Q   What is the 20s & 30s Section of the Sierra Club?

A   The 20s & 30s Section (20s & 30s) is a part of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club; it was formed to promote, to forganize, and to lead Sierra Club activities that allow environmentally-conscious people in their 20s & 30s who live in the greater Los Angeles area (and surrounds) to get together for fun activities.

The Sierra Club is an environmental organization founded in 1892 by John Muir. The goal of the Club is to explore, enjoy, and protect our wild places. To learn more about the Sierra Club, click here.

Q   Do I have to be a member to join your activities?

A   Most of our activities are open to both members and non-members. However, a hike leader may offer you a Sierra Club membership form if you are interested. Club membership entitles you to receive discounts and special notices on certain events, in addition to having voting rights and receiving the activities newsletter. Additionally, by joining, you are supporting the Sierra Club, which works to help preserve irreplaceable wild lands, save endangered and threatened wildlife, and protect the environment. You can also become a member of the Sierra Club by joining online at this link.

Q   Do I automatically become a Sierra Club member if I join the 20s & 30s Section?

A   No. To join the Sierra Club you must complete a membership form (you can click here!) and pay annual dues.

Q   Do I need to be a Sierra Club member to join the 20s & 30s Section?

A   Yes. If you want to become a full-fledged, voting member of the Section, you must be a current Sierra Club member. However, you don't have to be a Sierra Club member to participate in most of our events, or to receive our Section newsletter (but we strongly encourage it!).

Q   How much does it cost to join the 20s & 30s Section?

A   Joining the Section is free! To join the Sierra Club, the current annual dues are $39 per member.

Q   How do I join 20s & 30s Section?

A   Sign up for our newsletter.

Q   What benefits do I get by joining the 20s & 30s Section?

A   In addition to the benefits received as a National Sierra Club member, joining the 20s & 30s Section entitles you to:

• Annual membership status in our section
• Price reductions on the cost of some multi-day trips
• Priority sign-up for some trips and activities
• 20s & 30s e-newsletter
• A vote in our Management Committee elections
• Host your own non-rated activities for this section, i.e., social events. (rated activities such as hikes must be led by qualified leaders only.)

Q   Didn’t you used to be called the “20s and 30s Singles Section”?

A   Yes. We removed the “Singles” from our name (after a vote of approval by our members) to better reflect our current membership. Though we may, from time to time, have singles-specific events, we are a diverse group of people who are single, married, divorced, dating, etc. We welcome people regardless of relationship status.

Q   If I am new to the Section, do I have to go to a newcomer meeting or newcomer hike first?

A   No. First-timers are welcome on any hike (or other event) for which they feel physically qualified, unless otherwise specified in the event description. Please read the descriptions for events you are interested in attending to determine whether you would be able to handle the distance and/or elevation gain.

Q   How do I sign up to attend an event?

A   Check the event listing for special instructions, then enter your contact information under the heading "RSVP Below".

Q   What can I expect if I go on a hike or a trip?

A   Depending on the activity, you might be part of a small group (5-10 members) or a large group (sometimes 50 or more!).  Regardless of the group size, most activities and all hikes and trips are led by two or more qualified Sierra Club outings leaders who are trained in first aid and CPR. On hikes, one leader will lead the group along the route and another will “sweep” and trail behind the group to ensure no one gets lost or left behind. You will be required to stay between the leader and the sweep at all times. Also, please make sure to pay attention to any announcements and instructions made by the leaders.

Regardless of the size of the group or the activity you attend, you will meet friendly, down-to-earth people from many different walks of life in our Section. You are likely to make a new friend or two. Feel free to strike up conversations with others, if they don’t beat you to it and start one with you first! If you are shy, that’s okay too. You can enjoy the scenery and interact only as much as you feel comfortable doing.

Q   What do I need to bring with me to an event?

A   The event description will include details of what you will need to bring with you to an event. In special circumstances, the event leader will email participants ahead of time to share information, including any special items that you might need to bring.  For hikes, always make sure that you have plenty of water and a snack, and are wearing appropriate shoes. A hat and sunglasses are strongly recommended.

