Explore Austin

Name: Explore Austin
Address: 1211 W. 6th Street Ste. 600 PMB 184, Austin, TX, 78703, US
Telephone: +15123208899
Price range: $

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United States
Austin, TX
Explore Austin

Nonprofit, est. 2006: Free outdoor programs & mentorship for youth from economically disadvantaged communities. Visit us at exploreaustin.org

Are you interested in changing the lives of underserved youth, as well as your own?

09/04/2026

LEARN TO ⛺ camp 🥾 backpack 🧗‍♂️ rock climb 🛶 canoe 🚵‍♂️ mountain bike

MODEL 🤜🤛 leadership 👋 courage 🧭 + a spirit of adventure to Austin-area 6th-12th grade low-income youth

EXPLORE 🤠 Austin and the 🇺🇸 US on week-long summer trips with your team
..for FREE!

BECOME A MENTOR 🍃 Apply to volunteer with Explore Austin today! 👉 https://ow.ly/g4p150ZIOTm

Explore Austin is a 💯% FREE outdoor-adventure and leadership program for Mentors and the youth they serve. Mentors and youth form teams and meet one Saturday per month during the school year to learn and practice outdoor technical skills that they then put to the test on weeklong Summer Wilderness Trips in backcountry destinations across the US.

Learn more about the Mentor role 👉 https://ow.ly/r80g50ZIOTi

09/02/2026

JOB DESCRIPTION & HOW TO APPLY 👉 https://ow.ly/oovX50ZIlH2

The full-time Program Manager of Explorers is an integral member of the Explore Austin program team supporting Explore Austin’s mission, advocating for the youth served in the program, and ensuring the success of operations crucial to a transformative program delivery. This role provides essential support to the Explorers and their families, is motivated to produce detailed work, and is adept at building relationships and supporting the greater community.

More about this role:
〰️ Plans and implements the program recruitment of Explorers in its entirety, including the selection process, and the management of teams
〰️ Supports Director of Programs to ensure Explore Austin is following the most up-to-date protocol on child s*x abuse safety standards in recruitment and screening of Mentors
〰️ Maintains up-to-date records of youth participants, survey results, etc. through the client relations management software, Salesforce
〰️ Fluency in Spanish preferred
〰️ Hybrid in-person and remote work

08/31/2026

📝 Happy Back to School! Explore Austin celebrated the start of a new year at East Austin College Prep, home of the Tigers 🐯

Explore Austin is now recruiting our next class of Explorers and Mentors for our 100% FREE program. Admitted youth and volunteers will begin the program in May 2027:
Explorer application 👉 https://formstack.io/495C5
Mentor application 👉 https://formstack.io/73CB8

08/27/2026

💦🛶 The '27 Stargazerzzz Team canoed the Buffalo National River in Arkansas for their Capstone Summer Wilderness Trip.

An Explorer on the team said:
"I loved canoeing on the Buffalo River and seeing the lovely wildlife, as well as the scenery on the river and the views on this trip."

Clear water and sunny skies were the backdrop for this weeklong trip, where making daily mileage was crucial! Paddle, paddle!

08/24/2026

🔦 BECOME AN EXPLORER!

✔️ Application 👉 https://ow.ly/XWXs50ZC6AV
✔️ Learn more about becoming an Explorer 👉 https://ow.ly/6O7X50ZC6AX
✔️ Accepted applicants will begin the program in May 2027

Explore Austin is now recruiting 6th grade boys and girls to join our 100% free, 6-year program! Youth are placed on teams of 15 peers and 5 adult volunteer Mentors and stay together through high school graduation.

