Nature Friends is a not-for-profit mutual benefit organization whose main purposes are:

• To acquaint its members with the opportunity to appreciate nature.
• To encourage the study of nature and to disseminate the knowledge of the natural sciences.
• To support and aid the protection, conservation and preservation of woods, wildlife and the natural features of this country.
• To promote friendship and good relations with other organizations and individuals who are sympathetic to the above stated purposes.
• To acquire, build and maintain lodges, shelters, houses and other places of recreation.
• To arrange meetings, social and cultural activities, exhibitions and lectures in relation to the purposes of the club.
• To promote the selective use of its facilities to generate revenue to support the organization.

The Nature Friends was founded in Vienna, Austria in 1895 to provide members and their families with places to go and enjoy nature and encourage the study of nature related subjects. The Club soon spread throughout Europe and many lodges and clubhouses were built, usually in forests, ski areas or close to wilderness areas.

Today, Nature Friends International is a non-profit confederation of over 500,000 hikers, climbers, skiers and others who love the outdoors. The house range from the rustic, to a few that are hotel-like in atmosphere. Each club operates independently, but members are welcome at all Nature Friends clubs worldwide. Most clubs have accommodations for members at reasonable rates, reflecting our founding principle: “Berg Frei,” which means “The mountains are free” (for everyone).

Most branches built and maintain at least one local clubhouse. There are over 1,200 clubhouses, run by associations and partners in Albany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Ukraine and USA.

Although Nature Friends are conservationists, the organization is non-political. Its members now come from a variety of international backgrounds, ages, nationalities and races. Joining Nature Friends is like joining a large and diverse family, with a common appreciation for the outdoors.

In California, we are a 501c(7) corporation, the “Nature Friends Corporation, Inc.,” with three clubs and five houses located in the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and Los Angeles.