Q   What if I experience a problem during an event?

A   If you or another participant experience a medical problem, please notify one of the leaders immediately. They are trained in first aid and CPR, and can get appropriate help if needed.

If you need to leave early during a hike, please sign out with one of the leaders before leaving.

In the rare event that you experience inappropriate behavior from another participant, please report it immediately to the leader. We want all of our participants to feel comfortable and safe. Please be aware that unwanted advances are unacceptable. Participants who behave inappropriately (at the discretion of the leader) will be asked to leave the event.  If you feel that a leader has not handled your complaint appropriately, please contact the section Management Committee.

Q   Who can post events?

A   Anyone who is a registered member of this section can submit a social event to be posted on our Section website. For hikes and trips, however, only qualified outings leaders (who are up-to-date on their leadership training and CPR/first aid requirements) may post events.

For more information on how to become an outings leader in the Angeles Chapter, please review the information linked under "How to Become an Outings Leader" in the sidebar.

Q   What events can I post?

A   Any registered member can host social events such as social hours, game nights, beach days, dinners, etc. Only Sierra Club outings leaders can post multi-day outings and hikes.   If you are a new leader, please contact the Webmaster to be added to the leader list so you can post hikes and trips.

Q   Who can come to your events?

A   The Section was created so that people in their 20s & 30s can enjoy the outdoors while socializing with others in their age range.  The majority of our members are in their late-20s to mid-30s. However, Section events are open to participants of all ages, and we try to gear our events to be welcoming to all newcomers. Many of our leaders and long-time members eclipsed the age of 39 some time ago and are still active participants in the section.

Q   Is there a minimum age requirement?

A   Not usually, but there may be special restrictions for participants under 18. Please contact us in advance if you're a minor, or if you'd like to bring children to one of our events.

Q   Are the events free?

A   Events are free unless otherwise stated in the description. Often you will need a few dollars to pay for your own lunch/dinner/parking/entrance fee/etc., which may or may not be stated on the event description, so it’s always a good idea to have a few dollars with you. When sharing a ride to an event, it is customary to compensate the driver for mileage expenses and to share the cost of parking.

Q   How do I contact the leader of an event?

A   For many events, it may not be necessary to contact the leader prior to the event. Simply sign up on the website, then show up on time the day of the event at the listed location. Answers to questions about carpool points, and general rules and policies are available on our website. If you still do need to contact the leader, the leader's contact information will be included with the event description.

Q   Where are the rideshare points?

A   Please see this link for more information.

NOTICE: "In the interests of facilitating the logistics of some outings, it is customary that participants make voluntary carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel."

Q   Are there parking charges for the ride share points?

A   In some cases, yes. In particular, the West LA rideshare point requires a fee to park.

Q   Are there other sections like this one in my geographic area?

A   There are a variety of Sierra Club sections all over the United States.

Q   What is your cancellation policy?

A   If you change your mind about a hike, please contact the leader in advance of the event. No further action is needed. For trips, the following cancellation policies apply:

Cancellation notices must be sent to the leader in writing (mail or email).

Unless otherwise stated in the write-up, the refund policy is as follows: If you cancel 30 days or more prior to an outing, you can receive a full refund. If you cancel between 14 and 29 days prior to an outing, you can receive a 50% refund. If you cancel less than 14 days before an outing, no refund will issued. See below for exceptions.

Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to event may receive a refund  if the trip is full and space is resold to suitable replacement. If a refund is made, a fee of 10% may be assessed.

Any portion of an outing fee designated for a fundraiser will automatically be forfeited after the check has been deposited. All refunds made on deposited checks are subject to a $10 cancellation fee.

All other refunds are at the discretion of the leader and/or the Management Committee.

Q   What is the difference between this website and your Meetup site?

A   This website (www.sc2030.org) is our official website that we use to post information, events, information, and allow our members to pay for trips and look for carpool partners.  While our Meetup site (www.meetup.com/sc2030) includes most of our events, we do not use it for payments or carpool information.