Junior-Loppet

 Junior Loppet is a year-round, after-school program designed to empower middle school students in Minneapolis through a variety of outdoor activities, such as cross-country skiing, mountain biking, trail running, orienteering, paddling, camping, and nature exploration. The program targets schools where the majority of students qualify for free and reduced lunch. Junior Loppet fosters key outcomes of experience, healing, belonging, and empowerment. The program meets 2-3 days per week during the school year and runs throughout the summer, offering a combination of training, events, races, and weekend camping trips.

Through these outdoor adventures, students develop healthy habits, enhance their social and emotional skills, and build meaningful connections that set them on a path to success. Junior Loppet creates a supportive environment where youth can grow, thrive, and build resilience through physical activity, teamwork, and personal achievement.

Junior Loppet Summer programming will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants can look forward to paddling, hiking, orienteering, nature connection, team building, archery, gardening, outdoor play, biking, and mountain biking. 

Junior Loppet Littles is an exciting extension of the Junior Loppet program, designed to offer the same empowering outdoor experiences to younger children starting at age 5. By introducing youth to outdoor activities at an earlier age, we believe we can have an even greater impact on their development.

This program provides young participants with the opportunity to build healthy habits, develop social skills, and foster a love for outdoor adventure—all while having fun and learning new skills. Junior Loppet Littles is a foundational step in nurturing resilience, confidence, and a lifelong connection to the outdoors.

Junior Loppet Littles Summer programming will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants can look forward to paddling, hiking, orienteering, nature connection, team building, archery, gardening, outdoor play, biking, and mountain biking.