Xaia Hiking Club: ‘Adventurous, Friendly, Active’
Xaia Hiking Club is a place where you will find adventurous people who share your love for nature and active lifestyle. You will enjoy hiking in the beautiful mountains around Blagoevgrad and create priceless friendship memories. If you are interested to learn more about the club’s activities, you can read our interview with the club’s President, Yevhenii Kripak.
How would you describe your club in 3 words?
Adventurous, friendly, active.
What is your club about?
We at Xaia believe that hiking is an activity of immense value that most people would find fun and fulfilling. In addition to being beneficial to one’s health, it allows one to discover the beauty of nature and serves as a great catalyst for social interactions and meeting new people. That is why we seek to popularize hiking by inviting any interested members of the AUBG community to join our adventures.
What kind of people are you looking for in your club?
Xaia consists of three departments: Guides, Logistics as well as Design and Marketing. Guides are the people who lead the way on our weekly hikes and therefore need to be sociable, an extra bit of responsible, as well as be ready to help other participants in the hike. Experience in hiking and physical aptitude is always a plus. The Logistics department consists of individuals with creative minds and organizational skills who make our events happen. The Design and Marketing department welcomes those who are familiar with graphic design or have experience in social media management.
What kind of events do you organize?
Every single weekend, we organize regular hikes which you can sign up to participate in via the links on our Facebook or Instagram. Each semester, we hold a Campfire Night, during which we gather around a campfire to tell stories or recite poetry. Our club also takes every opportunity to promote environmental awareness and has organized events for Earth Hour and Earth Day.
What is the meaning behind your club’s name?
Xaia (“хайа” in Cyrillic) means “mountain” in the Yakut language. The beauty of the mountains in Blagoevgrad region makes it a great place for hiking. That is why the founders of the club saw it as a fitting name.
How has being part of this club enhanced your AUBG experience?
Being a part of this active and friendly community has been something truly fun and unique. Participating in the club’s weekly hikes has on many occasions brought a sense of adventure to weekends that would otherwise be mundane, and the unforgettable events that we made happen are definitely something to remember.