Are you part of a snowshoe club in your state or country? Would you like to start a snowshoe club in your area? Do you want to find a club near you? Snowshoe Magazine wants to help grow the snowshoe clubs of the world.

Here you will find a list of current clubs by state, the club's contact information, and more. Also, if you are interested in starting a snowshoe club in your region, you will find detailed instructions on what to do (provided by Julie Udchachon, founder of the Alaska Snowshoe Club in Anchorage).

If you are part of a club and want your club listed on our site - free of charge - please contact us with your information. This will be an ongoing feature on our site and we want every snowshoe club in the world to participate.

To find out more information or to submit your club to Snowshoe Magazine, e-mail Ryan Alford: [email protected]. If you want to create a snowshoe club and need our help, please let us know (and click here for some tips).

Thank you for your support. And, happy snowshoeing!


Clubs and Associations in the United States

Alaska

Alaska Snowshoe Club
http://communitynews.adn.com/main.wsi?group_id=2519
Anchorage, Alaska
Contact: Julie Udchachon
[email protected]

California

Bay Area Outdoor Adventure Club
http://www.outdooradventureclub.com
San Francisco, Calif.
Contact: Richard Bothwell
[email protected]

Colorado

Eagle Mountain Runners
http://www.eaglemountainrunners.com
Eagle, Colo.
Contact: Cait Hilmer
[email protected]

Massachusetts

Western Mass Athletic Club
http://www.runwmac.com

Montana

The Snowtravelers
http://members.tripod.com/~snowtravelers/index.html
Bozeman, Mont.
Contact: Chuck Hudson

New Hampshire

White Mountain Milers
http://www.whitemountainmilers.com
Conway, N.H.
Contact: [email protected]

New York

*Beekmantown "Snowshoe" Eagles Racing Club
Northeastern N.Y.
Contact: Mark Elmore
[email protected]

*Empire State Snowshoe Association
http://www.empirestatesnowshoe.org

*Paul Smith's College Striders
http://paulsmiths.edu/campuslife/striders.html
Paul Smiths, N.Y.
Contact: Jim Tucker, Director
[email protected]

*Saratoga Stryders
http://www.saratogastryders.org
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Contact: [email protected]

Washington

The Backpacking Club
http://www.host33.com/backpack
Spokane, Wash.

Vermont

Green Mountain Adventure Racing Association
http://www.gmara.org
Burlington, VT (but serves Vermont and surrounding states)
[email protected]

Upper Valley Trails Alliance
http://www.uvtrails.org
Norwich, VT (but serves the Upper Valley in both VT and NH)
Contact: Wally Elton
[email protected]

Clubs and Associations in Canada

Nova Scotia

Hub Cycle Snowshoe Club
Truro, N.S.
Contact: Bruce Roberts
[email protected]

British Columbia

Ecospirit Adventure Club
http://www.ecospirit.ca/
Vancouver, BC
Contact: [email protected]


Want to start your own club? Here's what you need to know:

--Determine Goals and Purpose of the New Snowshoe Club

To educate? To promote? To facilitate? To organize? To commune?

--Contact Potential Members

Contact other snowshoers. Get a group of snowshoe enthusiasts together who are interested in organizing a club. Set a time and place for the first meeting or event. Send out emails, contact community calendars and listings. Call newspapers and radio stations.

--Create Rules and an Agenda

Create a set of informal rules for general group operations and establish membership criteria and benefits. Establish a regular schedule for meetings/outings and/or events. Weekly get-togethers for a snowshoe run and hot chocolate or coffee is a nice way to maintain club interest and provides the opportunity to exchange ideas. Elect officers as needed: President, vice president, treasurer, and secretary.

--Schedule Meetings

Scheduling events and meetings in your area can quickly increase participation.

Plan activities to achieve goals and purpose of the club which could include snowshoe clinics, races, weekly outings or training groups.

--Communicate

Communicate with club members. Provide a means of communication to facilitate the introduction of new ideas and to identify people who're interested in filling future leadership positions. A simple newsletter can accomplish this. Emailing and web sites work as well.

--Approve a Constitution / By-Laws

Examine the by-laws of other local sport clubs for a model. Start with something short and simple. The document can be amended later. Make sure to include the following:

*The name of the club
*Purpose and goals
*Benefits to the members
*Responsibilities of the members
*Responsibilities of the officers
*Procedure for becoming a member
*Procedure for becoming an officer (elections)
*Schedule for official meetings (monthly? annually?) for the purpose of conducting elections, amending bylaws, determining the budget, and other official business
*State non profit status (unless otherwise desired)

--Remember!

Two (or more) persons form a group (club). Dogs do not count as members because they can't wear snowshoes. Announce that food will be served at the meetings (don't say "I promise").

There are many types of snowshoes and snowshoe activities. The club can be specialized or general. Learn more about snowshoeing by reading Snowshoe Magazine, of course.

(Information provided by Julie Udchachon, founder of the Alaska Snowshoe Club: http://www.usatf.org/assoc/AK/shoe.htm.)

Thank you for your support.