On Friday, September 20th, GCC’s Hiking Club held their first hike at Thunderbird Conservation Park. Led by Dr. JoLee Stephens, the first meeting served as a simple introduction to the club and a chance for new members to meet each other.

At 7:00 in the morning, interested participants met up at the Thunderbird Conservation South Parking Lot. Making sure to bring sturdy shoes, a hat, and plenty of water, the group started their 2-mile hike in the Thunderbird Conservation Park. At this first meeting, there were 13 new members.

This is only the first hike of Hiking Club here at Glendale Community College, with many more planned in the future. As the fall semester progresses, hikes will get longer and more difficult. The next planned hike will be on October 4th at 7am, where members will hike Sunrise Mountain in Peoria, which will be about 3 miles long. In an interview with Dr. JoLee Stephens, the leader of the club, she says that on this upcoming hike she “look[s] forward to getting to know [the new members] better.” Additionally, she says she is looking forward to the “cooler temperatures.”

Later in the interview, Dr. Stephens explains that her favorite part of hikes like these is being with the students.

“Hiking club gives me a chance to get to know students outside of class. Sometimes students talk to me about the classes they are taking, their plans for graduation, and the internships they hope to get.”

– Dr. JoLee Stephens

Dr. Stephens adds that not only does she enjoy being with the students, but she also sees students becoming friends with each other. On the hikes, students often network with each other and give advice on hikes, and last semester she reveals some members even “carpool[ed] together and arrange[ed] hikes during semester breaks.” The club is designed to not only give good exercise to its members but also give them a chance to form a small community.

For students interested in joining the Hiking Club here at GCC, the process is simple. Interested students can find information on the club and learn about joining by either emailing Dr. JoLee Stephens or by going to the GCC website. Furthermore, at club fairs, the Hiking Club holds booths, where students can sign up. There are also numerous flyers with information around the school. Dr. Stephens encourages students to join clubs like the GCC Hiking Club as she says it is “a great way to get involved and make some friends.”