About Us

About the Huron Valley Group

The Sierra Club is a non-profit, member-supported, public interest organization that promotes conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions--legislative, administrative, legal, and electoral.

The Huron Valley Group is part of the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club, which includes all of Michigan. The Huron Valley Group itself includes most of the Huron River watershed, including Washtenaw, Lenawee, and Monroe counties.

Purpose

To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the Earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the Earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives. Since its founding in 1892, the Sierra Club has been our nation's most effective defender of wilderness and the environment.The Huron Valley Group represents Washtenaw, Lanawee and Monroe counties.

Membership in the Sierra Club

You are welcome to participate in Huron Valley Group general meetings and most activities even if you are not a member (some outings are limited to Club members).

The Sierra Club has several membership categories, based on desire to contribute, age, and income. When you join the Sierra Club, one membership application enrolls you into the nation-wide club, a Chapter, and a Group, based on your mailing address. The Sierra Club has over 60 Chapters which generally correspond to states. The Michigan Chapter includes all of Michigan, and it is further divided into 9 regional Groups. The Huron Valley Group includes all of Washtenaw, Monroe, and Lenawee Counties.

Conservation Programs

The Huron Valley Group is very active on conservation issues. Locally, our goal is to protect and preserve outstanding natural areas and the quality of air, water and soils of our region. Huron Valley Group members have worked on climate change efforts, including playing a pivotal role in the creation and maintenance of the Ann Arbor A2ZERO initiative. We have also contributed in important ways to preserving sensitive natural areas and opposing incinerators and hazardous waste landfills.

Contact team chair Steve Colby Brown (734-604-4582) for more information.

Making a Difference - Making New Friends

The Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw area has many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Lake Erie and smaller lakes, rivers, forests, wetlands ...these are places that are so attractive to those of us who live here.

It is no accident that these parks and other beautiful habitats are here. They were set aside and preserved by forward-thinking people who understood the value of protecting our natural environment. But that job is not done and never will be.

That’s why organizations like the Huron Valley Group (HVG) of the Sierra Club are so important. The leadership is made up of your neighbors, good people who care about the environment and want to make a difference. But it takes a team to make a difference. And that’s where you come in.

Without the efforts of our leadership team we could not offer programs and outings, support environmental causes, or educate the public about the importance of protecting our natural world for all to enjoy. To continue our success we need a good team. What are the rewards from being part of the HVG team? You will make a difference in our community by helping to make it a better place. Beyond that, you will make new friends; other people - like yourself - who care about the world around them and are willing to help make a difference.

Our Group leaders generally meet the first Thursday of each month at this Zoom link.

There are many ways to participate. We are sure we can find something to match your interests and time constraints. If you have questions, please attend a meeting, send us email at hvgsierraclub@gmail.com, or fill out our contact form.

Sierra Club Outings

Sierra Club founder John Muir's advice to "...climb the mountains and get their good tidings," has been followed by Sierra Club members since 1892. Each year thousands of persons of all ages go on Sierra Club trips. The Club's outings program is organized at three levels: National/International, Regional/Chapter, and Local.

National and International trips literally cover the Earth; from China and Nepal to Europe and the Amazon. Closer to home you can find trips to our national parks and wilderness areas such as the Rockies and Alaska.

Chapter outings take you to the special places in Michigan, like Isle Royale, the wilderness areas of the Upper Peninsula, and the scenic shores of the Great Lakes.

Group outings HVG outings are open to members and non-members. No fees are charged, except for expenses like park entry costs, camping fees or shared meals. Participants are required to sign a standard liability waiver. Sierra Club volunteers lead our outings. You will learn about local conservation efforts while enjoying the great outdoors.

Sign up for outings on our MeetUp page!