Student Outdoor Club (SOC) Program

The SOC Program is an exciting opportunity for students to connect with their local ACC Section right from the start of their outdoor journey. It's designed to build lasting relationships between the ACC and the next generation of mountain enthusiasts, while giving Sections a chance to welcome enthusiastic new members into their community.

What Is the SOC Program?

The SOC Program helps students begin their journey with the ACC by removing the barriers that often keep them from joining. Active members of post-secondary outdoor clubs receive:

• A complimentary national baseline membership
• A free Section membership with the ACC Section geographically closest to their school

By connecting students with a Section early on, the program creates a natural bridge between campus outdoor culture and the broader ACC community. Students gain access to Section trips, socials, and mentorship opportunities, while Sections benefit from an infusion of new energy, ideas, and future long-term members.

How to Get Involved

1. Identify a partner club. Reach out to your local university or college's outdoor club to gauge their interest in participating in the SOC Program.
2. Formalize the partnership. If the club is interested, work with them to complete a partnership agreement, then return it to [email protected].
3. Submit student information. Once the agreement is in place, the club will send a list of full names and email addresses for all participating students.
4. Membership setup. The membership team will process this list and upload the new members into the system, activating their national and Section memberships.

Expectations for Students

• Collaborate with the Section, staying open to opportunities to get involved
• Engage in trips, socials, and other Section events
• Communicate with the Section if questions or issues arise

Expectations for Participating Sections

• Keep students in mind when planning and posting trips, considering schedules, budgets, and experience levels
• Steward the relationship by acting as the main point of contact for these new members
• Recognize that your Section's engagement shapes students' first impressions of the ACC — both at the Section level and nationally
• Check in periodically with the partner club to keep the relationship active and mutually beneficial

Questions?

Connect with [email protected]