What we're about
Solar Outdoors is a Southeast Michigan based club with more than 400 members. Founded in 1975, Solar Outdoors remains dedicated to helping its members enjoy nature and outdoor activities.
Membership in the club is required for full access to our Meetup site. Annual dues are $6 for individuals. Please read further if you are interested in becoming a club member. Questions about membership can be directed to solarmembership@solaroutdoors.org.
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Solar Outdoors members themselves organize workshops and events in which other members can participate. Whether you are a beginner or experienced wilderness enthusiast, you will find workshops, activities, and trips for all skill levels and many different interests including--but certainly not limited to!--backpacking, day hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, paddling, orienteering, wildflower and tree identification, whitewater rafting, and geocaching. Solar Outdoors members can also borrow gear from our store of packs, sleeping bags and pads, stoves, and other outdoor equipment for an annual member fee of $35.
To learn more about Solar Outdoors and its activities we encourage you to visit our website, www.solaroutdoors.org. There you will find a calendar of upcoming workshops and events. These sources give more information about who we are, what we do, and how we do it. We also welcome anyone interested in the club to attend our monthly meetings, held at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 27475 Five Mile Road, just west of Inkster Road, in Livonia on the last Tuesday of every month (except December) at 7 pm. SOLAR is not affiliated with St. Paul's or any other religious institution. Directions are available here: http://solaroutdoors.com/solarmeetings.html. The business meeting is followed by a program on a topic of general interest to our members.
Solar Outdoors uses Meetup as a tool of convenience for our members to quickly get information about upcoming classes and activities and to sign up and pay for these events online. That's why our Meetup group is restricted to paid members of the club and non-members have very limited access.
Once you have checked us out online and, we hope, in person by attending one of our monthly meetings, you can decide if becoming a member is right for you. If so, you can join the club by downloading the membership form (http://solaroutdoors.com/downloads/S.O.L.A....), filling it out, and either submitting it with a check for the dues payment at one of the meetings or mailing both to the address listed on the bottom of the membership form. Once you are a club member you will have access to this Meetup group.
Thank you for your interest in Solar Outdoors. We hope to meet you soon.
Upcoming events (4+)
St Paul's Presbyterian Church
One of the most popular workshops offered by Solar Outdoors members, the Beginning Backpacking Workshop teaches trip planning, equipment, food, and other topics to get you ready for the backcountry.
If you a) have never backpacked and have always wanted to try it; b) are new to the club and want to make friends and meet people; or c) want a refresher or just need an excuse to backpack - this is the workshop for you!
DATES: April 13; April 21-23; Backpacking Practical Trip, May 6-8 (This is a Saturday-Monday)
Workshop Fee**: $110 (Solar Outdoors members paying via cash/check); $120 (Solar Outdoors members paying via meetup) includes textbook, Workshop handbook (available online), camping fees for the workshop and the practical and Saturday dinner at our Brighton Recreation Area Workshop. Sign up on Meetup or at the January-March Solar Outdoors general meetings.
Sign up deadline is: April 1, 2023.
Workshop Session #1: Thursday, April 13 – 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
LOCATION: St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 27475 Five Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48154
Workshop Session #2: Weekend workshop Friday, April 21 – Sunday, April 23
LOCATION: Brighton Recreation Area/Migizi (Frontier) Cabin (A Michigan State Recreation Passport is needed to enter Brighton Recreation Area). This will be a camping weekend.
Practical Backpacking Trip: Saturday - Monday, May 6-8
LOCATION: Waterloo/Pinckney State Parks (to ensure participants are ready for this Practical, participant must attend the Workshops at St. John’s Presbyterian Church and Brighton Recreation Area). Hike approximately 15 miles.
Solar Outdoors members – The Club gear is available to borrow. An annual rental fee of $35 is due at time of gear distribution along with a deposit check (this check is returned uncashed when you return gear clean, dry, undamaged. Gear available to borrow: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, water filter; a complete list of gear available to borrow can be found on the Solar Outdoors website at: https://www.solaroutdoors.org/gear/). Items not available to borrow: clothing, hiking boots, rain gear, compass, food for the practical (exception is the Workshop dinner on Saturday at Highland Recreation Area).
