OUR MISSION :
The club which was founded to organize day hikes and overnight backpacking trips in Greene County, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and many other areas, also holds mountain and road bike rides, various water-related activities such as rafting and canoe trips and many other types of outdoor events and enjoys dining and picnicking.

The club is dedicated to preserving and protecting our natural resources and spends many hours involved in trail maintenance and cleanup. In 2019, We have engaged in a partnership with the US Forestry Service to assist in maintaining trails in the Greene County, Unaka and Wautaga Ranger District.

The Club has also adopted the Paint Creek Park Roadway as a partner in the Keep Greene Beautiful Litter Clean-up Initiative.

​As part of Our Club's Mission, The Club has partnered with the NeTREP, North East Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership and works in collaboration with other area agencies and other recreational clubs on the ground floor of the recreational development plan, in order to help provide for "Progress with Preservation", of the beauty and recreational areas the region has been gifted with.

The Club also partners with other area clubs and environmental and earth stewards to advocate for the protection and preservation of our public lands.

NOTICE 1
Safety Issue - Club Stays Update June 2020
“ “Club Members, in consideration of the following:

1. We are a club of primarily older aged individuals and as often does accompany age, there tends to come the addition of factors that put many of our members into a high risk category!
2. Only a very few number of members have expressed interest in re-opening the club at this time. Even fewer in leading and or being responsible for leading an event.
3. We are not a for-profit business and thus our economic survival does not rest on taking an inappropriate risk to reopen at this time, to put our members at increased risk, or to assume increased liability for that risk.
4. The numbers of infectious and hospitalized with Covid-19 continue to be on a rising trend in our region, our state and most certainly in the states that surround us and where people often travel to and from here, and from there to our regions trails, parks and forests in this area. Not a single state in our region has met the CDC criteria for re-opening in spite of having done so and we are beginning to see the results of that in the data that is being reported.
5. Some people are refusing to follow safe and reasonable guidelines to protect themselves and others.
6. We are still in the midst of a global pandemic. There is still no available definitive treatment, or vaccine available.

In consideration of these factors, member discussion and other available data, I believe that the executive board is in agreement that the club continues in a holding pattern with NO club sanctioned events at this time. We will re-evaluate at a later date. In appreciation of and consideration of the many years most of the club leadership and event leaders have diligently worked to keep the club going, I would also say that this break is well deserved for them! Without their ongoing efforts there would be no club, unless others step into those roles. Something to think about over this break period, that I have been communicating, that must be addressed for the future continuation of this club. Please use this break to focus on the health and safety of you and your family at this time.”

If a few members of our club still want to meet for a hike or bike ride, it can be coordinated on our Facebook Page by the people who want to do it; with the understanding and the following posted disclosure that “the event is not sanctioned by the club and people do it at their own risk, CDC guidelines are highly recommended.”

As far as October meeting, let’s review that in September.

I believe this new normal will have to be reviewed on regular basis, potential monthly based as the situation evolves and with club input.

Jeannine - Club President
​
NOTICE 2
Safety Issue
(Expires TBA)
​Both the USA Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have advised that we are in one of the worst flu and respiratory virus seasons in almost 50 years. Please prepare yourself to stay healthy and take steps to help keep others from infection by following good hygiene and frequent quality hand washing techniques, cover your coughs and sneezes, wipe touched items with sanitizers, and when sick stay out of the public or wear an appropriate N95 facemask. There are some deadly and easy transmitted infections that are also drug resistant, emerging. Stay safe! Stay Informed. For more information please go to the cdc.gov website and/or the who.int and search viral and infectious diseases. If your a real researcher do a general google
​of virology and epidemiology too!