 | The Barnet YHA Group (also known as North London Outdoor Group) is affiliated to the YHA. Most of our members are in their 30s to 50+ and live in North London or Hertfordshire. We have a common interest in outdoor activities, mainly walking and normally use YHA accommodation on our weekend trips.
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| The YHA is YHA (England and Wales) Limited. It provides inexpensive accommodation for anyone, not only young people, in the countryside, towns and cities.
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| Weekends away and day walks are the major part of the Group's activities. We encourage you to participate in some of these events soon, to get to know people and find out what the Group does. Roughly twice a month we organise walking weekends away. We also have day walks at weekends about twice a month. During the summer months we usually have a programme of weekday evening walks. From time to time we also organise other weekends of an outdoor nature, such as sightseeing weekends in cities. Details of events can be found on this website, and in a monthly newsletter which is published to all members.
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| How are weekends arranged? |
| The programme of outdoor activities is co-ordinated by the Outdoor Organiser (who is part of the Committee), and group members volunteer to organise individual weekends. Weekend organisers encourage members to join their particular weekend and collect payment for accommodation. When making a booking for an organised group, youth hostels require payment in full at least two months in advance. The weekend organiser also co-ordinates transport. Usually we share cars; drivers who take at least two other passengers are paid a standard rate to compensate them for petrol and reasonable wear and tear to their vehicle. If you have to pull out of a trip for any reason please let the organiser know asap. You may lose your accommodation costs and you may still be liable for petrol costs if your place cannot be filled by another group member. See Fact Sheet 2: Transport Arrangements. On a Friday evening, we normally meet outside the Barnet 'Odeon' Cinema between 6.30 and 7.00pm although it could be earlier in some cases (check with the weekend organiser before you book). We usually return to the Odeon by 9.00pm Sunday evening (or Monday on a Bank Holiday weekend). Of course this can't be guaranteed if there are traffic jams or we are driving back from a place (such as in the Lake District) that is very far from Barnet. Members make their own arrangements for travel to and from the Odeon. On Saturday, the people on the weekend organise one or two walks depending on the size of the group and what people want to do. Sometimes we stop at a pub and/or tea shop if there is one along the way. On the Saturday evening we often eat out in a pub or restaurant if there is one near the hostel. Sometimes we take a meal provided by the youth hostel or cook a communal meal, and some members prefer to self-cater instead.
On Sunday a shorter walk is organised. We try to be finished by 3.00 or 4.00pm, and often visit a tea shop before making our way back to Barnet.
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| What's a Youth Hostel like? |
| The building could be a cottage, a large house or even a castle. Some are situated in remote places. They vary in standard from simple to almost hotel like. Typically, a youth hostel has separate dormitory style rooms for men and women with bunk beds. Each dormitory may accommodate from 4 to 6 or occasionally more. Freshly laundered bottom sheet, duvet cover and two pillowcases are provided as well as two pillows and a duvet. It usually has a small but usable self-catering kitchen, a common room with books and magazines and a drying room. Many (but not all) youth hostels serve breakfast, packed lunches and dinner for an additional fee.
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| What do I need to bring on a weekend? |
| The short answer is food and clothing! Full details are in Fact Sheet No. 3, “Clothing and Equipment” , available at our Tuesday evening meetings or by asking any member of the Committee.
You need food for breakfast on Saturday and Sunday unless you plan to buy a hostel breakfast. You also need food for lunches while we are walking on Saturday and Sunday. This isn't necessary if we are stopping at a pub which is known to serve food and you don't mind paying for a pub lunch.
On Saturday night, we often eat out, buy a meal in the hostel or cook a communal meal (please check with the weekend organiser). If not, or if you prefer to self-cater, you need to bring food for dinner on Saturday.
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| How are weekend day walks organised? |
| Typically we meet at 9.00 - 9.30am outside the Barnet 'Odeon' cinema and transport is arranged by the organiser to the start of the walk. On most walks, you need to bring a packed lunch, although on a few of our walks there is the option of a pub lunch. Depending on the time of year, we walk until about 4.00 - 5.00pm then travel back to Barnet to arrive by 5.00 - 6.00pm.
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| We allow you to join us for up to four Tuesday evenings, two day walks and one weekend away to 'Try the group out'. After this time, if you wish to join the group, you need to take out membership. This is currently £36 for a whole year up to 31st October or pro-rata on a monthly basis if you join part way through the Group's year. (If you join in April you will pay £18, July £9 etc.) Half-price membership is available for the unwaged and people under 18. For all Barnet YHA Group weekend trips that use YHA accommodation in England and Wales, you will be covered by Barnet YHA Group's membership card so you do not need to be a member of YHA (England & Wales) Limited. For all Barnet YHA Group trips that use YHA accommodation other than in England and Wales, you need to be a member of YHA (England & Wales) Limited or another country's YHA that is affiliated to IYHF. When staying independently in Youth Hostels in England and Wales, the Youth Hostel will require you to pay a surcharge if you are not a member of YHA (England & Wales) Limited or another country's YHA that is affiliated to IYHF. This surcharge is currently £3 per person per night (correct at December 2010).
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| The committee is elected at the annual general meeting in October. All members are eligible to vote and any member can stand for election.
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FAQ 