Seattle Inner City Outings (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: Cleveland High School, Madrona Elementary, Asa Mercer International 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 (Inspiring Connections Outdoors) is seeking new volunteers for our 2019-2020 school year. If you're interested in volunteering attending our New Leader Training is the best way to get involved. At the end of each summer, we rent a cabin up at Snoqualmie and spend the weekend training new volunteers with everything on how to plan our trips to how to engage youth with outdoor education. It's also a great way to meet other individuals who are passionate about sharing and inspiring people to enjoy the great outdoors.
New Seattle ICO leaders will be expected to:
Participate in the annual late-summer New Leader Training weekend:
- Maintain current membership in the Sierra Club (membership rates vary-standard rate is $25)
- 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