We all know the benefits of the outdoors and that being surrounded by nature feels so tranquil, rejuvenating, and uplifting with its extraordinary beauty and wonder. Many Sierra Club members (and not-yet members) in the area have expressed interest in joining hikes and other fun outings with a group. We are both very pleased to be involved in helping local Sierra Club outing leaders to plan new and exciting outings for anyone in the Greater Pittsburgh community to “Explore, Enjoy and Protect” the wild places here in Western PA. There are many opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling, and beyond, right in our backyard – these are just as exciting for seasoned adventurers as for new outdoor enthusiasts. We’re going to have a wide variety of outings on the calendar this fall and into winter for all skill levels, so sign up for our email list and be sure to check our calendar often at http://www.sierraclub.org/pennsylvania/allegheny.
On September 28th our first monthly hike & social occurred at Frick Park. We had a nice leisurely walk on the Falls Ravine Trail that was family friendly with a lot of good conversations, and we learned some interesting history about the park. It was a beautiful sunny day. We all took in the greenery on the trail to take note of how it will all change in just a few weeks. After the hike, participants were invited to the Map Room a few blocks down to enjoy pizza and drinks with continued good conversations to get to know one another and share ideas for future outings. Since then, we’ve gone on a hike in Raccoon Creek State Park, toured fossil fuel infrastructure sites in Beaver County, and learned about water resources on a walk in Highland Park.
Join for our next hike & social on December 15th at Riverview Park on Pittsburgh’s North Side (11am - 12:30pm) followed by pizza and beverages at Spring Hill Brewery (1pm - 2pm)! Register here: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7010Z0000027GSkQAM
We are excited and enthusiastic about welcoming local community members to join us outdoors to see the beauty of nature here in Western Pennsylvania. There are many beautiful trails and parks that range in a variety of levels of effort and are ready to be explored. People have expressed enthusiasm about hiking, kayaking, biking, white water rafting, and identifying wildlife and edible plants. We are also hoping to go snowshoeing if the weather cooperates, which you can sign up for here. Lots of great ideas to explore Western Pennsylvania’s many beautiful outdoor places!
If you have your own idea for an outing, we’d love to hear about it! You can send us an outing idea by email (our emails are at the end of this article). And, if you’re interested in leading your own outings, join our outings team and become a certified Sierra Club Outings Leader. We’ll be offering training for leaders on January 26th (sign-up here); then, participants just need to complete First Aid & CPR certification and organize an outing with mentorship from an existing leader.
Once you’re a leader, you can organize outings whenever you want, with access to lots of Sierra Club resources, including liability insurance, email outreach lists, and the Sierra Club calendar. Leaders bring these ideas to reality and plan these exciting adventures with the support of other members and mentors in the program, who will help you in any way possible to make your outings a success.
If you are interested in becoming a leader or have any ideas for outings please contact Seth or Amber. We can’t wait to meet you and get outside!
Amber Kelly, Outings Chair for Western Pennsylvania (amberk0807@gmail.com)
Seth Bush, Western Pennsylvania Outings Coordinator (seth.bush@sierraclub.org)
This blog was included as part of the 2019 Winter Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!