Despite Baltimore, Maryland's metropolitan backdrop, the city has a large hiking community and a number of hiking clubs. The clubs in Baltimore offer scenic trails up and down Maryland's beautiful coastline along the Chesapeake Bay. Not only are Baltimore's hiking clubs a great way to participate in physical activity, but they also provide people the opportunity to reconnect with nature and meet others who share the same interests.
Distribution
Hiking Clubs in Baltimore cater to the entire state of Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region as well. While Maryland is small in size, the state is large in landscape. The ninth smallest state in the Union is complete with mountains, forests, plains, river valleys and beaches. Those wanting to hike through various terrains will be at a great advantage in Maryland.
Types
The Greater Baltimore Group of The Sierra Club organizes group hikes and is dedicated to promoting awareness to its members. Members of the Greater Baltimore Group are also activists for preserving wildlife and fighting global warming.
The Maryland Outdoor Club is a less political club that offers hiking, canoeing, camping and group outings for adults only. Its members even have a happy hour before they hit the trails. The Maryland Outdoor Club's first priority is to have fun.
There are also independent groups like The Baltimore Hiking Meetup Group. As their title would imply, these dedicated hikers get together on a regular basis and explore the various trails of Maryland, Virginia and even Delaware.
Benefits
Members of the various hiking clubs in Baltimore also participate in community outreach programs. The Baltimore chapter of the Sierra Club works consistently with Baltimore Inner City Outings, a group that provides inner city youth with fun and educational, outdoor experiences.
The Baltimore Hiking Meetup Group collects litter while they blaze the trails. In addition to great exercise, social and environmental awareness are natural by-products of these hiking groups.
Getting Involved
All the groups make it simple for anyone to find out more information. Most of the clubs have websites, mailing lists and newsletters. They also have online calendars so you can find out when and where the group is meeting. For hiking experts, becoming a group leader is a great way to get involved. While there is no shortage of hikers, the clubs do need volunteers to lead the people on these rewarding excursions.
Membership
Whether there's a fee or not, joining a hiking group is very easy. For many of the groups, a member just pays a flat rate per outing. For larger ones, such as The Sierra Club, a donation is all that is necessary. Money, however, is the only discriminating factor for these organizations. The money may talk, but everyone gets to walk.
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