many fun ways to interact with the natural world. Whether its hiking, snowshoeing, caving, or heading out on an overnight backpacking trip, participants will be able to choose events that fit their interests and abilities. We also have special events such as hunting for quartz crystals, fishing trips, and naturalist classes that are available for limited dates during the year!
We offer a discounted parent or guardian rate for overnight trips, snowshoeing trips, and caving trips. If you would like to accompany a Pinecones age child on any of the other adventures, please contact us.
Special Events
Quartz Crystals
Dig through a local quartz deposit to find crystals hidden in the ground! Children will come home with dirty clothes, quartz crystals, and the memory of a delightful hands-on geological experience.
Price: $110 per child.
Includes gear rental if needed and all permits and entry fees.
Itinerary: 9 AM to 3 PM
Meet Location: Hwy 512 Park and Ride for transport to and from the North Bend area.
Please note that your child will be digging through the dirt in search of mineral deposits, and send them with clothes and shoes that are appropriate.
Highlights
Exploration – Growing and learning in the outdoors – Building friendships
Difficulty Level
Easy-Intermediate: Achievable events that may challenge some participants.
Age:
Seven to eleven-year-olds
2023 Schedule:
October 14: Quartz Crystals
October 28: Caving
November 4: Survival Skills
November 18: Survival Skills
Our mission is to make outdoor recreation accessible to all. If you cannot afford the total cost of a Pinecones trip right now, send us a brief message to request sliding scale pricing.
Day Trips
Caving
Explore the lava tube caves near Mt. St. Helens and learn about the geology of this unique volcanic area.
Price: $110 per child, $70 for accompanying adult. (Please only one adult per child, as space is limited)
Includes gear rental if needed and all permits and entry fees.
Itinerary: 8 AM to 4-5 PM
Meet Location: Hwy 512 Park and Ride for transport to and from Mt. St. Helens.
Survival Skills
Spend a day in the woods learning survival skills and bushcraft such as shelter making, tracking, and camouflage.
Price: $110 per child.
Includes gear rental if needed and all permits and entry fees.
Itinerary: 9 AM to 3 PM
Meet Location: Point Defiance Park, at the first Fort Nisqually parking lot.
Snowshoeing
Explore the winter forests on a guided snowshoeing hike.
Price: $110 per child, $70 for accompanying adult. (Please only one adult per child, as space is limited)
Includes snowshoes, trekking poles if needed, transportation, and all permits and entrance fees
Itinerary: 8 AM meet time, snowshoe from 10 to 2 or 3 PM, arrive back in Tacoma by 4-5 PM.
Meet Location: Hwy 512 Park and Ride for transport to and from Paradise at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Overnight Trips
Backpacking
Camp out on the trail on this great introductory backpacking trip.
Price: $300 per child, $200 for accompanying adult. Limited to one adult per child.
Includes all gear rental, transportation, food, and all permits and passes.
Itinerary: 2 days: 8 AM the first day to 4-5 PM the second day
Location: North Fork of the Skokomish River, transportation provided from Edgewood.
*Our minimum number of students for each trip is 4. If at least four students are not signed up, participants will be refunded for the canceled trip.
Paperwork
Photo Gallery
Indigenous Land
Puyallup
“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