Outdoors Club offers a variety of experiences and opportunities for students

HC offers many different clubs including the French Club and the Physics Club. One lesser known club is the Outdoors Club. The club recently went on a backpacking/ camping trip to Red River Gorge. 

“My favorite part was the weekend where it was perfect,” HC Science teacher Tim Bailie said, “it wasn’t too hot and wasn’t too cold, and then we camped right next to a top of cliff. The valley filled up with fog that night and we saw the moon rise. It was super picturesque.”  

Many students don’t have the opportunities to go on these trips. Outdoors Club provides a unique way for its participants to connect with the space around them. 

“I never really got to do certain activities with my family, like hiking and camping, so to be able to have that opportunity at school and do it as a community, has helped me make friends with similar interests,” HC Junior Mary Hanna said.  

The Outdoors Club has influenced students in many ways, including the way they think about their future. 

“[Outdoors Club] really opened my eyes to the world around me,” HC Junior Isabel Pederson said. “I originally wanted to go to New York City to live, but seeing all the beauty in nature really makes me question whether I want to live somewhere more outdoorsy.” 

Students have found their interests through this club that was created 10 years ago by HC Science teacher Kristian Junker and Bailie.  

“One day after a meeting, we talked about what we did the last weekend,” Bailie said, “We both realized that we both loved being outdoors. There was not an Outdoor Club at Henry Clay High School. It began around 2008 when Mr. Junker and I started it. One of the main reasons we started it was to give kids an opportunity to be in the outdoors in a way they were not able to do so on their own.” 

Students have found interests in the activities they have been a part of in the club. 

“I get to spend time with my friends and be outdoors,” HC Junior Regan Brown said. “[Outdoors Club] has made me want to go hiking more.” 

This club is more than just backpacking trips. The participants can go camping, canoeing, and skiing. Students interested in going on any of the upcoming trips should see Mr. Sproles in room 155 and Mr. Bailie in room 144 located in the upstairs green hallway for more information.