With 224 students across two chapters, Post 58 is a nonprofit that brings together Portland area teens from different high schools by organizing excursions into the outdoors. Trips vary year to year, from hiking Mount St. Helens, sailing in the San Juans and mountaineering in the Purcell Mountains in Canada. For each chapter, there are over 100 trips planned by the students throughout the year.
“It was really a life-altering experience,” said Jacob Case, former member of and current director of Post 58. “The Post was a real light bulb moment for me. The climbing and community aspect of it was really appealing.”
Post 58 was founded by Peter Green in 1993 a former director of Camp Nor’wester who worked as a lead climbing and hiking guide. Post 58 was initially based out of Lincoln High School and was created to provide outdoor climbing adventures for students with a low cost.
“We were aware of a number of experienced climbers in the area who were willing to help lead mountaineering and rock climbing trips for students,” said Green. “But there was no structure to provide that opportunity.”
Within two and a half years, the organization had grown to 80 students and became a gathering place for teens around Portland to learn new skills and be themselves.
“It felt like the only place where I could learn how to climb mountains,” said Lila Fenner, a previous member who returned in a leadership role. “There were a lot of really cool, nice kids and adults I really looked up to.”
Students still feel that Post 58 teaches compelling lessons for the outdoors throughout their trips regardless of a student’s previous experiences.
“I think Post 58 is a good experience for both really outdoorsy students and students who don’t get to spend that much time outdoors,” said Eleanor Dysart-Hanes, a sophomore at NWA who joined the second chapter in October 2025.
Trips primarily focus on the Pacific Northwest, ranging from a yearly summit of Mt. Hood to climbing in Smith Rock.
“My favorite is Enchanted Valley up in the Olympics,” said Jackson Ehlen, a senior at La Salle and student president of the second chapter. “It was my first ever Post trip. I think it was just one of the most beautiful places. The scenery was stunning. It felt like I just stepped into another world.”
The trips are organized by chapter leadership, referred to as the steering committee, which comprises all students who have an elected role in the chapter. These roles include managing the monthly newsletter, coordinating hikes and outings and organizing the chapter meetings. The president leads the steering committee, which meets once a month to discuss fundraising events, service projects and plans the chapter-wide monthly meeting.
To join the steering committee, students apply for an interview or send in an application after the August announcement for admitting new members. Applicants are then nominated and elected by the committee later in September.
Funding for each chapter comes from fundraisers such as their annual Climathon at Portland Rock Gym where climbers donate for each route they complete. The event features both bouldering and rope routes and occurs for two hours on a February evening each year. They also have an annual holiday pie sale, partnering with the local Willamette Valley Pie Company.
“We’re fully independent, “said Elhen.“We run our own stuff, we do our own fundraising.”
Post 58 also partners with 17 nonprofit organizations such as Holla, Vive NW and Betties 360 to help and mentor underserved students in the Portland area and to bring younger students into the outdoors. In partnership with these organizations, Post 58 provides outdoor experiences to students from various backgrounds such as the foster care system, houselessness or students of color.
“We’ll offer them a free day hike or a free day of rock climbing,” said Case. ”The Post kids who love climbing and hiking … are the student leaders and they work with the partner and youth to teach them things.”
Throughout its 33-year history, Post 58 has served Portland teens, evolving into a highly sought after program with a waitlist currently closed for 2026.
“It’s grown in size a lot,” said Case. “But it’s also really honed in on this mission of personal growth for kids and creating this safe place for high schoolers, away from all the regular high school bulls*** that’s happening.”
