Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/160497
Joe Covey, center, walks with members of the WAC Hiking Club, including wife Jennifer, right. Director Member Services Michelle Van Slack says the Hiking Club is a perfect example of the WAC's ability to "Call it teamwork, call it strength in numbers, or maybe just the beauty Celebration and motivation Call it teamwork, call it strength bring together people who might not in numbers, or maybe just the otherwise mingle. beauty of belonging, but something "Our clubs within the Club are a great powerful happens when people come way to expand your network," she says. together. For one thing, we thrive, says "You get to know other very talented Sapna Cheryan, assistant professor people in the WAC community who you of psychology at the University of might not have met yet. We have so Washington. of belonging, but many wonderful options for members to get involved. And if we don't have it, something powerful belonging, feeling that you fit in and we can help you make it a reality." have social connections, is one of the happens when members' fitness goals. "We had one behavior—along with eating, sleeping member who set a goal to start being [and] having shelter," she says. "If we active again," says Michelle, who's don't feel like we have a sense of participated in some of the smaller belonging, a lot of aspects of our life Thursday hikes. "The Hiking Club was suffer." people come together." The club has also helped springboard her launching pad for that. She said "It turns out that having a sense of fundamental motivations of human That includes our health, our she was so thankful that it was there emotions, and our ability to be because it really helped her take that productive. "Belonging, being in a group first step in a very easy, very social way." that you enjoy, finding friendships: 28 | Washington Athletic Club Magazine | SEPTEMBER 2013