Membership Categories

Membership levels:

1. Fellow
2. Member
3. Student
4. Friend
5. Corporate Membership
6. Patrons of Exploration

Application Forms: may be obtained by contacting:
Membership Committee
The Explorers Club
46 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 628-8383 | Fax: (212) 288-4449
membership@explorers.org

Applications may also be downloaded from below:

Download the Application (pdf)

Download the Application (doc)

For more information on membership and membership dues, please go to the following Explorers Club Web site:  Join The Club

For membership in the Greater Piedmont Chapter of The Explorers Club, inquiries should be directed to Warner Montgomery.

Fellow

Fellows are individual members who have participated in at least two expeditions involving exploration, field research or education, these should not be confused with “tourist or eco-tourism travel.” These expeditions could fall under the auspacies of universities, museums, privately funded research expeditions, government agencies or departments, and research institutions funded by either the private or public sectors, as well as an officially sanctioned Explorers Club Flag Expedition. Fellows will have had their exploration or field-research activities documented by publication.

Member

Members must meet all of the same criteria as do Fellows, the difference being that Members have not had their exploration or field-research activities documented by publication.

Both Members and Fellows can vote and hold any Club office. Fellowship is a high form of recognition and Fellows pay lower dues. The category of membership to which an applicant is assigned is determined by the Membership Committee and the Board of Directors based on the candidates qualifications and experience as outlined in the application form, sponsoring letters and appended material.

Student

Student Membership in The Explorers Club is open to young explorers of at least 16 years of age and not more than 24 years of age, who are enrolled full time at an accredited school. On reaching the age of 25, student members must submit an application for regular membership, unless they are continuing their education in graduate school.

If you are qualified and interested in joining but need assistance finding a sponsor you should contact us and we will try to help. Please let us know where you reside and provide a brief description of your field of research or area of exploration.

Friend

The Explorers Club has created a category of association with the Club to be known as the “Friends of The Explorers Club.” This category is open to individuals who wish to support the goals of The Explorers Club but do not presently possess the qualifications and experience to be accepted as members. Friends of The Explorers Club will be men or women of good reputation, cultural background, and of excellent moral and ethical standards. Individuals applying for this category of membership who reside in the United States will require two letters of recommendation from full -fledged members of The Explorers Club. Individuals who reside internationally need one letter of recommendation also from a full -fledged member of The Explorers Club.

In return for their support, financially and otherwise, Friends will be entitled to limited Club privileges, as follows:

> Invitations to The Explorers Club Annual Dinner and The Lowell Thomas Awards Dinner

> Invitations to fund-raising events, Members' Events and free admission to Public Lectures

> Subscription to The Explorers Journal and The Explorers Newsletter

> Selected Club mailings, including the Explorers Travelers announcements and information on Youth programs

> Eligibility to rent Club Facilities for catering purposes (except for the 5th floor Gallery) at the Members' rate

> Use of the Club House during business hours.

Friends are not eligible to vote or to carry The Explorers Club flag on an expedition. They are not entitled to purchase or use items with The Explorers Club logo.

Friends may volunteer their services to House Committees but may not serve in an official capacity. Friends are not allowed to sponsor candidates for any category of membership.

Friends of The Explorers Club status provides a closer step to eventual membership in the Club. By having access to exploration information and by meeting Club members, Friends may, on their own initiative, take an opportunity to join an expedition and pursue meaningful field research which would lead to greater qualifications towards possible membership status. They may also choose to become Patrons of Exploration, Corporate Members, or supporters of Youth Programs.

Acceptance of an individual into the Friends of The Explorers Club category is subject to approval by the Board of Directors upon recommendation of the Membership Committee. 

Corporate Membership

Membership in The Explorers Club allows corporations to actively participate in exploration and to support the young explorers who will one day be leaders in science and field research. Corporate assistance furthers the Club's vital Public Service and Education Programs and helps to build a reservoir of scientific manpower with experience in field research.

If your corporation is committed to sponsoring public service, educational and scientific programs, Corporate Membership will complement your goals. Your annual dues will help young explorers participate in active field research with senior scientists and explorers through our Youth Activities Fund and will also aid graduate students and independent senior researchers through our Exploration Fund. Corporate membership also supports a program of public exploration lectures, scientific and educational exhibits, and seminars.

The Club encourages Corporate members, particularly manufacturers of components and instruments used in research and exploration, to take an active part in explorations planned by members. Since the Club's founding, manufacturers and explorers have worked together to test the capabilities of new equipment and technologies. Diving and sonar equipment, global positioning technologies, radio, computers and high resolution optical devices have all enabled explorers to travel higher, deeper, farther and faster than ever before. An excellent example of this was the 1998 Everest Extreme Expedition.

Join the Camaraderie of International Explorers. Corporate Members share the same (but non-voting) privileges enjoyed by approximately 3000 individual members. Corporate representatives can use all of the Club's facilities: host luncheons, dinners and receptions in Club rooms; attend events, lectures and seminars, and benefit from the Club's reciprocal rights with other clubs overseas.

Corporations and Businesses who wish to do more to foster exploration and the field sciences, and who would like to receive greater benefits in return, should consider becoming Corporate Patrons of Exploration.

Patron

Corporations and Businesses who wish to do more to foster exploration and the field sciences, and who would like to receive greater benefits in return, should consider becoming Corporate Patrons of Exploration.

PATRON OF EXPLORATION
Annual Dues - $25,000 USD
Privileges:

• One free "Patron of Exploration" table (10 seats) at The Explorers Club Annual Dinner (ECAD).
• Special medallion to wear at Annual Dinner and other Club events.
• Opportunity to set up exhibit at ECAD cocktail party.
• Listed as "Patron of Exploration" in every issue of Explorers Journal.
• One free full page four color ad in the Explorers Journal.
• Discounted ads (15%) in the Explorers Journal.
• Patrons corner in Club lobby.
• Two free uses of Club's second floor for dinners, cocktail parties and meetings.
• Patron's rate for subsequent use of Club spaces.
• Honored guest at Club functions.
• Club to provide speaker (noted explorer/scientist) for Patron's scheduled event.
• Subscription to Explorers Journal and Newsletter.
• Free admission to Club lectures.
• Entitled to participate in Explorers Travelers Program

SPONSOR OF EXPLORATION
Annual Dues - $10,000 USD
Privileges:

• One free "Patron of Exploration" table (10 seats) at The Explorers Club Annual Dinner (ECAD).
• May set up exhibit at ECAD reception.
• Special welcoming event at Club.
• "Referral rate" for subsequent Club space rentals.
• One "welcoming" ad in Explorers Journal (full page) and Newsletter.
• Discounted ads (15%) in the Explorers Journal.
• Listing on Club announcements of public lectures/events.
• Listed as "Sponsor of Exploration" in each issue of Explorers Journal.
• Subscription to Explorers Journal and Newsletter.
• Four free seats to Club public lectures.
• Club to provide speaker, if requested, for Sponsor's scheduled event.
• Subscription to Explorers Journal and Newsletter.
• Entitled to participate in Explorers Travelers Program

FRIEND OF EXPLORATION
Annual Dues - $5,000 USD
Privileges:

• Four free ECAD seats.
• May set up exhibit at ECAD reception.
• Honored guest at one Club function/event.
• One "welcoming" ad (half page) in Explorers Journal and Newsletter.
• Listed as "Friend of Exploration" in each issue of Explorers Journal.
• Discounted ads (15%) in the Explorers Journal.
• Subscription to Explorers Journal and Newsletter.
• Two free seats at Club public lectures.
• Entitled to participate in Explorers Travelers Program