Curious Walks (in Pasadena, CA)

Please join us for the first of many 5-mile walks aimed at cultivating deep, thoughtful, and interesting conversations! Ultimately, we hope to spark connection, learning, friendship, and community — all while getting exercise in the great outdoors and being curious!

How does this work?
The concept is simple! Before the event, come up with a thought-provoking, weighty question or idea that you’ve been thinking about or would like to explore. You need this for the event! When we gather, we’ll all briefly introduce ourselves and share our question or idea. Then we’ll start walking and use those questions or ideas as launching pads for conversation. The intention is to leapfrog over small-talk and get into meaningful discussion. During the walk, please move fluidly among different walkers if you’d like to!

About those questions or ideas, . . . don’t sweat them too much. Anything thoughtful or thought-provoking will do. Have fun with it! Here are some examples:
“How would you want to be remembered after you’re gone, and why?”
“I’ve been thinking about the concept of time, how it’s experienced, what speeds it up or slows it down, and I’d like to explore that today.”
“Can we ever really know who we are when we’re never fully unbiased in thinking about ourselves?”
“What is the most courageous thing you’ve ever done, and how did it affect you?”

The route runs through incredibly beautiful neighborhoods around the Caltech campus, particularly to its south and east, as well as through the lovely campus itself. Portions of the route are shaded by mature trees.

Is this event right for you?
We are walking 5 miles on mainly flat terrain at a moderate (~20 minutes/mile) or moderate-plus pace. This should allow for conversation while getting in some nice exercise. Please ascertain that this distance and pace is comfortable for you, as there is no “sweep.” The organizer is an unpaid community volunteer who wants everyone to have fun and stay safe, but you are fully responsible for your own safety throughout the event. At the start of your first walk, you'll need to sign a liability waiver that covers all Curious Walks you attend. You’re encouraged to read it ahead of time HERE.

How to Find Us/Location & Parking
Curious Walks start and end at Tournament Park, Pasadena, CA. The Park address is 1200 E. California Blvd., BUT it is accessed from Wilson Ave. To find the Park entrance from California Blvd, turn south on Wilson Ave. Proceed ~1 block until Cornell Road is on your right (do not turn onto Cornell). Look left, and you will see two signs for Tournament Park and its driveway entrance. The Park is at the end of the long driveway/parking lot. You may park at any of spaces, even if they're marked for Caltech permits; all are free to the public during weekends.
We will meet near the bathrooms at the granite plaque commemorating the terminus of the first transcontinental flight.

More Info
Walks will be on Saturday or Sunday mornings on most weekends. Please bring whatever you need for a 5-mile walk, which likely would include water, comfy shoes, and sunscreen. We look forward to walking and deep-diving with you!