Outdoor activities groups near Philadelphia, PA

Looking for a group to do outdoor activities with? We're a group of outdoorsy people in the Princeton area. We'll be hiking and kayaking around NJ!

This group is for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities in New Jersey, including hiking, cycling, paddling, etc. This state has a very diverse ecosystem, from the Pine Barrens in the south, to the mountains in the north to the marshes and beaches along the coast.  When I created this group, I wanted to find other hikers who also share a passion for exploring hiking trails throughout the Garden State.  All skills levels are welcome for the hiking trips, but due to travel considerations, I will try to keep all of the hikes at a minimum of 5 miles.  Recently, we have expanded our interests to include cycling and paddling.  If you have a passion for hiking or exploring the outdoors, I want to take a trip with you.  If you are interested in becoming an organizer for any activity, don't hesitate to contact me.  Let's explore New Jersey - outdoors  - and see where our adventures take us!

Update!

I'm VERY happy to say Iv'e fully recovered from a serious and unexpected back injury! I am back and ready to rock! New events coming soon!

Jerry

More about the group:

We’re all about getting together for enjoyable low key activities and easy going socializing. Or maybe just getting the guts to step out of your comfort zone and initiate a conversation with someone, or maybe not!

Although this group geared toward straight singles, all orientations are welcome to join!

I started this group because I had joined an introverts group years ago, only to see that most of their events were held at crowed and noisy venues. I attended one of them, just to see what it was like. It went something like this: It was held at a crowded restaurant. I arrived on time. Couldn't find our group. Hostess was clueless. So what next? Ok so I got the guts to walk around the crowded dining room trying to find the group, occasionally asking people “Is this the introvert table?” (Everyone looking at me like I’m crazy, and I’m feeling knots in my stomach since this is a very difficult thing to do for a socially anxious introvert like me. Meanwhile resisting the overwhelming urge to just leave and go home). But then I finally found the group. About 15 people. They were all seated at a long rectangular table against a wall. The group host said “hello take a seat” (did not introduce me to anyone). Well there was only one seat open, it was in the middle of the long side of the table against the wall. There was not enough room to squeeze between the wall and the seated people. 3 People had to get up and out to let me in to the open seat. The person closest to the middle could not hear me. The person sitting next to him tapped him on the shoulder and 3 people got up and shuffled out single file to allow me to get in. Ok! I’m finally sitting down! I said hello and introduced myself to the person to the right of me. He said “What? I can’t hear you” I turned to talk to the person on my left but she was talking to the person on her left. Tried to talk to the person sitting across from me, he said hello and that's all. I spent the remainder of the evening looking at my cellphone. And the food sucked. Sucked BAD!

Seriously?? I asked myself, how could this be?? Why on earth is an introverts group meeting at a crowded tightly packed socially restrictive restaurant?

I’m here to tell you that this kind of thing will NOT happen in our group! We will meet in smaller relaxed groups! You will be warmly welcomed and introduced to everyone! You will not be ignored while everyone else is huddled in a social click! We will do fun things in happy environments! If you choose not to talk to anyone, that’s ok! But if you do get the courage to speak or interact, you will be supported and encouraged! We want to hear what you have to say! We may challenge each other at times to step out of our comfort zone and start a conversation with a perfect stranger. And if that person does not reciprocate your conversation, so what? You win because you tried! And if you keep trying? The rules of probability and randomness will indeed show you that some people will talk to you! Your free will is accepted, respected and encouraged! If you choose not to decide to do this, you still have made a choice and you will be respected for that!

Please consider the following. In the interest of privacy, respect and attempting to avoid fake profiles, the following group rules apply:

Your profile should have a real first name. Last name not required, but last initial is helpful to differentiate individuals with the same first name. Can we avoid fake names and initials please? Example - Ball Z-1, EyeM Supreme, Dude420, etc.

Privacy must be respected. You will be asked to agree not to disclose the identity of this groups members to anyone in or not in the group. (This includes anything on the internet, social media etc.)

You will be asked to acknowledge that you understand if you are a no-show to a event which you’ve scheduled to attend, you will be removed from the group.

A main profile photo that shows your face. We're requiring face pictures in an effort to reduce fake profiles and to help identify you at events. This group is private. Members are only visible to members within the group. Your main profile photo should show just you. No group photos, no children, no pets, not blurred or face obscured or partially obscured by shadows, no back of your head or just one one eyeball or hair completely covering your face like cousin IT, etc. 

Inspiring Connections Outdoors (ICO) is a community outreach program of the Sierra Club. Our volunteer leaders are certified and specially trained in recreational, outdoor, and safety skills as well as environmental education. People who ordinarily would not have access to wild places, including low-income youth of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds are provided wilderness adventures by an enthusiastic corps of volunteers from cities and communities located across the United States.

In the Philadelphia area, our volunteers lead outings for groups of 6 to 12 students from local schools. Typical outings include hiking, canoeing, and overnight camping trips. ICO volunteers introduce a variety of youth to the natural world and provide wilderness adventures to children who ordinarily would not have access to these places.

We are currently in a rebuilding phase and are looking for new trip leaders, volunteers, social planners, fundraisers, etc - we welcome your gifts and time and energy. We hope you can make it out to one of the volunteer meetings over the next few months and of course, one of the trips with the kids, to see what we are all about and get involved.

From backpacking trips to neighborhood cleanups to naturalist-led hikes through local marshes and meadows, ICO volunteers introduce all kinds of people to the natural world and teach them how important it is to protect and restore wild places. ICO volunteers believe that the wilderness exists as a resource for all people and that all people should have access to it.

With the guidance of ICO volunteers, participants discover the beauty of wild lands and how to enjoy these areas without harming them. Young people learn valuable survival skills and strengthen their abilities to face challenges outside urban environments. Interpersonal skills and self esteem develop naturally as a result of teamwork and an active relationship with the outdoors.