Membership - Tourist Club San Francisco

The Tourist Club invites nature and outdoor enthusiasts to join our club on Mt. Tamalpais and become members of the worldwide, inclusive Nature Friends community. While our club was started by Germans, Swiss, and Austrians, and we both celebrate and preserve alpine culture, we welcome people of all ages and backgrounds who enjoy the outdoors and camaraderie with fellow nature lovers. We value the range of ages, backgrounds, professions, and cultures of our membership.

While all members must apply separately, we encourage families to join, and offer a junior membership for ages 14 to 17. We hope to know each other for life, which is a good reason to spend time with one another before joining our club, and why the process to become a member may take longer than other clubs. We have families that have been members for five generations. Our tradition since our founders set foot on our property was to work together, eat together, and play together in equal measure. Since the club is supported and maintained by membership, we rely on all members to pitch in to the best of their abilities to contribute to the health and viability of the club.

Our umbrella organization, the California Nature Friends, is a 501(c)(7) non-profit, which means all contributions are taxable and 85% of our income must come from members.

Berg frei, 'Free mountains,' is our club slogan

Member Benefits

Unparalleled outdoor experiences
Full use of club facilities: dormitories, cabins, dining hall, bar, decks, and large meadow
Camaraderie
Gemütlichkeit (A state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer)
Immersion in alpine culture
Satisfaction of helping preserve and restore the natural landscape and historic structures
Social events
Email notifications of events and our monthly bulletin covering all California clubs
Participation in club governance
A welcoming, diverse, and interesting membership
Membership privileges at California Nature Friends facilities in Oakland, Southern California, and the Sierra Nevada
Membership in the worldwide Naturefriends organization with 350,000 members and 700 properties
And more!

How to Get Started

Come to a work day (see below)
Sign up for club emails to get notified about work days, festivals, special events, hikes, and Outdoor Adventure Committee activities
Contact the Membership Secretary, tcsfmembership@gmail.com, using the subject, Tourist Club membership info, with any questions

Nature Friends at Heidelmann Lodge in the 1940s

Nature Friends at Heidelmann Lodge for New Years in 2013

Members enjoying Heidelmann Lodge in the Sierra Nevada during the 1940s and 2010s

Requirements for Becoming a Member

To count towards membership, all requirements must be completed and an application submitted to the Membership Secretary within a 3-year period. Requirements completed beyond that 3-year window are considered expired and must be repeated.

Participate in six work days. Work days are not only essential to keeping the buildings and grounds in good condition, they are also a great way to socialize with members and prospective members alike. We honor the club founders who hauled in building materials and built the historic structures of the club before there was a Panoramic Highway or a State Park by keeping buildings and grounds in good shape. Work days are held on the second Sunday of each month beginning at 10 a.m. sharp. Work ends about 2 p.m. followed by a complementary beverage and lunch.
Special work days that count towards membership:
- ONE pre-fest work day (Saturday before a fest) only.
- Post-fest work days (Monday after a fest) if the prospective signs up with the Festmeister in advance.
- Up to two Heidelmann Lodge work days (our lodge at Donner Summit in the Sierra Nevada).
Work eight fest shift hours across at least two festivals Note: One regular work day must be completed before working a fest. Festivals are not only how the club shares its heritage, it is also an important means of funding ongoing facilities maintenance and club activities. Festivals are also a great introduction to club culture and another way to meet members. Important: Only hours worked the day of a festival count towards fest shift hours. Only one Honky Tonk shift can be counted towards fulfilling membership requirements. Pre- and post-fest days can only be used for work day requirements (see section above).
Be sponsored by two members in good standing*. Sponsors are an important component in the membership journey. They help orient prospective members to club culture, help familiarize them with the grounds and facilities, help guide them through the membership process, and vouch for them when all their requirements have been fulfilled. The best way for a prospective member to find sponsors is to participate in a variety of club activities and get to know as many people as possible.
*A member in good standing includes being current with their dues.
Attend one board-sanctioned social event with at least one sponsor. We are a social club and want to attract people who will be committed to the club community: participating in governance, maintaining the facilities, and regularly participating in casual and organized events. Attending one of our organized socials with a sponsor is a way to be introduced to other members and learn more about the club’s history, culture, and how best to use the club. Note: A list of sanctioned socials can be found at San Francisco Tourist Club Approved Socials.
Junior Members: Children of members between the ages of 14 and 17 must complete one work day (Muir Woods clubhouse only) and one fest shift. Children of non-members must complete three work days and one fest shift. All requirements may be completed the year before the child turns 14. They must submit the same paperwork as adults, but the application fee is $10. The advantage of a junior membership is the child can transition seamlessly from junior to adult membership at age 18 without fulfilling any additional requirements other than a simple letter to the Membership Secretary requesting the change in membership type.

Membership Process

Once all membership requirements have been completed, prospective members must submit the required forms accompanied by a check for $50 to cover the non-refundable application fee. The application form must be signed by both sponsors and mailed to the address on the form or delivered in person to the Membership Secretary. The questionnaire must either be submitted with the application or shortly thereafter, preferably via email to tcsfmembership@gmail.com. The questionnaire is the applicant’s opportunity to explain their interest in the club, how they’ve become acquainted with club culture and regulations, and what they can contribute as a member.

The day the Membership Secretary receives the application begins the 90-day waiting period mandated by the club’s bylaws. During that time, the Secretary will check the application for completeness, verify the sponsors are in good standing, announce the application in the club’s monthly bulletin, and schedule the applicant’s sponsors to speak for them at an upcoming Executive Board meeting. Once those steps are completed, the applicant will be put up for a vote at the next Quarterly Membership (January, April, July, and October) meeting after they become eligible for membership (the end of the 90 days). The prospective member must attend that meeting to briefly tell the assembled members about themselves and their desire to join.

Once a member has been voted in, they will take the club pledge, sign our historic member register, pay their dues, and receive new member materials. They will have all the benefits and privileges of other members except for holding office or sponsoring new members. Those privileges become available after one year of membership unless waived by a majority of the membership at a quarterly or annual membership meeting.