Pacific Grove High School junior Bennett Paterson started the Outdoors Club this fall so classmates could explore trails, surf breaks and bike paths together.
"Share my love for the outdoors with others at the school who may not get the same opportunities to see the amazing places that I am able to see," Paterson told the school's student newspaper, The NewsBreaker.
The club has one hike under its belt. That first outing took members to Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley, and a second trip is already in the works. Paterson's longer-term goal: raise enough money to take the group backpacking in Yosemite toward the end of the school year.
The Outdoors Club is one of several organizations that picked up steam after Pacific Grove High held its annual Club Rush on Sept. 15. The lunchtime event filled the main hall with tables for groups old and new, according to a separate NewsBreaker report on the rush. New entries this year included the Super Sewing Sewists Society, a Poetry Club led by Anton McLachlan, and an Engineering Club led by Max Xu that uses the robotics team's 3D printers.
Model United Nations also grew its ranks. Freshman Maya Sharma said the club interested her, and friends who enjoyed it helped draw her in. The group has already attended a conference at The Harker School in San Jose and held fundraisers at Myo, CPK and Chipotle, along with a jeopardy game night, the NewsBreaker reported.
Photography Club drew freshman Kaia Greening, who joined four clubs this year. She told the NewsBreaker that Photography was her favorite because she likes "the people and learning all about ways to take photos, how to use digital and film, and the meaning behind the photos." Early meetings included a tour of the photo classroom, Polaroid sessions and lessons on developing and uploading images.
Students interested in joining a club can check Pacific Grove High's 2026–27 club list, which the school posts online.
