The Adventurers’ Club 2026: The Frontier Ahead with Rich Mayfield

Join us for the first gathering of the year as Rich Mayfield #1211, President of the Adventurers’ Club of Los Angeles, shares where the Club is headed in 2026 and the vision guiding that direction. This evening is both a look forward and a reflection on what adventure means today, and why venturing off the beaten path still matters.

“The Adventurers’ Club is more than just a gathering place; it’s a sanctuary for those who understand the call of adventure. While outsiders may question the risks and audacity of our exploits, true adventurers share a mutual understanding and respect for the spirit of adventure. It’s this shared mind-set that is essential to our Club’s identity.”
-Rich Mayfield, A Century of Adventure: The History of the Adventurers’ Club

Rich will highlight the expedition flags currently in the field and how the Club actively supports modern adventure not only through expeditions, but through programs that inspire, educate, and connect members across disciplines and generations. He’ll speak to why in-person gatherings remain central to the Club’s culture, and how shared experiences around the table strengthen our sense of purpose.

The evening will also include a candid discussion of what makes the Adventurers’ Club truly special: a rare combination of legacy, trust, curiosity, and mutual respect, something sustained by engaged membership and meaningful financial support.

Looking ahead, Rich will outline several long-term initiatives shaping the Club’s future, including efforts to secure a permanent home, improve the curation and accessibility of our physical and digital collections, and commission a new map that reflects the global reach and adventurous spirit of our membership.

Rich Mayfield has been adventuring his entire life. Starting with family camping trips as a child, he made his way through Boy Scouts, became an Eagle Scout and then went on to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. While studying on the Severn River, he continued his adventuring in the summers sailing around the Chesapeake and up the Eastern Seaboard, Racing to Bermuda, Sea Kayaking through Prince William Sound in Alaska, and while on leave, hopping Air Force flights to tour Europe.

After commissioning into the Navy, he went on to complete Navy Nuclear Power School, Prototype, and Submarine School. While transitioning to Dive School en route to Hawaii, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and was disqualified from sea duty.

After the Navy, Rich dropped off the grid for a year in order to undertake a hike from Key West to Canada along the Florida Trail and the Appalachian Trail, a route collectively known as the Eastern Continental Trail. Rich is an Advanced Scuba Diver, Offshore Sailing Skipper, and Glider Pilot. He is currently working on learning how to fly with an engine.

Rich works as a Chief Engineer focused on electronics, automation, and robotics. He lives in Villa Park with his wife and two sons.

This program was organized by Rey Perez #1219.