The Hiking Club organizes monthly hikes to help kids de-stress and enjoy a fun time with friends and peers. The sponsors of this club are Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Chandler, who arrange monthly hikes to go out in the beautiful mountains of Arizona. Something very unique about this club that stands out from the others is that anyone can join for all or just one hike. If someone ever feels like they need fresh air or want to enjoy the beauty of Arizona, Hiking Club is exactly what they need!
The future goals of this club is to be able to continue getting students out on the most beautiful trails of Arizona, allowing them to enjoy nature. Joining this club also comes with other benefits like developing mental toughness, and meeting new people. Some special destinations planned are the White Tanks Mountains and Piestewa Peak.
Mrs. Chandler, one of the sponsors of this club states, “Hiking club gives students an opportunity to be active, get outside in nature, and find a little more peace in their lives”.
It all started when Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Chandler created Hiking Club 9 years ago, and since then the main activities they have been doing is going on hikes 4-5 times a year. They wanted to get involved more with students, while doing something they enjoyed, that’s when Mrs. Mitchell came up with the idea. Joining this club is as easy as just turning in a permission slip and showing up for the hike.
“White Tanks Mountains are a favorite because it is beautiful and we get to see some amazing wildlife (Mule deer and tarantula)”, Mrs. Chandler mentions.
Members of this club also state that it’s very fun, and it’s what they expected it to be. Nathaly Yman, freshman at Independence High School and member of this club, mentions that her favorite memory of her first hike was when she got to see the waterfall at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park. Freshman Johanna Lara affirms that students can gain skills by joining this club like becoming more athletic, and it helps them get exercise. Both Yman and Lara state that the atmosphere is very calming and welcoming.
Nathaly Yman states, “We go out, outside of school to see nature, and that’s what caught my attention.”
To sum it all up, Hiking Club gives students the opportunity to have an unforgettable experience outside of school campus, and instead in the most beautiful trails of Arizona.
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