Please contact Krisanne Schmidt with questions - text [masked]
- Leslie C.
- Krisanne
- Delphine B.
- 18 attendees
Join us for a day hike at Island Lake Recreation Area. We will hike 5 miles although there are options to shorten the hike if you need. We are meeting at the hiking trailhead at the south end of Kent Lake parking lot.
Dress for the weather. The only reason the hike will be cancelled is if the National Weather Service says to stay indoors or seek shelter.
Host: Laura Miller (734)[masked]
- Laura M
- Denise B.
- 2 attendees
REGISTRATION FOR THIS WORKSHOP IS AT THE SESSION #1 POST ON APRIL 13, 2023. ANY REGISTRATIONS FOR THIS WORKSHOP ON THIS POST WILL NOT GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT IN THE WORKSHOP.
One of the most popular workshops offered by Solar Outdoors members, the Beginning Backpacking Workshop teaches trip planning, equipment, food, and other topics to get you ready for the backcountry.
If you a) have never backpacked and have always wanted to try it; b) are new to the club and want to make friends and meet people; or c) want a refresher or just need an excuse to backpack - this is the workshop for you!
DATES: April 13; April 21-23; Backpacking Practical Trip, May 6-8 (This is a Saturday-Monday)
Workshop Fee**: $110 (Solar Outdoors members paying via cash/check); $120 (Solar Outdoors members paying via meetup) includes textbook, Workshop handbook (available online), camping fees for the workshop and the practical and Saturday dinner at our Brighton Recreation Area Workshop. Sign up on Meetup or at the January-March Solar Outdoors general meetings.
Sign up deadline is: April 1, 2023.
Workshop Session #1: Thursday, April 13 – 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
LOCATION: St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, 27475 Five Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48154
Workshop Session #2: Weekend workshop Friday, April 21 – Sunday, April 23
LOCATION: Brighton Recreation Area/Migizi (Frontier) Cabin (A Michigan State Recreation Passport is needed to enter Brighton Recreation Area). This will be a camping weekend.
Practical Backpacking Trip: Saturday - Monday, May 6-8
LOCATION: Waterloo/Pinckney State Parks (to ensure participants are ready for this Practical, participant must attend the Workshops at St. John’s Presbyterian Church and Brighton Recreation Area). Hike approximately 15 miles.
Solar Outdoors members – The Club gear is available to borrow. An annual rental fee of $35 is due at time of gear distribution along with a deposit check (this check is returned uncashed when you return gear clean, dry, undamaged. Gear available to borrow: backpack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, water filter; a complete list of gear available to borrow can be found on the Solar Outdoors website at: https://www.solaroutdoors.org/gear/). Items not available to borrow: clothing, hiking boots, rain gear, compass, food for the practical (exception is the Workshop dinner on Saturday at Highland Recreation Area).
Please contact Krisanne Schmidt with questions - text [masked]
- Leslie C.
- Krisanne
- Delphine B.
- 5 attendees
You have hiked 10 miles in perfect weather, with perfect views to get to the perfect camp spot on a cliff to watch the perfect sunset. Once you have set up your tent and gathered your water, you are ready to open the prepackaged freeze-dried meal for dinner….or Not!
It is time to learn how to eat well in the backcountry. This workshop will discuss the ease of dehydrating your own food before a backpack or camping trip. Spending time before a trip in preparing your own food pays off in many different ways. Knowing exactly what is in the meal, ensuring that your body is getting the nutrients that it needs and reducing the weight in your pack.
Things we will discuss in this workshop:
Kinds of Backcountry Cooking
Types of Dehydrating
Foods to Dehydrate
How to Store Dehydrated Foods
If you want to know more, then this workshop is for you!! The fee is $25 for Solar Outdoors members paid by check or Venmo and $30 if you pay on meet up. This workshop will be limited to 16 students. The cost includes an E-Book with drying instructions and recipes.
Workshop will be held on Thursday April 27th from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Email any questions to [masked].
- Carol M.
- Meg
- Denise B.
- 7 attendees
Past events (1,331)
St Paul's Presbyterian Church
- Dana B.
- Anandhi C
- Anne K
- 14 attendees
