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.