About Us
Our History
In 1992 a small group of guys gathered to discuss organizing a group of gay men in Atlanta who shared the common love of outdoor activities. The group was originally called the Outdoor Atlanta Sports Club but later the name was changed to Wilderness Network of Georgia (WNG). For over thirty years we have organized hundreds of trips all over the Southeast, throughout the country and even in other counties. We are governed by a set of bylaws and a group of volunteer board members that are responsible for keeping the club organized. They meet regularly to maintain our corporation status, organize activities like our quarterly potluck meetups, and other activities we are involved in like the Atlanta Pride celebration.
Our Leadership
Hello, my name is Martin, and I signed up for my first WNG trip in the summer of 1999. A friend, who knew I liked to get outdoors, suggested I find out more about this group of guys who also shared a passion for the outdoors. Back then, you really had to search to find out about the group, but I did a little digging and managed to sign up for a trip.
Right away, I saw this was a group that genuinely wanted to share its knowledge of all kinds of outdoor activities. I learned about canoeing, backpacking, and caving—all the things I never knew I was missing.
This remains a group of welcoming outdoor enthusiasts who are here to support each other in learning and exploring the great outdoors. I am delighted to serve on the executive committee as the president of WNG and hope to inspire others to take on leadership roles in this ever-expanding group.
If you’ve read this far, then let me guess that you are just the kind of WNG member who will take the opportunity to grow and expand your knowledge of outdoor adventure, as well as share it with guys new to the group.
I look forward to seeing you on a WNG trip very soon.
Community Service
As a way to give back, in April of 2014, WNG adopted a section of the Atlanta Beltline along the Eastside Trail. We meet the 2nd Saturday of every month to pick up liter, report maintenance concerns, vandalism, or suspicious activities. The events are posted on meetup.com