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Outdoor Organizations

Including walking, hiking, trail and outdoors clubs

See also: Environmental Organizations.

Pittsburgh Region - Directories

  • Venture Outdoors
    Formerly the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute
    Under Organizations and Resources you'll find an extensive list of organizations and outfitters in southwestern Pennsylvania are listed in alphabetical order with "Types of Activities" and Contact Info for Activities and E-mail
 

Pittsburgh Region - Organizations

  • Allegheny Mountain Rescue Group
    an all-volunteer, not-for-profit search and rescue (SAR) resource that will help locate, access, stabilize, and transport patients in wilderness and suburban settings in southwestern Pennsylvania and contiguous areas in West Virginia, Ohio, and Maryland that are within a 4-hour driving distance from Pittsburgh.
  • The Allegheny Ridge Corporation (ARCorp)
    The Allegheny Ridge Corporation (ARCorp) is a private, non-profit corporation which develops, interprets and preserves the historic and cultural resources of the Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area in central/western Pennsylvania.
  • Allegheny Watershed Network
    a project of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council formed to allow citizen groups and government agencies active within the Allegheny River watershed an opportunity to exchange information and ideas about the protection and enhancement of their local water resources.
  • Boy Scouts: Greater Pittsburgh Council
    There are over 1000 scout units in South Western Pennsylvania and over 9000 adult volunteers. From this central website you can access information about the various districts.
  • Boy Scouts: Moraine Trails Council
    Butler, PA

  • The Butler Outdoor Club
    http://www.butleroutdoorclub.com/
    The Butler Outdoor Club works in Butler County and the surrounding areas to provide outdoor activities (hikes, canoe trips, bike rides) for members in order to foster a better understanding of the outdoors.

  • Explorers Club of Pittsburgh
    http://www.pittecp.org/
    The Explorers Club of Pittsburgh is a non- profit organization devoted to adventure and education in outdoor & wilderness recreation and conservation. Numerous activites, trips and schools are led by club members and include rock climbing, backpacking, mountaineering, canoeing, biking, scuba, skiing, ice climbing, rafting and orienteering. Includes a current calendar of events.
  • Friends of Raccoon Creek State Park
    A non-profit organization of volunteers that help increase public awareness of the facilities and events that are available at Raccoon Creek State Park, located west of Pittsburgh.
  • Friends of the Riverfront
    working to promote public access and public appreciation of Pittsburgh's river resources
  • Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania
    This is the Regional Alliance page which covers four Girl Scouts Councils in Western Pennsylvania: Beaver-Castle Girl Scouts (Beaver & Lawrence Counties), Girl Scouts of Southwestern Pennsylvania (nine counties throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland), Keystone Tall Tree Girl Scout Council (12 Pennsylvania counties), and Girls Scouts of Westmoreland.
  • Greater Pittsburgh Council Venturing
    An outdoors program of the Boy Scouts of America for teenagers of both sexes.
  • Hostelling International Pittsburgh
    Their quarterly newsletter is available online in .pdf format, listing outings around the area.
  • Mosaic Outdoor Club of Pittsburgh
    Mosaic Outdoor Club of Pittsburgh is an outdoor group serving the Pittsburgh Jewish community. They plan a variety of activities.
  • North Country Trail Association
    The North Country Trail Association is the nationwide nonprofit organization that works in partnership with the National Park Service to build, maintain, and promote the North Country National Scenic Trail.
  • Outside Adventures Learning of Western Pennsylvania
    Outside Adventures Learning of Western Pennsylvania is a non-profit outdoor recreation educational organization which sponsors an active sea kayaking program and other outdoor activities.
  • Pitt Outdoors Club
    A University of Pittsburgh student organization involved in climbing, caving, river travel, and hiking.
  • Sierra Club: Allegheny Group
    If you are interested in weekend hikes and outdoor trips, check out their outings section.
  • Three Rivers Birding Club
    The Three Rivers Birding Club was formed in July of 2001. Today, there are 152 members who are dedicated and appreciate birds and the natural world of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
  • Three Rivers Paddling Club
    A Pittsburgh-region club consisting of over 400 (mostly whitewater) paddlers from Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, the Maryland panhandle and beyond.
  • Venture Outdoors
    Formerly the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute
    Founded in June 2001 as the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute, Venture Outdoors is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation and Western Pennsylvania as a great place to live, work and play outdoors.
  • Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
    The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, working together to save the places we care about, protects natural lands, promotes healthy and attractive communities, and preserves Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.
  • Wilderness Emergency Medical Services Institute
    provides medical care to patients in the specialized prehospital situations of wilderness, backcountry, and other delayed and prolonged transportation contexts such as catastrophic disasters (referred to jointly as "the wilderness context"). A project of The Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania and The Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association (POWA)
    http://www.paoutdoorwriters.com/
    The Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association (POWA) is an organization of professional writers, artists, photographers, broadcasters, telecasters, lecturers and other communicators with a common interest in the outdoors.
  • Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society br> http://www.prps.org/
    Founded in 1935, the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) is the principal state organization promoting quality recreation and park training, networking, and leadership opportunities for those working and volunteering in the field. Members include professionals who manage municipal recreation and park systems and state parks, therapeutic recreation specialists and activity coordinators at health care institutions, college and university professors and students, staff of privately-operated recreation facilities, and citizen members of recreation and park boards and commissions in communities across the Commonwealth. PRPS is a non-profit, 501.c.3 membership association with over 1,800 members statewide.

