About the AOC > Membership Info

We’re glad you’re thinking about joining the AOC, or you’ve recently done so.

The benefits of membership are many: access to exciting outdoor adventures year-round; fellowship and potentially life-long friendships; and rewarding opportunities to give back to the community.

Who We Are

The AOC is an all-volunteer organization, with hundreds of active members and dozens of events each week. To help new members get acclimated quickly, we regularly hold activities designed especially to welcome new members.

How We're Organized

Because of our size, we’ve developed some common-sense guidelines to keep everything running smoothly. To learn how we're organized, and what it means to be a member, please review our guidelines and FAQs pages. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email us.

Ready to Join?

It’s free, quick, and easy. See you outdoors!

Top 5 Tips for Newbies

Everyone was new at one time, so don’t sweat it. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Please don’t show up at an event until you register for it and are added to the attending list. Many popular events fill up and have wait lists.


2. Note the difficulty level, or D-rating, on events. The higher the D-rating, the tougher the event and the more skill and/or stamina required. Start with lower-rated events (D1 and D2) and work your way up as you feel comfortable.


3. Lean on the experience and expertise of our trip leaders. They have special training to ensure our activities are well run. If you’re ever uncertain about an event’s requirements, ask the event trip leader – he or she is happy to help.


4. Our events are open and welcoming. We don’t hike/bike/run/paddle/camp in cliques. You will fit in. Consider coming to one of our monthly social gatherings to say hello.


5. Have fun!