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Annual dues for the year 2010
are due no later than February 1, 2010
Please use the membership application on the POC application link
and mark it renewal.
Note: New members who joined
in October, November or December of 2009
are considered Paid for 2010.
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POC event leaders are needed for activities with the club.
Please contact Bob Huebner at rwhorient@aol.com
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Annual dues for the year 2010
are due no later than February 1, 2010
Please use the membership application on the POC application link
and mark it renewal.
Note: New members who joined
in October, November or December of 2009
are considered Paid for 2010.
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POC event leaders are needed for activities with the club.
or come to the quarterly meeting and sign up in person.
All hikes must be scheduled with Bob and all hike write-ups MUST be emailed to franlwhipple@me.com
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The Pocono Outdoor Club publicist will be emailing weekly activity updates directly to your inbox! If you do not receive the weekly updates and would like to be added to the weekly emailing list, please send an email requesting to be added to PocPublicist@gmail.com
(Please note: you must be a member to receive updates via email)
IF you're interested in becoming a member go to the POC Application link or click here on this link
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HUNTING SEASON
IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, BE AWARE! . . . WEAR BLAZE ORANGE FOR SAFETY
Always be aware when doing outdoor activities.
ABOUT US
The Pocono Outdoor Club's mission is to get people off the couch and into the outdoors. The club enjoys hiking, camping, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, canoeing and maintaining area trails since 1989. We play, work and hang out in the woods. We are advocates for area trails; protecting existing trails from increasing encroachments and working with local agencies and land managers to promote more trails for more trail users. The P.O.C. is a member organization of the Keystone Trails Association.
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POC takes a "go green" approach!
The Pocono Outdoor Club is trying to help the environment by cutting down on the printing of the quarterly newsletter by offering the newsletter via email. If any member would like to help out the environment and help the POC go green, please email POCgoesGreen@gmail.com and the newsletter will be emailed to all members who request it and whose dues are paid for the current year. This will be the last time the news letter will be posted on the website for free download.
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President’s Message
How do people find out about us? Our website contains valuable information about the outdoors, useful links to other sites and interesting photographs of our hikes. Recently we got a Facebook site, which will provide an opportunity for people to post comments about our activities. It’s important to know how we’re doing and what we can do better. Our quarterly newsletter, mailed to members, lists our activities. They are also listed in the Pocono Record and in This Week in the Poconos paper edition and on their website. (This Week in the Poconos is usually available at the DWG Welcome Center which is open on weekends.) The POC, in the words of This Week in the Poconos, “is a friendly hiking group open to all individuals interested in exploring the trails of the Pocono Mountains.” There is no charge to hike with the POC and we welcome everyone, regardless of age or place of residence who wishes to hike with us. Many of the hikes are easy or moderately paced. Our leaders are familiar with the variety of municipal and state parks, game lands, state forests and our national “park,” the DWG National Recreation Area. Often there is a mixture of ages and backgrounds and abilities, which makes for intergenerational and intercultural sharing. Compared to other recreational activities the costs of hiking and belonging to a club are minimal. Our hikes provide exercise, socializing and focus on nature, and are source of information about woodlands, rivers, and forests. The POC advocates for a wise use of our state’s and our country’s natural resources, and our club along with the Keystone Trail Association and conservation organizations is very active monitoring trails and keeping them open through work crews. I urge people to become a member of POC, to become involved with our goals, and to support us by volunteering.
Frank Allen
Remember there is no CL_B without U !!!!!!!!
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Prices Reduced/New Color Added to First Edition Club T’s!
The Club's first edition T-shirts are now available in Navy Blue (M and L sizes only).
The Navy Blue Tee's are 50/50-poly/cotton blend and look sharp with white graphics. The original All Cotton Green Tee's are still available in all sizes- AdultS/M/L/XL. All Tee's sport the original POC Tagline-“Take A Hike!” Requests for children’s sizes should be submitted- if we get enough we will order some. Specify size and color when ordering.
Tee's are $12 for non-members/$10 for members.
Patches are still $3.00 each. Shipping costs will be determined per order.
Send check payable to "Pocono Outdoor Club" to POC T-Shirts or Patches at RR6 Box 6387B, Stroudsburg PA 18360.