United States

  • American Hiking Society
    A national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting hiking and establishing, protecting and maintaining foot trails in America. With more than 100 member trail clubs, American Hiking represents half a million outdoorspeople and serves as the voice of the American hiker. Celebrate National Trails Day with them on the first Saturday of June.
  • Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)
    http://www.outdoors.org/
    Founded in 1876, the AMC promotes the protection, enjoyment, and wise use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Appalachian region.
    • Appalachian Mountain Club: Delaware Valley Chapter
      This chapter has more than 5,000 members in Pennsylvania, central and southern New Jersey, and northern Delaware. In case you are visiting the Delaware Valley area, their website has information on hikes in the area, as well as their quarterly newsletter Footnotes.
  • Boy Scouts of America
    Extracurricular activities for boys in the outdoors.
  • Conservation Alliance
    a group of 62 outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots citizen-action groups and their efforts to protect wild and natural areas where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds play a pivotal role in the protection of rivers, trails, wild lands -- natural areas where outdoor enthusiasts spend their time.
  • Explorers Club
    an international, multidisciplinary, professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research, scientific exploration, and the ideal that it is vital to preserve the instinct to explore.
  • Great Outdoors Conservancy
    The Great Outdoors Conservancy expands wild, natural, scenic and recreational areas in the United States by acquisition of land for the benefit of wildlife and the public's enjoyment for generations to come.
  • Leave No Trace
    http://www.lnt.org/
    LNT Inc., a non-profit organization located in Boulder, Colorado, promotes and inspires responsible outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships.
  • National Center for Recreation and Conservation (NCRC)
    Serves as the National Park Service's focal point for working with an array of public and private partners in providing close-to-home recreation opportunities throughout the nation and provides leadership and support for nationally designated scenic and historic trails.
  • National Outdoor Leadership School
    The premier teacher of outdoor skills and leadership, offers courses 10 days to full semesters in the world's most spectacular wilderness classrooms.
  • National Wildlife Federation
    National Wildlife Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
    • Green Hour
      "Today's children are increasingly disconnected from nature and to counteract this growing trend, NWF encourages parents and other caring adults to help children spend one hour each day outdoors, engaged in unstructured play and discovery."
  • Outdoor Industry Association
    Formerly Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America (ORCA). The trade association of the outdoor industry.
  • Outdoor Writers Association of America
    a nonprofit, international organization that represents a diverse group of professional communicators dedicated to sharing the outdoor experience. They inform the public about outdoor activities, issues and the responsible use of our natural resources. Headquartered in Missoula, Montana.
  • The Rag Tag Rangers
    A group of hikers that met online and arrange hikes in the Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina areas.
  • Venturing BSA
    A new program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women who are 14 (and have completed the eighth grade) through 20 years of age.

International

  • International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
    The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies was founded in 1902 as a quasi-governmental organization of public agencies charged with the protection and management of North America's fish and wildlife resources. The Association's governmental members include the fish and wildlife agencies of the states, provinces, and federal governments of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Includes links to state & provincial Fish and Wildlife Agency Websites.