Be Wild speaker series aims to inspire love of the outdoors

Go outside.

That’s the basic message of The Mountaineers.

The Mountaineers are, of course, well known for climbing. But they also offer a variety of different activities, such as sea kayaking and a naturalists course.

A new speakers series, Be Wild, begins on April 15. It’s intended to interest regular adventurers and encourage more people to get outside.

“We believe it is our responsibility to introduce people to the outdoors at all levels,” says Martinique Grigg, Executive Director of The Mountaineers.

The speakers are:

Ben Stookesberry, April 17: Stookesberry is a kayak guide and was National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year in 2007. He has also won a number of film festival awards. He will present his film “Walled In” and talk about the inspirations and explorations of his kayaking career.

Expedition Denali, May 16: Members of the first all-African American team to climb Mount Denali will talk about the value of diversity in the outdoors. Tyrhee Moore and Rosemary Saal will talk about the expedition and their efforts to pave a way for young people of color to get outside and be active.

Tami Asars, June 20: Asars is a guidebook writer and avid hiker and backpacker. She’ll talk about the stunning hikes and backpacks she has done, many of them in Washington. Asars is the author of “Hiking the Wonderland Trail” and “Day Hiking Mount Adams and Goat Rocks.”

Douglas Chadwick and Steven Gnam, July 24: Chadwick is a renowned wildlife biologist and contributor to National Geographic. Gnam is a photographer. Together, they will talk about and share images from the Rockies. In a multimedia presentation, they will present images and stories from their book “The Wildest Rockies.”

The full series is $60 for nonmembers and $48 for Mountaineers members. A limited number of tickets, $18 each, will be available two weeks prior to the event. Get more information or tickets here. All events are The Mountaineers program Center in Seattle.