Big City Mountaineers Announces Expanded Programming and Youth Partners for 2026

February 12, 2026

The organization announces local partners and new spring and fall programs in three markets

ARVADA, Colo. – February 12, 2026 /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Big City Mountaineers (BCM), the nonprofit dedicated to providing transformative outdoor experiences for youth from disinvested communities across five regions in the United States, is pleased to announce its youth agency partners and an expanded multi-season program calendar for 2026.

To best reach the communities that will benefit from Big City Mountaineers programs, BCM partners with youth agencies within the Birmingham, Denver, Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Seattle regions, offering programs to youth who have historically faced barriers to accessing the outdoors.

For 2026, BCM’s youth agency partners are:

• Birmingham: Build Up Community School, Elevate Birmingham, Holy Family Cristo Rey High School, Huffman Outdoor Adventure Club, Magic City Acceptance Academy, Touching Miami With Love, and Youth Serve.
• Denver: Atlas Schools, Boulder Preparatory High School, Denver City LAX, PlatteForum, and William Smith High School.
• Minneapolis: Ascension Catholic School, Banaadir Academy, Community of Peace Academy, Exploration High School, MTS Secondary, Saint Peter Claver, Urban Boat Builders, and Lake Street Works by Urban Ventures.
• San Francisco Bay Area: Acta Non Verba Farm, Brothers On The Rise, Earth Team, East Oakland Boxing Association, Life Learning Academy, Old Skool Cafe, Real Options for City Kids SF, Westmoor High School, and YES Nature to Neighborhoods.
• Seattle: Braided Seeds, BRAVE, Community for Youth, Neighborhood House, Seattle Nativity School, Summer Search Seattle, and Young Women Empowered.

The partner model is central to BCM’s mission, allowing BCM to meet students where they are academically, socially, and geographically, while providing consistent adult support prior to and throughout each backcountry program experience.

Previously, BCM offered youth sessions only during the summer season. New for 2026, BCM will now offer a calendar of spring, summer, and fall programs across three of its five flagship locations, including Birmingham, San Francisco, and Seattle. This shift comes in response to growing interest from BCM’s youth-serving partners and a desire to create more opportunities for young people to get outside. By spreading programs across more weeks of the year, the organization will increase overall capacity, better serve its communities, and maintain a balanced cadence of programming. BCM’s Colorado and Minnesota programs will continue to take place primarily during the summer, with plans of expansion in the future.

“It’s a pivotal time to be leading an organization focused on expanding access for young people outdoors,” said Elizabeth Williams, Executive Director. “By working closely with our youth partners and expanding programs beyond the summer months, BCM is able to create more consistent opportunities in nature for connection, growth, and belonging. We are eager to welcome youth and volunteers back into the BCM network in 2026 with a refreshed schedule that better reflects the needs of the communities we serve, supported by a deeply engaged network of youth partners.”

Big City Mountaineers will begin its on-trail programming in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area on February 28, 2026. For more information, visit www.bigcitymountaineers.org.

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About Big City Mountaineers

Big City Mountaineers (BCM) offers free, fully outfitted outdoor experiences for youth ages 12 to 18 that support social-emotional well-being and promote positive youth development. Through close partnerships with community-based youth agencies, BCM removes systemic barriers to outdoor access, creating space for young people to experience belonging, growth, and shared challenge while building confidence, resilience, leadership skills, and a lasting relationship with the outdoors. BCM operates youth programs in five major metropolitan areas nationwide: Birmingham, AL; Denver, CO; Minneapolis, MN; the San Francisco Bay Area, CA; and Seattle, WA. Learn more at bigcitymountaineers.org or follow BCM on Instagram and Facebook.