What we're about
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sierra Club has cancelled all in-person events and outings between March 21st and August 31st, 2020. Only online events may be conducted during this time.
Our outings are planned and led by the Thomas Hart Benton (http://missouri.sierraclub.org/thb/), Kanza (http://kansas.sierraclub.org/kanza-group/) and Wakarusa (http://kansas.sierraclub.org/wakarusa-group/) groups of the Sierra Club (http://sierraclub.org/) for conservation-minded people. You do not have to be a Sierra Club member to join this meetup group or participate in the outings. Outings are not limited to the Kansas City area — the Ozarks is a common destination, for example.
Our outings leaders are Sierra Club volunteers, and the range of outings is as diverse as their interests. Day hikes, bicycling, backpacking, paddling, and camping are common activities, but you might also find us picking up trash, watching birds, clearing brush along a hiking trail, crawling in a cave, or eradicating invasive vegetation. You can feel safe knowing that our leaders must be certified for outings leadership, including the appropriate first aid training to the level of the outing they are leading.
Because of the certification requirement, only our leaders can create outings. But please feel free to suggest nature- or conservation-oriented outings and maybe one of our leaders will make it happen.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, our outings are limited in size and we do not permit people to "just show up". You must RSVP here or contact the outing leader by email or telephone. When an outing fills, additional participants are put on a waiting list, so it is imperative that you change your response to NO if you have signed up but can no longer attend. Failure to do so keeps someone on the waiting list from taking your place, so repeated no-shows will be automatically moved to the waiting list at sign-up, and only moved to the active list if space is available the night before the outing.
We Leave No Trace (and that means a lot more than just carrying out our trash).
Children are welcome on most day hikes when accompanied by an adult. Contact the outing leader to determine if the outing is appropriate for your child.
Per Sierra Club policy, pets are permitted only if the outing description explicitly says they are. Service animals are not pets and are an exception to this rule.
Firearms are not allowed.
Outing leaders have the final word before and during the outing they are leading and may set minimum fitness, experience and/or equipment requirements for their trip.
We solicit contributions at many outings, which are used to fund the operations of the local group (printing and postage costs, outings leader training, etc) and are not tax-deductible.
Carpooling is encouraged among trip participants. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants.
During the sign-in process all participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the Liability Waiver before you choose to participate in an outing, please click here.
Don't have all the gear for one of our backpacking trips? No problem, we have some available for loan (http://missouri.sierraclub.org/thb/outings/ELL/index.html) to Sierra Club members for our local outings.
Upcoming events (3)
The Great American Outdoors Act passed the Senate on June 18 by a wide bipartisan margin, 73-25: what a huge historic day for conservation! This is a win for beloved places across the country, for all those working so hard to increase access for all Americans to the outdoors no matter where they live, for the fight against climate change, for the massive recreation economy that is facing a tough recovery… and for the lost art of bipartisanship. It is inspiring to see so many legislators of vastly different beliefs and geographies united in one positive goal. Please THANK Sen Blunt (MO) & Sen Roberts (KS) for their steadfast support and good vote, and express your disappointment to Sen Hawley (MO) and Sen Moran (KS) that they would not join this historic bipartisan victory for America's outdoors. We have work still ahead of us in the House of Representatives which is expected to take up the House Bill the third week of July. PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ASAP and ask them to support the Great American Outdoors Act. It is worth mentioning the historic bipartisan Senate vote and that both Sen Blunt (MO) & Sen Roberts (KS) supported it. Phone the U.S. Capitol Switchboard ASAP or by July 10 at (202)[masked] and ask for your Representative’s office. You can look up your Rep by zip code: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative THANKS to all of you for pushing, prodding, coaxing...... Vicky Hoover, Sierra Club Senior Wilderness volunteer Chair LWCF Task Force National Parks Committee[masked] Please RSVP on this Meetup so I know that this is an effective way to take action. PHOTO FROM - Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) @SenatorCantwell Today the Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, which will fully #FundLWCF and address the maintenance backlog in our national parks. #LWCF has dedicated, across the United States, 5 million acres of open space for all Americans to enjoy. That is a big win. #FixOurParks The Great American Outdoors Act is a popular and powerful environment bill S 3422. It combines two major priorities for the environmental community - permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund and directing up to $9.5 billion over five years to vastly reduce the horrendous deferred maintenance backlog within the National Park System (as well as other public land agencies and Bureau of Indian Education schools.) Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club has helped establish and expand national parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, and pushed to define landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Inspired by nature, generation after generation of Sierra Club members continue to explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
- Eileen M.
- Janet B.
