Does anyone know how I could start an outdoor club?

Question

I live in a small in town in Southwest Georgia and I am always trying to find people around here who enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking,etc. I thought an outdoor club would be a good idea. How should I go about it?

Answer 1

1) Pick a regular time to meet. But also post trips on the web so busy people can check what is happening.

2) Offer trips! This sounds obivous, but you want people who want to hike/canoe/backpack, not people who just attend meetings (although meeting a pub or pizza joint can be fun too).

3) Post your schedule (i.e. Meeting 6 pm Tuesday; 8-mile day hike meeting 9 am at the Xxxx trailhead on Saturday the 23rd; Top roping at The Crags, 2 pm Saturday the 30th, etc.)

4) You lead trips. A lot at first. People don't join to organize, they want to join a group that is already going. Other people will see how to do it and will start taking others to the spots they know well.

5) Think about the tone you want to set. You could emphasize service trips like litter pick-up and trail repair. Or end all trips at a brew-pub. Or in someone's hot tub. Do you want young families? Or college-age people? Or older singles? Do you teach first aid, review equipment and skills at meetings? Or just plan trips while dripping pizza sauce on the AAA maps?

6) Advertise accordingly. With local pro-environment groups, on a college campus and/or at backpacking/outdoor stores (more people taking trips helps their sales - you could maybe even meet there). Many small town newspapers and radio stations are generous with PSAs - public service announcements.

7) consider your policies and write them up. So people know what to expect and how to behave. Some examples are: non-drivers pay for the gas. No alcohol until everyone's off the trail. Max party size of 6, 8, or 10. A trip leaves within 10 minutes of announced time, you can't keep others waiting.

Answer 2

If there's a YMCA in your area, I'd start there. they will be amenable to such a club. But there would be two options. Either they would merely advertise for you and allow you to meet at the Y, or the question is whether it would be a YMCA officially sponsored program.

To get it to be an official program, without the Insurance Company freaking out, it would have to be directed by a qualified Recreation expert, either from the Y or someone else, and the main issue would be insurance coverage in driving people to hiking spots.

The point is to cover everyone,
health-wise. Sometimes hiking can be an injurious or risky activity.

You might also check out local community colleges, for young adults interested in outdoors activities.Good Luck.

Answer 3

Put an ad in the paper and then be sure to check our everybody through an application process. Not to spread paranoia, but there are weirdos out there and putting yourself in the paper may attract some. It will however help you find others that are interested in the same things. Another thought is to contact suppliers of camping and Hiking equipment in your area and see if they may not have a bulletin board. You can ask them to put your information up there. You can supply them with a flyer that explains what you are doing. One more possibility, and probably the one I would use is to put together as hike/camping trip in your area. Then advertise your planned trip. If it includes interesting historical points in your area that will be enough. Once again it is important to be compatible with the people you are camping with so check it out carefully to avoid a nightmare

Answer 4

Start making friends in the neighborhood. Socialize. Establish friendship with those who share your hobby. From there, plan a group activity for at least 4 persons like hiking, rock climbing and backpacking. Do it frequently until your tribe grows. Associations of this kind must be established on friendship.
It is much easier if you are school-based.

Answer 5

Ask some of your friends who are interested, choose people that have experience or are professionals in these field before forming a group. Coordinate and access yourself if you're all compitent and have the ability to form a club, if so then start a club. Post or sent proposals of your club and how to be a member in your nearest schools, clubs and other areas you thought might help you and your club grow. It might turn out to be a good business as well.

Answer 6

as with every interest, specially for outdoors, supplement the relaxing with needed skills: user-friendly first help, map examining, compass instructions or if your college has the money, purchase a handheld GPS device. You seem to have coated maximum outdoors events. For iciness, comprehend hypothermia, then attempt some ice skating or ice hockey on a shallow frozen lake, hike utilising snow shoes or attempt snowmobiles yet no longer on mountainsides that have the capability of avalanches! there is likewise Ice fishing in case you like ingesting warm cocoa and purely sitting around socializing. For 12 months around activities, attempt some cycling, skate boarding, long boarding, curler blading, suited frisbee, and bouldering. you may additionally learn Astonomy outdoors on a heat night! stable luck with your organization to savour the exterior and dedication to stay in high-quality condition!

Answer 7

Start out with the closest of friends. Make frequent dates to do some of those activities. When that starts going smoothly then make some flyers and post an add to invite new members in the news paper.

Answer 8

Do you want to protect your right to profit from the members of the club?, i.e., selling membergships, publications, trips, etc. I mean, do you want to make a living at it, or just do it for fun, and without concern if others "steal" your idea?

If you want to make a living at it, it's a bit more difficult. If so, email me, and I will reply with more info. I am an attorney, and I am also looking for business partnerships.

Answer 9

Build a club house

Answer 10

Start posting flyers for people to meet up at a certain time or place. See if you can get a local business to sponsor you. Advertise your group like it already exists, or maybe contact your community ed center to start leading one.