Proceeds benefit the POC Trailcare Program
UPCOMING TRAIL CARE DATES 2010
Many Hands make Light Work. Trail Maintainers are also wanted to perform ongoing maintenance outside of these regularly scheduled trail care events. For more information contact John Motz 570-236-1462.
The Pocono Outdoor Club offers all members and members of the public the opportunity to contribute to the quality of trail experiences throughout the Pocono’s. We offer FREE training to all volunteer maintainers and work with area land managers to facilitate quality trail experiences. Meeting time is 9 AM unless otherwise noted.
ACRONYMS YOU NEED TO KNOW (YNTK)
2010 TRAIL CARE
Trouble on the Trail
By John Motz
POC Trailcare Committee Chair
2009 was a record year for the POC trail crew- and not in a good way. Several events were rained out and we logged
the fewest volunteer hours ever with under 300. We also had the fewest number of volunteers report for the season,
and the trend has been downward. Still, we were able to get some much needed signage installed at Big Pocono, and
reopened a majority of the Big Bear Swamp Loop on Thunder Swamp Trail. We did more work to the Hawk Falls creek
side trail and cleared vistas on both South and Indian Trails at Big Pocono. Work is also under way to hold a series of
training sessions in 2010 so would be maintainers can be prepared and safe while doing much needed trail work.
While trail work isn’t for everyone, and those folks usually weed themselves out on their first outing, it is rewarding to
give back to trails some of what the trails give to us. Not all trail work is hard labor in the woods. There is the
advocacy side of trail maintenance as well. In addition to learning about the physical aspects of the trail maintenance,
volunteer maintainers and trail advocates learn the inner workings of state government, conservation issues and trail
management challenges faced by those who oversee our trails. Working with state foresters and park managers is
enlightening to say the least, troubling at times, and offers a window into the world of the DCNR (Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources). It also gives us a leg up when there is trouble on the trail. Having a good
working relationship with the powers that be gives us a voice, and the knowledge to make educated comments and
suggestions regarding trail issues that may arise.
So in addition to the annual begging for volunteers this 2010 season, expect some requests for letter writers and
meeting attendees. People who enjoy area trails are needed to get out and advocate for the trails. The County is
embarking on a journey to connect trails on the many open space properties to one another and to link with existing
trails on state lands. Trail enthusiasts are encouraged to be a part of the planning process and networkers will be
needed to make many of these connections a reality. If you’ve enjoyed hiking the rocks or navigating the sweet single
track in the Poconos, consider giving back, even just a little, to something that gave so much. And mark on your
calendars the Trailcare dates, if you are so inclined, to get out there and paint some blazes or clear some brush. It’s
fairly rewarding work.
For more information about the POC Trailcare Program contact committee chair John Motz at 570-236-1462 or
trailbldr@hotmail.com.
2010 TRAIL CARE
Trail Care Dates to Remember for Spring 2010
24-Apr -Trail Care Big Pocono SP
8-May -Thunder Swamp Trail Care
14 May -KTA Trail Care Weekend at
16 May -Promised Land and Thunder Swamp
22-May Trail Care Big Pocono SP
5-Jun National Trail Day
12-Jun Hickory Run Trail Care
Volunteers of all levels are welcomed. Volunteer opportunities range from blaze painting and pruning to whole-sale trail clearing and tread construction and rehab. No experience necessary, will train any healthy and willing volunteers. Volunteers should bring gloves and water, snacks, and lunch if appropriate. Contact Trail care Coordinator John Motz 570-236-1462 trailbuilder@enter.net for more info. Attendance at 3 trail care events or 20 hours of trail care earns a POC Trail care Crew t-shirt. Not available for purchase.
See you on the trail, John Motz, Trail Care and Advocacy Chair
Volunteers of all levels are welcomed. Volunteer opportunities range from blaze painting and pruning to whole-sale trail clearing and tread construction and rehab. No experience necessary, will train any healthy and willing volunteers. Volunteers should bring gloves and water, snacks, and lunch if appropriate. Contact Trail care Coordinator John Motz 570-236-1462 trailbuilder@enter.net for more info. Attendance at 3 trail care events or 20 hours of trail care earns a POC Trail care Crew t-shirt.
Not available for purchase. See you on the trail, John Motz, Trail Care and Advocacy Chair