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out &aabout
Dave Vogel says the
AOC has some magic
about it that makes
it special. Vogel was
hooked on the club
after his first outing,
and now finds their
trips contribute to his
exercise program.
Members enjoy
hiking, camping,
caving, canoeing
and other outdoor
activities, as well as
outdoor events close
to home and around
the globe. The all
volunteer group has
organized more than
6,000 world-wide
events since 2001.
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she declared.
Isabella Kujawa moved to Atlanta in
2011. The Sandy Springs yoga instruc
tor wanted to explore the area, especially
the outdoors, and find other people who
shared her interests.
“I became part of an organization
(AOC) that I believed in, and it made it
easier to socialize in the outdoor setting
in which I felt more comfortable,” Kuja
wa said.
Like Kendall, she
derives extra enjoy
ment from being a
trip leader. “Learn
ing that everyone’s
perception of how
active or capable
they are is quite dif
ferent from reali
ty. It’s rewarding to
expose others to the
beauty of the out
doors and witness
people accomplish
ing something they
didn’t think they
could, such as hik
ing 12 miles,” she
added.
Lisa Marie Mal
donado may be the
consummate mem
ber, having logged
210 AOC events
since 2008.
The 47-year-old
Buckhead resident
credits the AOC experience for develop
ing self-esteem that landed her a flight
attendant job at AirTran Airways.
“My personality was shy and re
served. I began with small hikes. I have
now climbed many major mountains in
this country and the world. I have to
tally come out of my small bubble and
even took over as president of the club
for a few years,” she said.
In addition, Maldonado is current
ly the club’s director-at-large and a trip
leader who searches for unique desti
nations to explore. Her outdoor club
adventures have resulted in passport
stamps from Mexico, Peru and Spain.
She has been caught in bad weather out
breaks and had all kinds of equipment
mishaps.
“I have chal
lenged my body
and mind by par
ticipating in events
that I considered to
be too far outside
my ability. I have
felt the full impact
of how the club has
changed my life,”
she said.
They have all en
joyed positive life
changes, but Vo
gel, Kendall, Kuja
wa and Maldonado
agree on one over
arching AOC qual
ity.
As Kendall puts
it: “Despite an in
credibly diverse set
of backgrounds, we
all come together
with the similar in
terest of enjoying
the outdoors and
each other’s compa-
Dave Vogel relies on that camara
derie to spur him further. “It’s a won
derful club with great people and great
leadership,” he said. “There is some
magic about the club that makes it
special.”
For more information, visit www.at-
lantaoutdoorclub. com.
Allston Kendall of Buckhead
joined the Atlanta Outdoor Club
in 2010. She had been working
50-60 hours a week at a startup
company, and was looking to
achieve a better balance between
work and life. She says the club
has been instrumental in helping
her keep her perspective on
what’s truly important in life.
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