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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+)
See all- Backpack South Manitou IslandSouth Manitou Island, Glen Arbor Township, MI$30.00
Join me for a 2 night backpacking weekend on South Manitou Island.
From the ferry dock we will hike 1 mile to the Bay Campground group site where we'll establish base camp. We'll spend our time day hiking to interesting landmarks on the island and enjoying the sandy beach adjacent to our camp.
We will be staying at the Bay Campground group campsite #1.
We will meet at the Manitou Ferry parking lot in Leland, MI at 9 am on Friday (7/26/24). The ferry leaves at 10 AM. Please be on time so we can check in and make sure we have everything in order.
You can purchase your tickets for the ferry on the Manitou Island Transit website *Note - You must phone in to request the 10 AM departure for South Manitou camping (not day trip). They can be reached at 231-256-9061. Round trip tickets are $45.00.*
For more info - Manitou Island Transit — Ferry Service to the Manitou Islands (manitoutransit.com)
Cost for trip is $25.00 if paid by cash or check; $30.00 if paid on meetup here.
Most people drive up on Thursday evening and camp in either Leelanau or Traverse City. It's up to you on how you want to do it. You just need to make sure you can meet at the ferry parking lot at 9 AM on Friday.
Some local campsites are:
Leelanau State Park
DH Day Campground - NPS
Indigo Bluffs CG - Private (An RV park but tent sites are available)Host: Tim Davis (tdavi11@aol.com)
Not open