Do you want to take up a new hobby? Infuse your life with some adventure? Or simply make some friends while getting a little exercise?

For every fitness interest Westerville residents may have, chances are they can find a local club to fit their needs.

Some groups are new to the area and modest in scope and membership, while others have long established ties to the community with dozens of members on the roster. Most, however, share many of the same goals, of which improved fitness is only one.

A.P. Adventurers of Westerville is one of the newest clubs to hit the scene. The group is a non-profit venture helmed by Westerville resident Trey McBane. Formed in August 2009 and organized through the Web site Meetup.com, the club offers members adventure activities such as high ropes courses, rock climbing and more. Many of these activities take place at Summit Vision in Westerville, a for-profit company McBane owns and operates. The company provides team-building experiences, such as ropes course exercises or scavenger hunts, for corporate and community groups.

McBane decided to form A.P. Adventurers because many people expressed interest in attempting these activities on their own or with a friend. So far, more than 80 people have joined the online group – which does not have a membership fee – and dozens have turned out for the adventures. More people keep coming, McBane says, thanks to word-of-mouth referrals.

“It’s a really unique activity,” he says. “You can’t just do this anywhere. Not everyone has access to those types of activities.”

Members tell McBane they’re getting many things out of their group participation, particularly a growing social circle. Some say they’re excited to meet other Westerville-area residents with similar interests, with social gatherings outside adventure events becoming more regular. Others like that they get in a different type of workout.

“Most people find that it is exercise. It’s a workout that’s not a traditional style,” says McBane, who is also a personal trainer. “It’s exercise without really thinking it’s exercise.”

McBane says he hopes to add new activities as the group grows, and encourages member feedback. For example, a member’s interest in skydiving has led to a planned skydiving outing in 2010. White water rafting in West Virginia is also tentatively scheduled for next year, he says. McBane would also like to increase the number of adventure events to every month.

Whereas McBane’s group is still in the formation process, the Westerville Bicycle Club has been a part of the community for 25 years, says president David Hoodin. The group currently has about 210 members, who participate in multiple organized bike rides during the week. During the peak season, as many as 60 or 70 people might show up for a ride, Hoodin says. While that might seem intimidating for inexperienced riders, Hoodin emphasizes the group welcomes riders of all skill sets, with different paced groups and long and short routes to accommodate everyone.

“We are not a racing club, although we do have some people who are racers,” he says. “We have people (with varying levels) of knowledge, skill, fitness and age.”

Many of the Westerville Bicycle Club members are physically active people, Hoodin says. They tend to participate regularly in rides and belong to gyms and other active groups. In addition to the cycling club, Hoodin is also a member of Columbus Outdoor Pursuits, which promotes activities such as hiking, kayaking or canoeing.

Beyond its fitness element, Hoodin says the bicycle club is also a socially dynamic group, with many members staying in touch through e-mail and social media such as Twitter. The group also advocates for cycling issues in Central Ohio and heavily promotes bicycle safety. When not focusing on community issues or riding, club members have regular get-togethers, such as an “Eve of New Year’s Eve” party and a regular coffee-and-bagel date on Friday mornings.

According to Hoodin, the club provides interested cyclists with a chance to learn the ropes on their own terms within a supportive setting. You don’t even have to be a member to ride with the group.

“(Some groups) lack the closeness of a smaller club,” he says. “We’ll all go out to Colorado as a club. We’ll stay together and hang out together and go out to dinner. It’s a much more intimate thing, and people who spend that much time together get to know each other.”

Cycling and adventure activities are just two examples of the many fitness activities, groups and clubs available in the area. Interested in getting involved? Here are a few groups – in Westerville and in nearby Central Ohio locations – to check out:

Westerville Cycling Club: www.westervillebicycleclub.com  
A.P. Adventurers of Westerville: www.meetup.com/A-P-Adventurers-in-Westerville  
GO Kickball: www.gokickball.com  
Speedy Sneakers (for women): www.speedysneakers.com  
Central Ohio Hiking Club: www.ymcacolumbus.org/hike  
Moms in Motion fitness groups: www.momsinmotion.com  
Columbus Outdoor Pursuits: www.outdoor-pursuits.org  
Columbus Running Club: www.columbusrunningclub.com  
Central Ohio Runners: www.centralohiorunners.org  
Columbus Roadrunners: www.columbusroadrunners.org  

Kate Seegraves is editor of Westerville Magazine.