Youth Opportunities

Neighborhood

BRIAN COYLE COMMUNITY CENTER

The Brian Coyle Community Center is located a few blocks away from Midwest Mountaineering.  It serves primarily Somali youth.  For the past few years we have taken the youth from the Brian Coyle Community Center kayaking on Lake Nokomis, hiking along the Mississippi River and climbing in our Climbing Cave.

This year Midwest Mountaineering owner Rod Johnson is leading a group of youth from the Brian Coyle Community Center on an eight day BWCA trip through the Big City Mountaineers.

They’ve had a great time and so have we!

Sending Youth to Camp

Midwest Mountaineering, YMCA Camp Menogyn, Outward Bound and other sponsors have partnered to send kids to camp to experience canoeing, climbing or backpacking.  In 2010 we sent 10 kids.  During the summer of 2011 we sent 22 kids to camp that could not afford to go.

Want to help kids experience the wilderness?  Midwest Mountaineering will match tax-deductible donations!  Please consider supporting this unique effort to offer wilderness experiences for teens that could otherwise not afford it.  In addition to Camp Menogyn and Outward Bound offering camperships for half price, Midwest Mountaineering will match your tax-deductible donation, dollar for dollar.  Just write your donation check to either YMCA Camp Menogyn or Outward Bound.  Any amount would be helpful.  Please send your check to the attention of Rod Johnson, Midwest Mountaineering, 309 Cedar Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55454.

Contact Rod Johnson for more information: .

Venturing Crew

Midwest Mountaineering sponsors a Venturing Crew.  Venturing's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.  Venturing is a co-ed youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young adults who have completed 8th grade and are under 21 years of age.  The Venturing Crew follows Midwest Mountaineering's lead - non-political, non-religious and non-discriminatory.

The Venturing Crew goes backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter camping.  The Crew meets weeknights bimonthly at Midwest Mountaineering or nearby areas.  Many activities the Crew does are free of charge, some Crew activities have costs associated with them.

Venturing Crew members say that because of Venturing they:
- Made new friends.
- Had opportunities to go places and do things I had never experienced.
- Learned to get along with people different from myself.
- Practiced skills of cooperation and teamwork.
- Had an adult to talk with about important issues.
- Was encouraged to share my ideas and opinions.
- Being a Venturer has taught me to have more self-confidence.
- Activities in Venturing helped me prepare for the future.

Upcoming Midwest Mountaineering Venturing Crew Events:
- Tuesday, July 28, 6:30 pm: Climbing at Midwest Mountaineering
- Monday, August 15, 6:00 pm: Kayaking on Lake Nokomis
- Tuesday, September 13, 6:00 pm: Kayaking – location to be determined.

We are in the process of planning climbing activities as well as a campout.  The Crew is considering trips to the BWCA and Philmont next year.  In Venturing the youth initiate and plan activities and trips.  However, leaders are needed as well.  We welcome parents of participating kids and other interested adults to volunteer their time to lead the Venturing Crew.  For more information contact Bear Paulsen or James Swanson (Crew Advisor) .