Most of the time, my sisters and father are the only ones I can convince to hike up Old Rag in February or go swooshing down a snowy mountain on an inner tube. As a child, I thought my father invented winter camping. One time, we even had to dig up the snow so we could pitch our tent.

Imagine my surprise and my delight when I ran across the Outdoor Adventure Social Club of Greater Charlottesville. They do the usual winter activities like skiing and snowboarding, as well as hikes to frozen waterfalls and countless other fun things, even in the "dead" of winter.

According to Matt Rosefsky, the organizer of the Outdoor Adventure Social Club, they typically schedule two activities a day. The weekday socials usually are in the evenings after work. And, believe it or not, winter is a good time to join.

"People assume that since we are an outdoor [club] that we don’t do anything in the winter," Rosefsky said. "But, we do all kinds of things. Winter around here is pretty tame."

Rosefsky is the fun manager. He started the club in March 2004, in response to friends and acquaintances who often complained about how hard it was to meet people in Charlottesville. Now, there are 30 leaders in the club, each responsible for heading up two activities each month.

Speaking of activities, during the second weekend of February, the club will go to Snowshoe Resort in West Virginia for a winter sports extravaganza. There, they will snowshoe, ski, snowboard, tube and cross country ski. Rosefsky said they rent three houses, car pool to the location and eat breakfast and dinner together.

"It’s incredibly fun," Rosefsky said. "I strongly encourage beginners to come. Snowshoe’s lessons are professional. They are excellent."

Because they are a group, they usually get discounts on things such as lift tickets.

If you are not a fan of venturing outside in the snow, never fear. There are plenty of other options. Besides the hikes to frozen waterfalls, they do almost all of their caving in the winter. The advantage is that caves are about 55 degrees year round. Also, there is nothing like a mountain hike in the winter when no leaves obstruct the views, Rosefsky said.

If you’re still not sold, they do a wide variety of activities during the other seasons as well, such as rock climbing, kayaking, white water rafting, picnics, horseback riding, biking, river tubing and backpacking.

"This [club] provides a fun way through the outdoors to meet new people," Rosefsky said.

There are even the less outdoorsy things such as ice cream socials, meals at restaurants, bowling, concerts and movies, even a cooking club and salsa dancing.

The club has more than 150 members, with folks ranging in age from their 20s to those in their 60s.

"When you get to outdoors interests, age just dissolves," Rosefsky said.

A great way to find out more about the Outdoor Adventure Social Club is to attend the information session that takes place once a month and is open to the public. The next one is 8 p.m. Feb. 3 at the social space on the Downtown Mall, at 420 E. Main Street near the Tea Room.

Refreshments are offered, and you’ll find a mix of members and perspective members. Rosefsky will present a slide show and answer all sorts of questions.

The membership fee is not the cheapest, but there are a number of options.

For instance, students can join just for a semester or a summer. Non-students can join for a month, three months, six months or a year.

For both students and non-students, the cost of a month’s membership is $29.50. A non-student can join for three months and pay $76.50. Yearly membership is $198.

Rosefsky is quick to point out that this equals $16.50 a month.

Members do have benefits - they can use club gear for free. For example, if you go backpacking, the club can lend you a tent, sleeping bag, stove or many other items. Rosefsky spent his own money gathering all the gear and is trying to slowly get reimbursed. The fee also pays rent for the club’s space, management expenses and an interactive, members-only Web site. Couples receive discounts. Rosefsky said he hopes to one day make the organization non-profit, since he is very much a part of the non-profit world - he is also executive director of the Rivanna Conservation Society.

Visit the Web site at www.outdoorsocial.com or call 760-4453. It’s worth visiting the site just for the wonderful pictures. Makes you remember what beautiful scenes and fun times are right here in Virginia.

Even in winter.