Important Information - Editorial

Sierra, Jan, 2001

Who Are We?

Fulfilling the Sierra Club's mission to "explore, enjoy, and protect" the planet, the Outings Program sponsors about 330 national and international outings each year. We aspire to maintain the highest standards of conduct, regulatory compliance, and minimum-impact travel in the wilderness. Our trips are led by volunteers and are a non-commercial means of educating our members about the value of wilderness preservation and environmental protection. Sierra Club Outings doesn't financially support other operations of the Club. Trip prices are composed of the direct costs of operating the trip and an allocated portion of the indirect (administrative) costs associated with the operations of the Outings Program.

Detailed Trip Brochures

There are so many trips to choose from and the descriptions we provide here in our Trip Guide don't really do them justice. If a trip piques your interest, we recommend that you read the more detailed trip brochure before signing up. All our trip brochures, and other valuable Outings information, are available on our web site: www.sierraclub.org/outings/national. If you don't have access to the web, feel free to call 415-977-5522 or mail in the "For More Details on Outings" bind-in coupon to receive up to five brochures in the mail. (If you'd like more than five, please include 50 cents for each additional brochure.) Especially if you've never been on a Sierra Club Outing, the trip brochure can help you determine if the trip suits your needs, interests, and abilities. We also encourage you to contact the leader directly if you have specific concerns. Also, before signing up, we request that you take a look at our Reservation and Cancellation Policy, attached to the Reservation Form.

Sign Me Up!

If the trip meets your expectations and you'd like to sign up, contact our office soon--some of our more popular trips fill quickly. To reserve space by credit card, you can phone 415-977-5588 or fax 415-977-5795. We also offer a secure on-line reservation system on our web site: www.sierraclub.org/outings/national. Of course, you can always sign up by mail and pay by check. Fill out the Reservation Form and mail it to Sierra Club Outings, 85 Second Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Note that all trip participants 18 years and older must be Sierra Club members. If you're not a member, you'll need to join at the time you apply for a trip. Also, after you've signed-up you'll receive a participant approval questionnaire, a medical questionnaire, and a waiver to fill out and return to the leader. Approval is meant to ensure that all participants enjoy the adventure. If you aren't approved by the leader, we will give you a full refund or help you find a more suitable trip.

Group Travel

Our loyal repeat participants tell us that one of the most appealing features of our trips is the small size and make-up of the groups. Sierra Club Outings attract like-minded adventurous travelers with cooperative spirits. Our leaders are ever-conscious of fostering group cohesion so a good time is had by all. Occasionally, however, problems arise. As a participant you should know that the leader intends to uphold standards of conduct among group members, including issues of sexual harassment. The Sierra Club has a policy against sexual and other forms of harassment between members. If you believe that you have been harassed by another member, or have observed behavior towards others that you believe is harassment, you should bring the circumstance to the attention of the trip leader. Or, if you feel it is inappropriate to discuss the subject with trip leadership, please contact the Director of Sierra Club National Outings.

Kids and Families

The trips listed in the Family Section on pages 82-83 are designed for and welcome diverse family groups--parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, you name it! See the individual trip description or brochure for age restrictions. We also offer several trips designed for teens, see [00125A] on page 71, [01146A] on page 74, [01149A] on page 74, and [01269A] on page 98. Some of our other trips allow children under the age of 18 to join a trip if accompanied by a parent or responsible adult, or with the consent of the leader. Read the trip brochure or consult the leader for more information.

Incentives for Teachers

Created in 1951 by the bequest of Mrs. F. H. Morley, the Morley Fund makes money available to help defray trip costs of teachers and other educators who could not otherwise afford to go on trips. If you think you might qualify, request a Morley Fund application form from our office. The deadline for submitting an application for a 2001 trip is April 1.

Incentives for Youth

This year we've established a special fund to encourage young people, ages 18-25, to go on selected trips at a discount.

[R] If you're 25 or younger, look for this special icon throughout the Trip Guide. We've selected 30 trips on which folks 18-25 can sign up at reduced prices.

[S] For these special trips you pay only $95, and the Sharon Churchwell Fund will pay the rest. The Service Sub-committee set up this fund to honor the memory of a dedicated young Service trip volunteeer leader whose commitment to outdoor experience, and to Service trips in particular, continues to be an inspiration to the leaders, cooks, and participants who were touched by her enthusiasm.