Indulge your inner wild child this spring semester by joining one of UC Berkeley’s hailed outdoor adventure clubs! The options for getting in your fill of nature with a group of like-minded students are endless. Whether you’re looking to hit the slopes or escape to the woods for the weekend, don’t fret! There’s a club at this school that will align with all of your adventurous hobbies. We at the Clog have compiled a guide containing everything you need to know about UC Berkeley’s outdoor adventure clubs.
Cal Hiking and Outdoors Club (CHAOS)
This is one of UC Berkeley’s oldest clubs. Created in 1870, it has served to join together our campus’s nature lovers under one incredible organization. To become a member, you pay a $10 fee to join the listserv, which is an email group that includes all of the club’s 1,500+ members. People are constantly organizing weekend hiking, skiing and camping trips, so jump on the listserv and get involved with perhaps the most adventurous group you’ll find on campus. If you’re looking to get a feeling of what the group is all about, swing by La Val’s Pizza on Northside to check out the club’s weekly Wednesday evening meetups.
College Ski and Snowboard Club (CSSC)
This club brings together winter sports lovers all under one roof, with the famed BiG TRiP comprising a week of fun on (and off!) the slopes. This group has a lot of energy, so you’re guaranteed to have a good time!
Cal Hang-Gliding Club
You heard me right! You can actually learn how to hang glide here at UC Berkeley. However, admission into this club is super competitive, so be sure to apply early in the fall semester for a chance to learn how to take to the skies!
Surf Team at Berkeley
If you moved to the Bay Area thinking your surfing days were over, think again! Surf Team at Berkeley hosts tons of beach days, movie screenings and barbecues to get you pumped for catching some waves. This group also participates in surfing competitions hosted by the National Scholastic Surfing Association, so you’ll have the chance to show off what you’ve got in a more competitive environment. (And we know you like a little friendly competition — you go to UC Berkeley, after all!)
Ski and Snowboard Team at Berkeley
This team is arguably one of the more serious winter sports clubs on campus. The team solidifies its roster early in the fall semester and travels to ski and snowboarding competitions regularly. Competing is optional, but sharing the stoke on the slopes isn’t!
Cal Climbing
Last (but certainly not least!) is Cal Climbing. This club unites lovers of rock climbing and regularly puts together weekend trips to some of California’s most famous rock climbing destinations. Cal Climbing is definitely one of the more hardcore adventure organizations. You’d best believe it’s filled with some daredevils!
There you have it! Your ultimate guide to UC Berkeley’s outdoor adventure clubs. If you ever feel like you’ve been stuck indoors studying for too long, just close your eyes, scroll to a random club on this list, and try out a new activity! College is all about discovery, after all — why not try your hand at hang gliding, surfing, rock climbing or snowboarding? Now have fun and go explore!
