“What I learned early on is that when we go hiking, we are making our community a better place to live,” Dayton Hikers founder Andy Niekamp said. “And we are helping people improve their quality of life.”
Longtime Dayton Hikers member Suzanne May agrees.
“Being an active member of the Dayton Hikers for over a decade has increased my physical activity with the added benefit of spending time outdoors,” May said. “With the help of the many hike leaders, I have increased my knowledge of our local parks and hiking trails. And the social aspect of meeting like-minded people has been a great benefit in that I have made lasting friendships.”
Fitness and friendship are equally important components of the group that has held more than 12,000 events since it began on August 23, 2009.
“It has very much surpassed my expectations,” Niekamp said. “We really do have something for everybody.”
Laurel Slate, of New Carlisle, has been a member since the group’s inception and took it upon herself to become a hike leader.
“So many of the hikes were going faster than I could or wanted to go, so I asked if I could lead some hikes,” the 68-year-old said. “I’ve been doing it ever since.”
The slower-paced hikes offer an option for beginners as well as those who prefer a less rigorous route. There are also moderate and brisk hikes offered regularly on a variety of terrains. The hikes are conducted in MetroParks, State Parks and community parks alike as well as urban locations like Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum.
Getting started with the Dayton Hikers is easy and free. Membership costs nothing and all events can be found at daytonhikers.org with detailed descriptions so hikers can find the events that best match their ability and goals.
“We are blessed with a lot of beautiful parks and trails in this area and blessed to have a lot of people willing to lead hikes,” Niekamp said. “And we also have a lot of people interested in going hiking — the trifecta for a successful hiking group.”
Beyond the hikes, the Dayton Hikers also host social and community service events throughout the year. And members often participate in hiking trips beyond the Miami Valley. Fellow hikers often become good friends and, sometimes, even more.
“One of my daughters met her husband on one of my hikes,” Slate said with a smile. “They have two children now.”
The Dayton Hikers will celebrate its 15th birthday with 2-, 4- and 6-mile hikes at Bill Yeck Park in Centerville on Sunday, Aug. 25, followed by ice cream. For information, visit meetup.com/daytonhikers/events.
Dayton Hikers by the Numbers
* 15 – years since founding
* 4,530 – online photo albums
* 9,119 – members in Meetup group
* 12,062 – past events
* 23,879 – event ratings averaging 4.9 out of 5.0 stars
* 262,661 – total miles hiked
* Countless friendships
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