Explore Austin
  • Menu
    • Who We Are
    • Get Involved
      • Become a Board Member
      • Corporate Partner Program
      • Join Our Team
    • About Us
    • Our Explorers
    • Our Staff
    • Our Supporters
    • Our Mentors
    • Our Board
    • Press
    • Blog
    • Annual Report
  • Donate
    • Donate Now
    • Give Monthly
    • Trailblazer Campaign
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Our Mentors
    • Our Supporters
  • Impact
    • Blog
    • Press
    • Financials & Annual Reports
Explore Austin
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Mentor
    • Be an Explorer
    • Become a Board Member
    • Corporate Partner Program
    • Join Our Team
  • Ways To Give
    • Donate Now
    • Give Monthly
    • Summit Circle of Giving
    • Trailblazer Campaign

outdoor basics

Homepage outdoor basics

The ABC’s of Backpacking
Outdoors
Backpacking, outdoor basics, trip leader tips

Backpacking is one of the first outdoor activities our Explorers tackle in the Explore Austin program. While it may seem… more

August 16, 2021
0
1643

About Explore Austin

info@exploreaustin.org

(512) 320-8899

Helpful Info

  • Mentor Resources
  • Explorer & Parent Resources
  • Program Calendar
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Join Explore Austin Email List

explore_austin

Explore Austin uses mentoring & outdoor adventure to empower youth to reach their full potential.
Click link to refer an Explorer or make a donation!

