Coombs Outdoors Youth Outdoor Programs

Coombs Outdoors Youth Outdoor Programs offers Activate summer camps, fall swimming lessons, adventure program afternoons, winter ski lessons, winter snowboard lessons, Rockchuck Racers, Engage day camp, Engage sports-specific activities, Engage backpacking trips, Engage Yellowstone adventure trips, and an Empower internship program. Activities listed include hiking, swimming, art projects, team games, mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running, fly fishing, river sports, camping, kayaking, and backpacking.

Programs

• Activate summer camps — Participants who are entering grades 1-5; current K-4 · Monday-Thursday, 8:30 am-3:45 pm · $100–$200 · Day camps; participants choose up to 3 preferred weeks and are assigned 1-3 weeks based on a lottery. New families are invited to fill out the inquiry below the information for camp registration.
• Activate fall swimming lessons — Participants in grades 1-5, beginner swim level · Wednesdays after school · $50 · Two class times are offered: 3:30-4:15 and 4:30-5:15.
• Activate adventure program — Participants in grades 1-5 · Tuesdays or Thursdays after school · $50 · Participants explore natural places in town. The group meets at Snow King Park by the school activity bus.
• Winter ski lessons — Participants in grades 1-5, all levels · Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4-6 pm; Saturday 9:30 am-12 pm or 1-3:30 pm; Sunday 1-3:30 pm · $200 · Lessons at Snow King. Includes skis, boots, a lift pass for lesson day, and a Coombs jacket.
• Rockchuck Racers — Participants in grades 3-5 · Saturdays 9 am-2 pm · $200
• Winter snowboard lessons — Participants in grades 1-5, all levels · Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4-6 pm; Saturday 1-3:30 pm · $200 · Lessons at Snow King. Includes board, boots, a lift pass for lesson day, and a Coombs jacket.
• Backpacking-based summer camp — Participants in grades current 5-11 · $100 · Listed under Engage programs; travel and multi-day backpacking camp options are described in the summer camp information.
• Engage day camp — Participants in grades current 5-11 · Monday-Thursday, 9:00 am-3:30 pm · $100 · Each day includes different outdoor activities around Jackson, including hiking, swimming, art projects, team games, and more.
• Engage sports-specific activities — Participants in grades current 5-11 · One day each week for 8 weeks; afternoons approx. 5:00-7:00 pm or all day 9:00 am-4:00 pm · $100 · Activities listed include mountain biking, rock climbing, trail running, swim lessons, fly fishing, and river sports.
• Engage backpacking trips — Participants in grades current 5-11 · $100 · Different levels and durations are offered, including Grand Teton and Yellowstone trips, plus a leadership trip.
• Engage Yellowstone adventure trips — Participants in grades current 5-11 · $100 · For participants with camping experience who want a longer trip; Coombs goes with Wilderness Adventures to camp, kayak in Yellowstone lakes, and backpack.
• Empower internship program — Participants in grades current 9-12 · Program of internships for older participants.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Price range: $50–$200
• General schedule: Year-round programming is offered. Summer camps are Monday-Thursday during assigned weeks. Fall programs run one day each week for 8 weeks. Winter programs meet weekly, with some after-school options and weekend options.

About the provider

Emily Coombs founded the Doug Coombs Foundation in 2012. The organization became Coombs Outdoors in 2017 and now serves over 450 kids in over 20 programs throughout the year. Its mission is to break down cultural, financial, and knowledge barriers by providing year-round outdoor programming for youth from Kindergarten through high school. Coombs supports Camina Conmigo, which provides outdoor recreation opportunities for adults and families in Jackson's Latinx community, and it works with local outdoor partners and the Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club.

The cost should not be a barrier to participation. New families are invited to inquire for camp registration. Participants may choose preferred weeks for Activate camps and are assigned weeks based on a lottery. For winter lessons, Coombs staff organizes groups by preferred days and confirms placement. Some programs are for current grade levels and some are for participants entering those grades.

What families say

“The Coombs Foundation is like my second family.” — Esbeidy

“Skiing has taught me to never give up. You have to push yourself, and you might fall, but having failures happens along the way to succeeding. To me, skiing means having courage, being brave, and most importantly: having fun.” — Esbeidy

“The most impressive thing about what Coombs does is the scaffolding they offer to their program participants to be authentically empowered, practiced, and knowledgeable leaders in the outdoors, and in life.” — Maddie Johnson, Teton County Search & Rescue Foundation

Last updated September 26, 2026.