Volunteer with Sierra Club's Seattle Inspiring Connections Outdoors
Seattle Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) began as part of the Seattle Group of the Sierra Club in 1991, and has grown to become one of the most active ICO programs in the National Sierra Club. The first ICO group was established in 1971 as part of the San Francisco Bay Sierra Club Chapter. There are now approximately 50 groups across the country serving thousands of participants each year. Seattle ICO operates as an all-volunteer organization in partnership with a small group of selected partner schools/nonprofit agencies.
It serves several hundred of Seattle's inner-city youths each year, providing them with opportunities to go hiking, camping, canoeing, sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, backpacking, rafting, kayaking, and more. Currently, Seattle ICO's partner organizations include: Franklin High School, Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, Nathan Hale High School, Madrona K-8 School, Asa Mercer Middle School, Rainier Beach High School, Showalter Middle School, South Shore K-8, Tukwila Elementary School, Washington Middle School, and the EYES Youth Leader team.
How Does Seattle ICO Select Volunteers?
Seattle ICO is an all-volunteer organization. Since its beginning Seattle ICO has experienced a steady and carefully planned increase in leaders, partner schools/agencies, and the number of youths it serves. Seattle ICO's continued growth depends on its ability to attract new revenue sources, new equipment, and most of all a select group of new volunteers who want to both lead outings AND participate in activities that help sustain the organization. Non-outing activities include event planning, fundraising, public relations, marketing, financial reporting, steering, committee participation and more. Seattle ICO invites interested individuals to carefully review what Seattle ICO expects and needs from its volunteers before applying to become an ICO leader.
New Seattle ICO leaders will be expected to:
- Participate in the annual September New Leader Training weekend on September 7th & 8th, 2019 ($45 fee)
- Maintain current membership in the Sierra Club (membership rates vary-standard rate is $38)
- Successfully pass required background checks (References, Excel Screening online)
- Become certified in First Aid and CPR (within three months of completing training)
- Become an active leader on one of ICO's established school/agency teams
- Contribute to ICO's organizational development needs
- Help Seattle ICO become an even stronger and more active program
- Have fun and work together with other ICO leaders to serve Seattle's inner-city youth
- Non-outing activities include: event planning, fundraising, public relations, marketing, financial reporting, steering, committee participation and more
How Do Interested Volunteers Apply?
Seattle ICO's work is currently on-hold. When the COVID-19 situation improves, then Seattle ICO will resume leading trips for Seattle-area students.
Please check back for updates or you can ask questions about volunteering through our Contact page.