| |
November 22, 2004 |
|
The Catskill Mountain Club
|
As the days become shorter and the temperatures of gray November become increasingly colder with winter drawing near, most people are turning their attentions away from the trails and streams of the beautiful Catskill Mountains and thinking more about holiday shopping and curling up with a good book by the fireplace. But not everyone. There is one group of hiking and outdoor enthusiasts that are thinking a lot about the outdoor recreational opportunities of the Catskills these days. They are the organizers of the region's newest outdoor club - the Catskill Mountain Club.
The Catskill Mountain Club (CMC) officially formed as new organization in August 2004, after more than a year of planning meetings (including the two of us). The new club was announced to the public in November, after we prepared a web site to tell the public and prospective new members about the Club's mission and the programs we plan to conduct. November may not be the most optimal time to kick off a new hiking club, but our group wanted very much to kick off our new club during the 100 year anniversary of the Catskill Park in 2004. The club is a comprehensive association of outdoors-people who love to hike, camp, fish, hunt, canoe, kayak, bike, climb, and otherwise enjoy nature and non-motorized outdoor recreational pursuits in the Catskill Mountains.
As we state on the new Catskill Mountain Club web site, the CMC intends to be a grassroots association of outdoors-people that promotes safe, responsible outdoor recreation and seeks to enhance public awareness and appreciation of our natural and human recreational resources. The CMC's area of interest is the entire Catskill region, not just the Catskill Park or high peaks. Members are encouraged to explore all of the different areas of the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve, as well as other public lands in the Catskill region, such as State Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, Special Use Areas, Unique Areas, and NY City Watershed Lands. The club hopes to promote and increase outdoor recreation opportunities for all ability levels, including people with disabilities and families with children, and serve as an educational resource for the people who use our precious public lands. Most of all we hope to increase volunteerism in the region and have its members assist with the stewardship of trails and other recreational resources.
Membership in the Catskill Mountain Club is free to anyone who loves to spend time outdoors in these beautiful Catskill Mountains. There are no annual dues, although donations are accepted if people want to support club activities, and the club anticipates sending out appeals when they need funds for specific projects they want to take on. The CMC is not yet incorporated as a non-profit, but may become so in the future. The CMC is eagerly accepting new members, supporters, and volunteers. To learn more and download a membership form, visit the CMC web site at www.catskillmountainclub.org. We certainly hope that the CMC will make positive difference in the Catskills by having people come together to celebrate our common interests, and working together to give something back to our public resources. We hope to soon count all of you as our fellow new members of the Catskill Mountain Club.
- Aaron and Chris
|
|
