Canyoneering Near Me

Hoover Hike

Join us for two miles of beautiful hiking at the Hoover Reservoir this Tuesday at 6 pm. This hike takes us across the dam and on to the Hoover Nature trail. This is a favorite hike of many as it includes the beautiful sights of the reservoir as the colors change. Join us for this hike!

American Sign Language Beginners Meetup Group

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

Hike Sharon Woods

**Let’s meet at the Maple Grove Picnic Shelter. We’ll do the paved 4 mile loop at a 17-18 min/mile pace.**

The Obsidian Lantern Society: Meet & Greet Around the Fire

On select Saturday nights, **we gather after dark around a spooky outdoor campfire** at **[The Arcane Foundry](https://thearcanefoundry.com/)**. Lanterns glow in the darkness, the fire crackles, drinks are poured, and the conversation turns toward the strange, macabre, forgotten, and unexplained. Think of it as an old-fashioned fireside gathering for modern curious minds. There is no classroom. No presentation. No designated speaker. And nobody is expected to be an expert. **Just pull up a chair around the fire and join the conversation.** **What Happens Around the Campfire?** Each gathering revolves around a loose theme, but the conversation is allowed to wander. One subject might lead us into another, someone might bring up a strange piece of history they've discovered, or a discussion about a horror novel might somehow end with everyone debating medieval folklore two hours later. That's part of the experience. **Grimdark, Gothic & Cosmic Horror** From Gothic castles and haunted villages to dying empires and unknowable cosmic entities, we explore what makes dark fiction work. Expect conversations about Gothic horror, Lovecraftian horror, cosmic horror, grimdark fantasy, weird fiction, dark fantasy, horror movies, novels, games and fictional universes. Writers and worldbuilders are encouraged to bring their own ideas as well. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem with your fictional world is to throw it into the fire, figuratively speaking, and see where the conversation takes it. **Folklore, Ghost Stories & Monsters** Campfires and monster stories belong together. We explore legends of ghosts, vampires, witches, demons, cryptids, faeries, revenants, strange creatures and things supposedly lurking in the wilderness after dark. Some discussions might venture into European folklore. Others might explore Asian mythology, Appalachian legends, Ohio ghost stories, local urban legends or strange traditions from cultures around the world. Whether you believe any of it isn't particularly important. The stories themselves are fascinating. **Strange History & Historical Esoterica** Real history can be considerably stranger than fiction. Around the fire we might discuss ancient superstitions, alchemy, occult societies, forgotten religions, unusual historical events, bizarre inventions, archaeological mysteries, obsolete sciences and beliefs that once shaped entire civilizations. The objective isn't to convince anyone that an old belief was true. The interesting question is often why people believed it in the first place. **Worldbuilding & Storytelling** Writers, game masters, miniature hobbyists and obsessive worldbuilders are especially welcome around the fire. Bring your fictional civilizations, monsters, religions, characters, military campaigns, magic systems, alternate histories or that strange setting you've been quietly constructing for years. The Society is a place where you can say, "I've been working on something weird..." And everyone around the fire actually wants to hear about it. **The Weird & Unexplained** Eventually, most campfire conversations wander somewhere strange. Ghost encounters. UFO folklore. Cryptids. Forteana. Lost civilizations. Paranormal stories. Unexplained historical events. Strange coincidences. Unusual archaeological claims. Weird things someone discovered while disappearing down an internet rabbit hole at two in the morning. Bring your curiosity and your skepticism. **You don't have to believe something to enjoy discussing it.** **Come Sit Around the Fire** The Obsidian Lantern Society isn't a lecture series, networking event or traditional club meeting. It's something much simpler. A group of curious people sitting around a fire after dark, illuminated by flames and lantern light, talking about things that are strange, frightening, imaginative, historical, mysterious or simply fascinating. Bring a drink. Bring a story. Bring an idea you've been thinking about. Or just bring yourself and listen. As the evening grows darker, the fire burns lower and the conversation inevitably becomes stranger. Pull up a chair. The lantern is lit.

Blendonwood Ravine Day Hike, 10:30 am

Candle Making!

Visit A.P.E.S. Primate Sanctuary, then hang out at NACHOFEST!

Meet at the American Primate Educational Sanctuary (A.P.E.S.), 8380 Kennedy Rd. Blacklick. A.P.E.S., the American Primate Educational Sanctuary, is a non-profit organization that cares for eight White-Handed Gibbons. Located in Blacklick, they house primates that were previously kept as household pets. They are committed to be protectors, conservationists, caregivers and educators for all primates, especially the Capuchin monkey and the endangered White-Handed Gibbon. [https://apesohio.weebly.com/](https://apesohio.weebly.com/) They ask for a $10 donation toward the care of the animals. When finished at A.P.E.S., we will head on over to Edison Brewery, 785 Science Blvd, Gahanna, for NACHOFEST for an afternoon of live music, community, and a celebration of the NACHO community (stay as long as you'd like; it's open until 6 pm). There are bands playing throughout the event, including the TBDBITL Alumni Band, Clintonville Community Jazz Band, NACHO Saxadillas, Cap City Funk, and the NACHO Street Band\*. The Taquitos Food Truck will be there. \*The NACHO Street Band is made up of Nationwide Children’s Hospital staff, family, and friends working to raise awareness and money for the hospital and the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio. Free to attend and donations can be made to the campaign for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Every dollar donated means 2 1/2 meals for those in need. Great music for a great cause, not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon! Links: A.P.E.S. [https://apesohio.weebly.com/](https://apesohio.weebly.com/) Edison Brewery [https://www.drinkedison.com/](https://www.drinkedison.com/) NACHO Street Band [https://www.facebook.com/NACHOStreetband/](https://www.facebook.com/NACHOStreetband/)

Old Beechwold; What You Don't Know May Surprise You

On this tour we'll enjoy a 2.5 miles stroll through beautiful Old Beechwold. We'll learn about its unique origin, discuss its transformations through time, and witness its hidden gems. Due to the lack of any sidewalks and the narrow, winding roads here the tour size is limited. If you have weak knees or balance issues please bring a hiking pole or two as we may go "off trail" for a bit of our tour, depending on interest. We can discuss lunch options afterward for those folks who would like to go to lunch nearby. I will cancel this tour in the event of likely rain.

Cycle 22 miles on the TJ Evans Trail (Johnstown to Granville)

Ride 11 miles from Johnstown to The Station in Granville for lunch, then 11 miles back. Ride at your own pace, I'll ride around 12 mph but can go slower or faster. https://www.stationgranville.com Seriously, doesn't that raspberry dessert just look the best??? If you don't ride you can always meet us to eat :).

Hike Highbanks

**Let’s meet at the Nature Center and do approximately 4 miles at a 17-18 min/mile pace. There are hills.**

Ultimate Frisbee at Whetstone

Fast-paced 6 mile hike