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Unlock Adventure—Learn, Level Up, and Find your Crew | RSVPs start May 22!
This isn’t just one-time program—it’s a gateway to adventure. You’ll gain the skills, confidence, and practical know-how to engage the backcountry, whether solo, by forming your own tight-knit crew, joining organized trips, or crossing paths with others who match your energy, drive, and ambition.
Over the course of this KC-area Beginning Backpacking Program, we’ll break down key skills, tackle a weekend backcountry trip, and see who’s ready to embrace the backpacking lifestyle. Some will take what they learn and venture out on their own, while others may find the right mix of people with whom to keep exploring—because when the right combination of experience, mindset, and enthusiasm comes together, the trail has a way of leading to more.
If you’re injury-free, in good health, and already comfortable with hiking—or keep your fitness high —this is your chance to level up. Whether you’re looking to dive into backpacking as a lifelong pursuit or want to rebaseline your skills and connect with the right people, this is built for you.
For Those Ready to Take Backpacking Seriously
We have content for several learning styles. We’ll provide a curated reading list and expert content to review, but it’s on you to study up. The more effort you put in, the faster you’ll accelerate your backpacking chops—and trust us, that’ll pay off on the trail. The classroom day is part discussion, part hands-on skill demos—because reading about pitching a tent won’t help when it’s 2 AM and your rainfly is upside down. And then we get repetitions in out in the field on the trip.
### How Do You Get In?
First, read everything—seriously, don’t skim. The details matter.
Then, join the waitlist. If we’re in sync, you’ll get a survey to complete. Make sure you use an email that lasts—it’s how we’ll stay in touch.
Sign-up workflow: RSVP on the Meetup waitlist — Complete the Google survey promptly when we send it — Get approval confirmation — Pay $75 via Paypal — Accept the Slack invitation but also continue to monitor this Meetup site throughout. [Please note: One person handles the sign-up drudgery for us—it’s a total PIT*, and we don’t monitor or respond 24/7. Expect our actions in the workflow to come through as time allows, not at lightning speed. So sign up properly, be patient for the steps to unfold in the sequence shown, and we’ll get back to you.]
There are spots for ≈14 people who fully sign up quickly.
About that organized group thing: you'll find National Sierra Club offers a variety of big-league adventures!
Need gear? We’ve got (some of) you covered—literally.
Our small but mighty gear library has sleeping bags, pads, tents, backpacks, and stoves available for Sierra Club members. Since this is just for a couple of folks, sorting it out takes time, which can influence the pace of the sign-up process as we work through things [wouldn't want to sign someone up who needs this kit if it's already commited...] Want in? Join the Sierra Club for as little as $15 and unlock access to the essentials.
About the program price: We're holding the line at $75 this last time but it will go up in 2026. The $ helps to finance the gear library, support leadership training & trail maintenance. The instructors volunteer their time w/o compensation. Refunds are not available if requested less than 30 days b4 the 1st activity.
### Activities: Learn by Doing
We’ve streamlined the time commitment—focused discussion plus hands-on kinetic learning. Expect essential backpacking concepts explained up front, then reinforced through practical how-to sessions. It’s about building skills, gaining confidence, and getting repetitions in —because there’s no substitute for learning by doing.
#### 📍 8/16/25 – Backpacking Skills Class
🕘 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM | Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, KCMO
We’ll cover key backpacking principles before diving into hands-on skill demos on select essential skills—things like filtering water, pitching tents, preventing blisters, hanging bear (varmint) bags, firing up a stove, lacing footwear properly, setting up a sleep system, staying warm at night, using hiking poles, seam-sealing a tent, loading a backpack, and more. The exact lineup may vary, but expect to get plenty of practical experience. You'll have AMPLE time to get your gear together after the class for the actual trip. We would have had the class closer to the backpacking trip, but we'll be out backpacking.
Late September or Early October - Shakedown Hike at Shawnee Mission or Kill Creek Park TBA. Bring your loaded backpacks and walk five miles with us, to get the feel of it all before the backpacking trip. This can help you dial it all in, for real. Probably on a weekend day. We will schedule this for fair weather, so about a week ahead of time. Possibly two of these, TBD.
#### ⛰️ 10/24/25 – 10/26/25 – Backpacking Trip (TBA)
🕣 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM | ≈ 4 hours from KC This is the real deal—time to apply everything in a live backcountry setting. The leader(s) might bring a dog(s) for trail companionship. You will PROVIDE AND USE ALL YOUR OWN KIT [READ THE LIST AT THE LINK!] and consumables like food, water, meds, and stove fuel.
PRIOR SESSIONS GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THINGS
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Participants complete a standard participant agreement & medical form in class.
Bring a personal 1st aid kit to all activities.
The activities officially begin & end @ the locations designated by Sierra Club, & don't include carpooling, transportation, or transit to & from them; each participant is personally responsible for all risks associated with this travel. Account for travel time when planning.
Level: Moderate
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