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Start your Own Young Hikers Club

Hiking Clubs can be a tremendous amount of fun! They are great ways to get outside, hit the trails and create everlasting memories with your friends.

How to get started:

• Draft a contact list of everyone you think may be interested in participating. Call or email around and set up your first brainstorming meeting.
• Name your Club and discuss how you will promote your club. Facebook group, blog, websites, flyers, posters, and newspaper articles are good places to start.
• Embrace the motto " We shall leave no trace, take nothing but photos and kill nothing but time"
• Call Hike Ontario at 905-277-HIKE to schedule a one-day Safe Hikers Program course for your club member or to find out how your club members can become certified as Youth Hike Leaders
• Develop an activity calendar and choose a hike leader for each activity (e.g. hikes scheduled for every Tuesday at 5 p.m., leaving from the mall, Henry to lead)
• Plan each hike carefully. Consider the following: is your trail and selected route suitable in terrain and distance for everyone in the group? Are there toilets, benches, parking available? Do you have emergency numbers and phones available?
• Hit the trail! Welcome members when they arrive. Give them a warm greeting. Make sure no one feels isolated during the walk, and that members are walking at their own comfortable pace.
• At a minimum don't forget your water, snacks, first aid kit, bug repellant and sunscreen.