Hiking Club Promotes Physical and Mental Wellness
By Daniela Perez | Observer Contributor
Photo by Tom Hill Jr.
The hiking club boasts a variety of outdoor activities including indoor rock climbing, kayaking, and cross-country skiing.
“Being outdoors is an excellent way of getting energy from the sun,” said Nancy Regan, the founder and adviser of the club. “Going hiking allows the mind to take a break from all real-world problems and be able to focus better.”
Members of the four year-old club do more than just blaze mountain trails; they also tackle indoor rock climbing, snow tubing, and kayaking. On June 7, the club will camp at Lafayette Place Campground in Franconia, NH. During a kayaking trip, students reached a beaver dam where they had to get out of their kayaks and move them over the dam in order to get across. “Six students attended this trip and three of them had a nice soak in the shallow river water,” said Regan.
Cuts and bruises account for the majority of injuries sustained by club members. “It is always important to wear the correct footwear and clothing in order to prevent injuries,” Regan said. The club gets some funding from the school but the rest is all fundraised.
Club members participate in selling homemade dog treats, bake sales, and raffles to help keep the club running. Members think that yard sales could also be successful. The money that is raised helps to pay for gear for trips.
Meetings are held in room 257 at 1 p.m. every other Monday. During the meetings, members will pitch ideas of places that they would like to visit as well as rescheduling trips if they had to be postponed due to the weather.
Liability paperwork can be signed during the meeting. If you are interested in joining the hiking club, contact nregan@mwcc.mass.edu.
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