Mission & programs
Our Mission is to provide transformative experiences and support so that all High Country teens have the opportunity to lead an empowered, adventurous, and service oriented life, regardless of means or background.
Each year, Mountain Alliance offers over 100 after school and weekend outings with something new every week. These activities provide exciting and thrilling opportunities to push past perceived limitations and gain confidence for the mind and body. The average teen spends over seven hours a day in front of a screen – let’s create a new world for students – a world of wonderment and adventure!
Students can plug in to fit in their schedule. Sign up for one trip a year or 50! And what’s better? It’s free!
Our Core Programs
Outdoor Adventure
Adventure activities challenge and empower students to identify and value their personal strengths, and the strengths of others.
Activities include:
Rock climbing
Caving
Canoeing
Backpacking
Camping
Hiking
Skiing/Snowboarding
Biking
And more!
Adventure activities are designed to shape the confidence of the individual and provide youth with an opportunity to challenge themselves in a supportive and safe environment. Students will learn to overcome obstacles, embrace adversity, and cultivate leadership skills.
Community Service
Through service outings students gain a sense of perspective, understanding and concern for those around them, and a new appreciation for the betterment of the community while gaining insight into social and environmental issues.
Service activities include:
Hospitality House
Wildlife Care Center
Hunger Coalition
National Park Service
Grandfather Mountain
Elk Knob State Park
Hurricane relief projects
Urban Expedition to Washington, DC.
Students will learn to see the impact their actions and decisions have upon themselves and others - a crucial awareness in developing the character of tomorrow’s leaders.
Cultural Activities
Cultural experiences and outings enrich the lives of students through experience and hands on learning.
Activities include:
Local field trips
Contra dancing
Farm trips
Art exhibits
Observatory
Experiencing new and unique cultural events and activities broadens a student’s world view to encourage lifelong learning and curiosity to nurture the adventurous spirit.
Leadership Initiative for Female Teens (LIFT)
LIFT is an empowerment program that enables young females to push their boundaries in a welcoming, supportive, fear-sensitive, ridicule-free environment. This atmosphere is designed to spark students to experiment with new activities, bond with one another, develop inner strength, and try on new roles by hiking in the wilderness, helping others on service trips, interviewing females in male-dominated careers, and much more. LIFT programs are opportunities for girls to try various activities in a positive, encouraging environment, discuss issues they are facing in their lives, and to find a supportive community. These programs may be outdoor adventures, community service, cultural activities, or a combination of these.
Examples of past LIFT Programs include:
Service and wellness weekend retreat to Asheville
Outdoor Cooking
Climbing
Galentine’s Day
Hospitality House Service
And much more!
LIFT is open to all female and female-identifying teens in Avery and Watauga Counties.
After school programs
Need a place to relax after school? Drop by the "School's Out" program in either the Avery High or Watauga High Media Center. No need to register, just come by anytime before the end of the program. This is a great place to do homework, work on projects, get some help with school work, find a tutor, play ping pong, or just chill. We provide free snacks, free school supplies, and assistance with school work available every day.
School's Out is free to any high school aged student in Avery or Watauga.
Open Monday-Thursday (3-5:30pm) in Avery County and Monday-Friday (3:30-6pm) in Watauga County.
Students can come by at any point and for any length of time until the end of the program.
Academic support: School's Out is a great place to work on homework or projects or get some help with school work. We can also help coordinate a tutor in many cases.
Relax: Nothing you want to work on? Feel free to relax, play ping pong, etc.
Free snacks, free school supplies.
School's Out hosts many programs throughout the year such as SAT/ACT prep, exam review, subject tutoring days and much more.
“I truly believe that my son’s involvement with Mountain Alliance has improved the quality and variety of his connections with adults and peers alike. The program has helped him have a place of belonging outside of our family that has spurred him on to developing better relationship in other groups he’s involved with as well at school. ”