- Jake
- 12 attendees
Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center
This is the best time of summer to see many colorful praire wildflowers or forbs*. The Discovery Center Staff has been working feverishly (but not Covidly) on their gorgeous native plant gardens both in the parking lot swales and around the walking paths. I took fifteen photos that you can see below. Can you name these native wildflowers? Of course, naming the wildflowers is secondary to just getting outdoors and giving yourself a respite from all the daily news. Please RSVP for your walk through this stunning prairie oasis! Note - This is an "on your own outing" which means you do at your own convenience on whatever date and time works for you. Unfortunately, Sierra Club cannot lead group outings until at least September 1 because of the Covid pandemic. When you walk around the Discovery Center, you will find some plant stake tags in the ground that will help or you can consult your own sources. Send me your prairie wildflower list of the photos below by messaging me and I will check it. Whoever correctly names all the photos below, will be moved from the RSVP list to the waitlist where you will wait until the end of the July for a drawing. Three winners will receive one of the Missouri Department of Conservation beautiful native plant and flower books. * "Prairie wildflowers are called forbs. Their colorful blooms and sweet nectar attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Sun is the energy for all prairie plants. In order to compete for sunlight, forbs often grow as tall as prairie grasses. Spring forbs, such as Indian paintbrush and violets, ae low to the ground, because they bloom before grasses get tall. In sumer, species such as blazing star and compass plant must grow tall to compete with mature grasses." - The Prairie, An Exciting Place to Visit, MDC Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club has helped establish and expand national parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, and pushed to define landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Inspired by nature, generation after generation of Sierra Club members continue to explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
- Eileen M.
- Mike H.
- paula w.
- 13 attendees
Central United Methodist Church
In this series of four classes we will be using the book “Wilderness Navigation: Finding Your Way Using Map, Compass, Altimeter & GPS” by Bob & Mike Burns. This book is in its third edition (2015) and is published by Moutaineers Book. ADVISORY - Because of the Coronavirus outbreak, class dates will be changed from June to September. Because of Covid, the church is limited to 10% of occupational capacity. Outside groups will not be allowed to meet there until the fall when there will be a better understanding of what capacity & procedures that they can operate under. You will RSVP here but your place will not be confirmed until I have received your $75 enrollment fee. This covers the four classes, the book ($16.95), handouts, room rental, and a donation to our local Sierra Club for leadership training in Wilderness FIrst Aid. Please pay here: http://PayPal.me/SCTHB [masked] Or you can send me a check made out to Sierra Club. Please email me for my home address. Sept 16, 6-9 PM, MAP AND COMPASS BASICS Chapter 1 - map types including USGS Topo Maps, map symbols, contour lines, north-south reference lines, limitations of maps, buying maps, and carrying maps on wilderness trips. Chapter 2 - baseplate compasses, taking and following bearings on a map and in the field, magnetic declination, and practice with a compass. “With the exception of your brain, a map is your most important navigational tool. No one should venture into the wilderness without one, nor without the ability to interpret it.” Sept 23, 6-9 PM, ORIENTATION WITH MAP & COMPASS AND LOST! Chapter 3 - orientation by point, line and area position, orienting a map, and direction of slope Chapter 5 - how to avoid getting lost, staying oriented en route, what if you do get lost, survival "It is important to be prepared for unforseen emergencies such as getting injured or lost, and to have all the equipment and training necessay to survive such an experience." Sept 27 (SUNDAY), 1-3 PM, NAVIGATION WITH MAP AND COMPASS Note different location: Shawnee Mission Park Orienteering Course Chapter 4 - navigating by natural features, using intermediate features, going around an obstruction, and keeping track of position on the map "Navigation is the science of determining the location of your objective and keeping yourself pointed in the right direction from your starting point to this destination.” Sept 30, 6-9 PM, GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS AND TRIP PLANNING Chapter 9 - selecting a GPS device, getting started with a GPS, using GPS with a home computer, navigation via smartphone Hiking Apps such as GAIA, including route planning in popular programs, e.g. CalTopo Chapter 10 - trip planning and preparation, staying oriented on the trail, what if you get lost, and survival “Routefinding begins at home. Before heading out the door, you need to know not only the name of your wilderness destination but also a great deal about how to get there and back. This information Is accessible to anyone who takes the time to seek it out from guidebooks and maps and from people who have been there." The Sierra Club requires that each participant sign a Participation Agreement. If you would like to read the Participation Agreement before you choose to participate in an outing, please click here: https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce-authors/u1071/Waiver_LO%20sign-up%20sheet_Sept%202019.pdf Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club has helped establish and expand national parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, and pushed to define landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act. Inspired by nature, generation after generation of Sierra Club members continue to explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
- Eileen M.
- Jen
- Renee
- 16 attendees
Past events (395)
- Eileen M.
- Ben H.
- Dana
- 13 attendees