Explore Austin
👏 HUGE NEWS! Explore Austin is pleased to annou 👏 HUGE NEWS! Explore Austin is pleased to announce we are the recipients of a 🌟 $35,000 award 🌟 from Austin Community Foundation’s Hispanic Impact Fund! Kathleen Schneeman, CEO and Lauren Zurbrugg, CDO [pictured] attended today’s grants ceremony in celebration. @atxcommunityfdn Explore Austin was awarded a finalist grant in the Leadership Development category. The Hispanic Impact Fund invests in organizations advancing Latino leadership and creating pipelines of youth, emerging and established Latino talent. From Austin Community Foundation: “Latino leadership matters. Although Latinos in Central Texas represent a third of the population, they are not proportionately reflected in key leadership positions across all sectors.” #austinnonprofit #exploreaustin #hispanicimpactfund #austincommunityfoundation #nonprofitgrant #outdooradventure #youthempowerment #latinoempowerment
Happy Holidays from Explore Austin! Whether you're Happy Holidays from Explore Austin! Whether you're planning on climbing mountains as the year draws to a close or are simply looking forward to a well-deserved break, we hope you're doing something you love with the people you love. Let the festivities commence! 🏔️❄️⛄ How do you celebrate in December? Let us know by dropping a comment! #happyholidays #exploreaustin #getoutside #winterbreak #austinnonprofit #december #celebratetheholidays #climbmountains #youthempowerment
🥾 BECOME AN EXPLORER! Applications are now live 🥾 BECOME AN EXPLORER! Applications are now live for our program, with admitted youth joining Explore Austin in late spring 2024. APPLY at our #linkinbio! Applications will close in late January 2024. Explore Austin is a 100% free program for youth who qualify for free or reduced lunch in school. Those accepted join a team of 15 Explorers and five adult volunteer Mentors in the spring of sixth grade, staying together through high school graduation. Questions? Feel free to DM us! #exploreaustin #austinnonprofit #becomeanexplorer #explore #oudooradventureprogram #experientaleducation
⏰ #GivingTuesday is here! All gifts today only a ⏰ #GivingTuesday is here! All gifts today only are TRIPLED thanks to generous challenge matches from Endeavor Real Estate Group and The Cooper Matthews Foundation. GIVE NOW 🫶 at our #linkinbio before midnight! Thank you for your commitment to Explore Austin. We hope you’ll give and spread the word about our one-day triple match opportunity 🧡🚴‍♂️🧡 #givethanks #austinnonprofit #supportnonprofits #givingtuesday2023 #exploreaustin #givenow #gratitude #supportouryouth #youthempowerment #outdooradventure
#GivingTuesday is TOMORROW! Time to get ready! 🫶 Your gift or pledge to Explore Austin will be 🌟 TRIPLED 🌟 tomorrow only thanks to generous challenge matches from Endeavor Real Estate Group @endeavor_re and The Cooper Matthews Foundation. Our program is 100% free for over 250 of Austin’s youth from economically disadvantaged communities. It is because of you – our supporters – that we’ve been able to offer and expand our program since 2006. In this season of giving thanks, we'd be so grateful if you'd make your plan today to give to Explore Austin tomorrow 💙🧡 #givethanks #austinnonprofit #supportnonprofits #givingtuesday2023 #exploreaustin #givenow #gratitude #supportouryouth #youthempowerment #outdooradventure
As we enter this holiday season, think about doing As we enter this holiday season, think about doing some shopping for good! 🛍️ 👍 Cross those names off your holiday gift list and give back to Explore Austin at the same time! Explore Austin was selected as a recipient of the Buffalo Exchange @buffaloexchange Tokens for Bags® program through December 2023. You can donate to Explore Austin just by shopping at Buffalo Exchange on the corner of 29th and Guadalupe Streets! Yep, it's that easy! 👍 Instead of a plastic bag, the Tokens for Bags® program offers every customer who makes a purchase one “token” valued at five cents (the cost to produce a bag) to donate to one of several local charities selected by the store. The program has generated over $926,025 for hundreds of local nonprofit organizations since 1994 and has saved over 18.5 million plastic bags from the landfill ♻️ #buffaloexchange #buffaloexchangeaustin #tokensforbags #tokensforbagsbuffaloexchange #austinnonprofit #exploreaustin #supportnonprofits #supportexploreaustin #nonprofitsupport #charity #shopforgood
The global charitable giving movement #GivingTuesd The global charitable giving movement #GivingTuesday is in 1️⃣ week! Help us change lives, one adventure at a time, by giving to Explore Austin on ⭐ Tuesday, November 28 ⭐ Your gift or pledge to Explore Austin will be TRIPLED this day only thanks to generous challenge matches from Endeavor Real Estate Group @endeavor_re and The Cooper Matthews Foundation. In this season of giving thanks, we'd be so grateful if you'd make your plan today to give to Explore Austin next week 💙🧡 #givethanks #austinnonprofit #supportnonprofits #givingtuesday2023 #exploreaustin #givenow #gratitude #supportouryouth #youthempowerment #outdooradventure
In this season of giving thanks, we'd like to expr In this season of giving thanks, we'd like to express our gratitude to our Mentors, Supporters, Explorers and their families! 🧡 Our Mentors commit six years to our Explorers, spending an average of 1,300 hours volunteering per child. 🧡 Our Explorers and their families also make a six-year commitment, with Explorers spending 1,100+ hours in nature over the course of the program, mastering a variety of outdoor skills. 🧡 Our Supporters are our "tentpoles," helping make our programming possible. From all of us at Explore Austin, we wish you a very cozy end of the year filled with loved ones, delicious food and celebration 🍂 🥧 🥔 🦃 #exploreaustin #seasonofgiving #seasonofgratitude #givethanks #youthempowerment #austinnonprofit #nonprofit #gratitude