Youth must:
〰️ Qualify for free or reduced lunch in school
〰️ Commit to 1 Saturday per month during the school year for programming
〰️ Commit to a weeklong Summer Wilderness Trip each summer
〰️ Commit to advancing through the program through senior year of high school

Explorers learn the following alongside their Mentors from trained guides -- no prior experience required:
⛺ Camping 🥾 Hiking & Backpacking 🧭 Navigation 🧗 Rock Climbing 🛶 Canoeing 🚵‍♂️ Mountain Biking

08/22/2026

💚 “I never would’ve thought that I would be able to visit West Virginia and North Carolina before I graduated college. People like you have been able to create amazing memories for us for the 6 years we’ve been in this program!” -Explorer, Da Boyz Team

💚 The '27 Da Boyz went on their Capstone (final) Summer Wilderness Trip to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia. This team chose to focus on rock climbing and enjoyed MUCH cooler weather for the week! This team will graduate high school in May 2027, with many applying for college and technical school this fall. We're proud of these Explorers' immense growth in maturity and leadership, and we can't wait to see where they all head next year!

08/21/2026

-- Our Mentor Recruitment Event, generously underwritten by Benchmark Bank - Austin, featured an impressive charcuterie board and beverages, as well as an info session and Q&A with current and alumni Mentors from the Explore Austin program.

Hosted by our Friends of Explore Austin young professionals group, this event afforded attendees had the opportunity to learn about becoming a Mentor with our program and other ways to get involved with us. Interested in becoming a Mentor? Applications are due 9/4 👉 https://ow.ly/1KUO50ZBB6B

🧡 Huge shout-out to our panel of Mentors who shared what it's REALLY like to be an Explore Austin Mentor:
Jacob Summer, '32 Mentor
Jordan Nicklos, '28 Mentor
Kelly Liles, '26 Mentor Alum & current Trip Leader

🧡 And thank you to our Friends of Explore Austin leadership for helping us host this event: Lauren Dwyer, Carolyn Houren, Lyles Carter, and Jacob Summer (double duty!).

08/19/2026

Mentor applications are closing soon -- apply by SEPTEMBER 4️⃣!

✔️ Application 👉 https://ow.ly/4Stv50ZvaTy
✔️ Learn more about becoming a Mentor 👉 https://ow.ly/VT8B50ZvaTC
✔️ Accepted applicants will begin the program in May 2027

Being an Explore Austin Mentor is a six-year, ongoing volunteer experience with youth in 6th-12th grades, with a commitment of one Saturday per month during the academic year and one week in the summer. Mentors learn the following alongside their mentees -- no prior experience required:

⛺ Camping 🥾 Hiking & Backpacking 🧭 Navigation 🧗 Rock Climbing 🛶 Canoeing 🚵‍♂️ Mountain Biking

08/18/2026

🧗‍♂️ The '30 gRizzly Bears capped off their rock-climbing year of the program with a week-long Summer Wilderness Trip to City Of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho. Below, two Mentors and an Explorer parent share their thoughts on this trip:

"What [the Explorers] experienced cannot be put into words. The boys challenged themselves every day both in the climbs and in the daily tasks. They created a space to discuss conflict and what it means to have empathy. They took charge to lead while ensuring safety is met...The boys and I will never forget this experience.” -Mentor

“Muchas gracias y agradecemos sus atenciones cuidados hacia nuestras familias.” ("Thank you very much; we appreciate the care and attention you have shown our families.") -Explorer Parent

"One evening, the Mentors, Trip Leaders, and one Explorer were by the fire. The Explorer asked the adults a question around how we each cope with stress and what mechanisms we use to help us with that. It was a very mature question, and he was really listening to each of our points of view.” -Mentor

08/17/2026

🏔️ The '31 River Otters went on their very first out-of-state Summer Wilderness Trip to backpack in the Pecos Wilderness, New Mexico, where they encountered altitude, much cooler climes, and some truly spectacular views. For many of the Explorers on this team, it was their first time on a plane and their first time spending a week away from home, let alone backpacking!

🗣️ Said Mentor Rosa-Maria:
“I watched the girls really figure out some hard things. They have the power to shape their day, and lift others up, or bring others down. Most realized on their own that lifting others up made the trip better for all of us. A Mentor said, 'Having a great day is a choice.' It was wonderful to see the girls really looking for the positive in these hard, challenging, and wonderful wilderness days!”

Address

1211 W. 6th Street Ste. 600 PMB 184
Austin, TX
78703

Telephone

+15123208899

Website

http://www.exploreaustin.org/

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