Educators Outdoors
Leadership Training and Support for Educators
AMC’s Educators Outdoors programming offers training and ongoing support to formal and non-formal educators, such as teachers, after-school and community-based organization staff, and more. With the goal of equitable access to the outdoors, we focus our support to schools and youth organizations working in lower-income communities and communities of color in the Greater Boston and Greater New York City.
Enjoy These Educators Outdoors Benefits
Gear Loans
From 8 locations across the Northeast
Outdoor Skills Training
Leadership and Professional Development
AMC Membership
For 2 years
Ongoing Support
Trip planning resources and coaching
Help more young people in your local community experience the outdoors.
Educators Outdoors is an outdoor education, professional development, and social justice program of the Appalachian Mountain Club.
With the goal of equitable access to the outdoors, we offer a series of Outdoor Leadership Trainings across our region for educators from schools and youth organizations in lower-income communities and communities of color. These trainings focus on the technical skills and leadership development needed to successfully lead outdoor experiences for young people.
Educators who complete one of these training courses are eligible for:
- Gear loans from AMC’s eight gear rooms, located across the Northeast
- The opportunity for future professional development through AMC workshops
- Continued support from AMC staff, who are available to review trip itineraries and answer questions
- Need-based subsidized rates at AMC huts, lodges, and camps
- A personal two-year AMC Membership
Educators independently lead outdoors adventures and help to achieve the developmental goals of their youth's schools and organizations. Their stories, success and learnings are informing the way AMC supports the future educators. Join the movement of transforming the outdoors today!
Interested in Educators Outdoors support?
Check out our upcoming trainings
Already completed Outdoor Leadership Training? Log in to the Educators Outdoors Hub.
Our Story
Inspired by the principles of the Civil Rights movement, Educators Outdoors (formerly known as the Youth Opportunities Program) was founded in 1968 in the City of Boston to offer Outdoor Leadership Training to youth-serving agencies in Roxbury, MA. Those trained took their new skills and additional resources from AMC to lead youth on outdoor adventures in New Hampshire.
Today, the program continues to work with communities that face historic and current barriers to outdoor recreation opportunities. Our approach is to “train-the-trainer,” putting skills and resources into the hands of community leaders. This train and support model has successfully grown to sustain over 400 educators per year, who in turn engage thousands of young people with outdoor experiences across New England and the Greater New York City region.