🪧 The Trailblazer campaign is coming to an end 🪧 The Trailblazer campaign is coming to an end this Friday, November 17 at 11:59 pm! Thanks to your generosity and amazing fundraising efforts, we have raised over $51,000 for our program, 46% of our $110,000 goal. All gifts through Nov 17 will be matched by The Cooper Matthews Foundation. 💪 Let's finish strong! In these final days, you can help us meet our goal in 2️⃣ ways: 🧡 FUNDRAISE! It's not too late! Set up your page at our #linkinbio 🧡 DONATE to the campaign! Go to the above link and click the DONATE NOW button. If you have questions or need help setting up your page, please DM us! The funds raised from Trailblazer will underwrite the cost of 4️⃣ new teams to start the program in 2024 and allow us to purchase replacement gear 🛶 🚲 #exploreaustin #trailblazer #youthempowerment #getoutside #peertopeerfundraising #austinnonprofit #outdooradventure #supportexploreaustin #donate #fundraiser #austinfundraiser
The photos are in from the Second Annual ATX Paddl The photos are in from the Second Annual ATX Paddle Dash! A HUGE thank you to @rowingdock, who hosted the event, with 100% of proceeds benefiting Explore Austin. Thank you so much to everyone who came out for it, and to our sponsors for helping make this event possible 🚣‍♀️🚣🚣‍♂️ We had an absolute blast! 📸 See the full album of photos at our #linkinbio! 2023 #ATXPaddleDash Sponsors 💦 @americancampus💦 @applied__materials 💦 @aptusengineering 💦 @gossamergear 💦 @endeavor_re 💦 @austinsubaru 💦 @lifeatsailpoint #exploreaustin #kayakaustin #canoeaustin #austinnonprofit #americancampuscommunities #appliedmaterials #aptusengineering #gossamergear #endeavorrealestate #austinsubaru #subaru #sailpoint
Explore Austin Trip Leaders and staff scouted out Explore Austin Trip Leaders and staff scouted out biking trails at Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park in South Austin recently in advance of Saturday Challenges 🚴‍♀️ 🚵‍♂️ 🚴‍♂️ The park is a popular spot for mountain biking, and we can't wait for our Explorers and Mentors to put their newly acquired skills to the test there! #exploreaustin #marymooresearightmetropark #austinparks #girlswhobike #austinmountainbikers #bikeaustin #austinbikers #bikeatx
Happy Friday! How is it already November?!? With Happy Friday! How is it already November?!? With the holidays in sight, there's a lot to celebrate. And speaking of, Explore Austin recently participated in the @greateraustinymca North Austin YMCA's 10 Years of Community celebration at their Annual Fall Harvest 🍂 Current Mentor and EA Ambassador Kelly @kgliles helped us table at the event (first photo). 👉 Interested in becoming an Ambassador for the Explore Austin program? DM us to get started! #friday #ymcaaustin #ymca #fallharvest #exploreaustin #youthempowerment
🧡 We made our match 🧡 Thanks to your fundrai 🧡 We made our match 🧡 Thanks to your fundraising efforts and the generous $10,000 match from @gossamergear, we are now at $46,000 raised during Trailblazer, 42% of our $110,000 campaign goal! 🥾 Trailblazer has been extended through November 17, so there's still time to create your fundraising page and/or donate to the campaign. Go here to get started 👉 https://ow.ly/Prk050Q34ab These funds will help us to continue providing the Explore Austin program, free of charge, to our Explorers and Mentors. Let's finish out these last couple of weeks strong 🦾 #exploreaustin #austinnonprofit #nonprofitfundraiser #youthempowerment #getoutside #trailblazercampaign #donatenow #givetoday #giveatx #ilivehereigivehere
Happy Halloween and Happy Día de los Muertos 💀 Happy Halloween and Happy Día de los Muertos 💀 (tomorrow!). Explore Austin staff and Mentor Lezeth from the '24 Mafia Explorer team tabled at a Día de los Muertos community event hosted by the YWCA @ywatx on Friday in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Enjoy these photos from the event! #ywca #diadelosmuertos #happyhalloween #exploreaustin #youthempowerment #halloween #celebrate #hispanicheritagemonth
We have an exciting announcement: Explore Austin p We have an exciting announcement: Explore Austin partner @gossamergear is matching the next $10,000 worth of gifts to the Trailblazer campaign, Explore Austin's annual peer-to-peer fundraiser!! 🙌 We're at $33,480 raised of our $110,000 goal -- will you help us get there? Here are two simple things you can do: 🧡 Fundraise for DOUBLE THE IMPACT. Set up your page at our #linkinbio! 🧡 DONATE to the Trailblazer Campaign for DOUBLE THE IMPACT at the above link by clicking the DONATE NOW button. Every dollar counts! If you have questions or need help setting up your page, please DM us! The funds raised from Trailblazer will underwrite the cost of 4️⃣ new teams to start the program in 2024 and allow us to purchase replacement canoes and mountain bikes 🛶 🚲 #exploreaustin #trailblazer #youthempowerment #getoutside #peertopeerfundraising #austinnonprofit #outdooradventure #supportexploreaustin #donate #fundraiser #austinfundraiser
HUGE NEWS! Explore Austin's @sxswedu panel proposa HUGE NEWS! Explore Austin's @sxswedu panel proposal was selected from among 1,600+ submissions in PanelPicker®! Our panel will take place during SXSW EDU (March 4-7, 2024 -- specific day/time to be determined) and will include the following experts: 🌱 The Nature Gap: Why "Outdoors for All" Matters 🌱 🧡 Moderator: 🎤 David Buggs, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department @texasparkswildlife 🧡 Speakers: 🎤 Josie Gutierrez @chicafuera, San Antonio Regional Coordinator, Latino Outdoors @latinooutdoors_satx @latinooutdoors 🎤 Thurman Hogan @thurm_iii, Operations Manager, Black Outside @blackoutside_inc 🎤 Dr. Christine Norton @outdoortherapydoc, Professor, Texas State University School of Social Work & Research Scientist, Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center @txst Will you be at SXSW EDU? If so, let us know in the comments! #sxsw #sxswedu #sxswpanelpicker #panelpicker #exploreaustin #getoutside #exploreaustinpanel #diversityandinclusionintheoutdoors #outdoorbenefits #outdooradventure #nature #austinnonprofit #youthempowerment #socialemotionallearning #southbysouthwest
Load More Follow on Instagram
Copyright © 2023 Explore Austin. All Rights Reserved. Tax Info
SearchPostsLogin
Monday, 11, Sep
New Board Member Spotlight: Wendy Papasan
Thursday, 6, Jul
Trip Leader Tuesday: Liya Scott expects the unexpected
Wednesday, 21, Jun
2023 Summer Wilderness Trip Locations
Friday, 26, May
Trip Leader Tuesday: Henry Adamson is here for the Mission
Monday, 15, May
Trip Leader Tuesday: Mollie Binion knows resilience
Wednesday, 15, Feb
New Board Member Spotlight: Lenar A. Cantu

Welcome back,