Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America
An international nonprofit network of Jewish outdoor clubs connecting hiking, camping, environmental, and social activities across the United States, Canada, and Israel.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America, commonly called Mosaic or MOCA, is an international nonprofit network of Jewish outdoor clubs. It brings together local organizations whose activities combine outdoor recreation, Jewish community life, environmental awareness, and social connection. The network recognizes chapters in the United States, Canada, and Israel and provides an umbrella structure for clubs that organize hikes, camping trips, trail cleanups, environmental education, and other activities in natural settings. The movement began with the creation of the first Mosaic club in Colorado. Steve Harris Millmond established the group in response to his view that contemporary Jewish life had become disconnected from the outdoors and the environment. The name Mosaic alludes to Moses, described in the organization’s historical account as an “outdoor Jew,” and expresses the effort to connect Jewish identity with direct engagement with nature. The first club, now known as the Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club, held its first event—a hike in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains—in December 1988. Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America was established as an international umbrella organization in 1995. It was incorporated in May 1996 and received recognition as a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in April 1997. Rick Dronsky served as its first executive director from 1996 through 2002. The umbrella organization’s functions have included supporting local chapters, helping new clubs form, coordinating communication among affiliates, and organizing an annual international gathering. Governance has been handled by a volunteer board of directors, traditionally elected at the annual international gathering. The local-club model is central to Mosaic’s identity. Chapters offer recurring outdoor events that function both as recreational programs and as venues for Jewish social interaction. Some chapters also attract Jewish singles seeking community through shared outdoor interests. Activities may take place weekly or several times per month, and the more active affiliates have membership in the hundreds. In addition to hikes and camping, local groups have participated in stewardship-oriented projects such as trail maintenance and cleanups, as well as educational programs focused on the environment. International gatherings have been held annually since 1991, generally in the United States around Labor Day weekend. These events provide a large-scale meeting point for members from different chapters and reinforce the network’s cross-border character. The 2007 international gathering reportedly drew more than 200 participants. At the time of the organization’s first board election in 1998, twelve chapters were recognized; by 2007, the network recognized more than twenty chapters. Mosaic is best understood not as a commercial outdoor-products company but as a membership and community network. Its principal offering is the organization of experiences, relationships, and volunteer activity rather than the sale of branded goods. Its distinctive positioning lies in combining Jewish communal identity with outdoor recreation and environmental engagement. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about later leadership, finances, chapter counts, or current programming, so those details remain unspecified here.
History
Mosaic’s roots are in Colorado, where Steve Harris Millmond founded the first Mosaic club after concluding that modern Jewish life had become too detached from nature and environmental concerns. The organization’s name refers to Moses, whom its account presents as an archetypal Jewish figure associated with the outdoors. The original group, later known as the Mosaic Outdoor Mountain Club, held its first hike in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains in December 1988. The local-club movement subsequently developed into a broader network. International Mosaic gatherings have taken place annually since 1991, generally in the United States around Labor Day weekend. These events created a recurring structure through which members from different clubs could meet, share activities, and develop a common identity. Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America was founded in 1995 as an umbrella organization for the expanding network. It was incorporated in May 1996 and received United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in April 1997. Rick Dronsky became the first executive director and held that position from 1996 to 2002. The organization has been overseen by a volunteer board of directors, traditionally elected during the annual international gathering. Its central responsibilities have included coordinating the annual event, assisting with the formation of new chapters, and supporting communication among existing clubs. At the first board election in 1998, twelve chapters were recognized. By 2007, the network recognized more than twenty chapters in three countries: the United States, Canada, and Israel. Local affiliates have organized hiking, camping, environmental education, trail cleanups, and other outdoor activities. They have also served as Jewish social outlets, including meeting places for people seeking Jewish community and for Jewish singles with an interest in outdoor recreation. Some of the more active chapters have had membership in the hundreds and have scheduled events every weekend or several times each month. The 2007 international gathering attracted more than 200 attendees, illustrating the scale that the network could reach beyond its individual chapters. Mosaic’s historical significance rests primarily in its community model: it links Jewish identity, environmental awareness, recreation, and social participation through locally organized outdoor experiences. The available reference material does not establish a complete chronology after 2007 or identify later executive directors, financial results, or a current chapter-by-chapter structure.
- 2007
Network exceeds twenty recognized chapters
[1]Reference material reported that the network recognized more than twenty chapters across the United States, Canada, and Israel.
- 2007
International gathering draws more than 200 attendees
[1]The 2007 international event reportedly attracted more than 200 Mosaic members.
- 2002
End of Rick Dronsky’s executive-director tenure
[1]Rick Dronsky’s documented term as the organization’s first executive director ended after serving from 1996 through 2002.
- 1998
First board election
[1]The organization elected its first board of directors, at which point twelve local chapters were recognized.
- 1997
Granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
[1]Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America obtained United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in April 1997.
- 1996
Organization incorporated
[1]The umbrella organization was incorporated in May 1996, and Rick Dronsky began serving as its first executive director.
- 1995
International umbrella organization founded
[1]Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America was established to coordinate and support the network of local Jewish outdoor clubs.
- 1991
Annual international gatherings begin
[1]Mosaic members began holding international gatherings annually, generally in the United States around Labor Day weekend.
- 1988
First Mosaic club established in Colorado
[1]Steve Harris Millmond founded the first Mosaic club in Colorado. Its first documented activity was a hike in the Rocky Mountains in December.
Products and positioning
A Jewish community and outdoor-recreation network that uses hiking, camping, environmental stewardship, and shared time in nature to build social connection and communal identity.
Outdoor recreation
Local chapter outdoor programs
Mosaic chapters organize recurring outdoor activities including hikes, camping trips, and other excursions. These programs are designed to combine recreation with Jewish social connection and may operate weekly or several times each month, depending on the chapter. More active affiliates have reported memberships in the hundreds.
Environmental programming
Environmental stewardship and education
Local clubs participate in activities such as trail cleanups and environmental education. These programs extend Mosaic’s purpose beyond leisure by encouraging practical engagement with natural spaces and by linking outdoor recreation to environmental responsibility.
Community event · 1991
Annual international gathering
The annual international gathering is the network’s principal cross-chapter event. Held every year since 1991, usually in the United States around Labor Day weekend, it provides opportunities for members from different countries and local clubs to participate in outdoor activities and maintain the organization’s international community.
Sources1 sources
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