Guilford College’s Outdoors Club celebrated the arrival of spring and the warm weather on April 11 with a trip to Hanging Rock State Park, where a small group of students spent the day hiking, swimming and relaxing by the water.
Although only three people attended, the trip still captured what the club is all about: getting outside and spending time together. One of the attendees was Talula Perry, who is the club’s social media and adventure coordinator.
“It was a super sunny warm day,” Perry said. “A lot of people were swimming in the water, on the rocks. We swam. We got in. It was super refreshing.”
The group hiked down to the lower Cascade Falls, a short trail which was less than a half mile. There they swam, made sandwiches and had a picnic by the waterfall.
“We just hung out for the whole day,” Perry said. “We even saw a proposal which was really sweet.”
For Perry, being able to bring more people on hikes—especially those who are more unfamiliar with the activity—is really meaningful to her.
“I really love having an excuse to go on hikes and to go outside,” Perry said. “And being somebody that can take them outside and explore beautiful places together is really fun.”
Because the group was so small, the day was flexible and unstructured. Activities ranged from relaxing by the water to climbing around the rocks and exploring the area.
The Outdoors Club regularly hosts a variety of events throughout the semester. Elijah Troop, a member of the club’s board and incoming president, said the group organizes frequent hikes, rock-climbing trips, campus cleanups, and, in the fall, a big event called the Haunted Trail.
For many, the club is not only just about being outdoors, but about building connections
“It’s a very easy way to just make friends,” Troop said. “Everyone that goes is always really friendly.”
Troop also mentioned that for him, hikes turn into a place to talk about environmental topics and the law surrounding it, conservation and native plants, as well as just everyday life.
“I think that it builds community,” Troop said. “It builds education.”
The club is open to all Guilford students. Joining is simple: students can email the club or show up to one of the hikes, which will typically be posted on What’s The G. Carpooling is usually available, making trips like Hanging Rock accessible even for students without transportation.
Looking ahead, Troop hopes to increase participation and collaborate more with other campus clubs.
“We love to have new people, and we’re also always really open to feedback,” Troop said. “So, if you want to see something in the Outdoors Club, just email us, and if we like the idea enough, we’ll probably put it on.”
As the semester continues and the weather gets warmer, the Outdoors Club is hoping more students will take advantage of opportunities like this one, whether that means hiking, swimming or just spending a day outdoors with new people.
