About us
If you love gardening, camping, backpacking, kayaking, paddleboarding, nature walks, hiking, biking, fishing, geocaching, photography, outdoor cooking, birding, wildlife viewing, travel, and anything else outdoors... Plus, if you enjoy throwing in some cultural activities, cooking, movie nights, and other one-off events with fun people, NEO is for you!
We are currently seeking volunteer activity hosts. Please message us if you are interested. We will provide training and logistics support for activities if needed.
If you like fun volunteer opportunities working with schools and the community to teach others how to enjoy nature and the great outdoors, we have that too! Welcome to NEO (Nature & Eclectic Outdoors)!
NEO is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping people of all ages and backgrounds lead more outdoor-oriented lives for better health, well-being, and resilience. Check out our website at [www.NEOproject.org](http://www.neoproject.org/)
If you like what we do, please consider becoming a monthly donor at [www.NEOproject.org/donate](https://www.neoproject.org/donate)
NEO events are open to everyone, and most activities are family, kid, and pet friendly! Events are free or low cost! We supplement our regular outdoor events with amazing cultural opportunities and affordable travel adventures. Our goal is to make outdoor activities and incredible travel events accessible to everyone.
We love being outdoors! We want to make sure everyone has the chance to experience hiking, camping, backpacking, cycling, kayaking, geocaching, and anything else they would like to try out. We love to travel and get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, and we want others to have this opportunity to travel with us in a safe and relaxed environment.
NEO may host an all-day hike at Brazos Bend State Park, a weekend camp at Pedernales Falls, or a cool mid-week night hike at Memorial Park. You could even find us introducing members to the Colorado Rockies on a long weekend! Whatever NEO does, we’re going to make some new friends, create amazing lifelong memories, and have a blast!
NEO has several special initiatives described on our website at**www.neoproject.org**, but one initiative in particular has gained us incredible respect and notoriety. Through our “Wilderness Kids” initiative, NEO encourages kids and families to get off the couch, away from the video games and cell phones, and OUTSIDE. With the help of contributions and donations, NEO hosts events and clinics designed to teach kids necessary skills for enjoying outdoor activities and thriving in the natural world. Kids develop leadership and teamwork skills while learning about water safety, hiking, camping, nature and wildlife, and much more! They are also introduced to people from all walks of life and from all over the world, giving them a broader understanding of the world and cultures around them.
We partner with schools, businesses, and other organizations to facilitate field trips, on campus events, and team builders. We also host private events that help support our nonprofit mission. Get in touch with us today to discuss these special programs and events.
If you would like to learn more about becoming involved in our NEO Volunteer Corps helping out at fun community outreach events and in our school partnerships, email us at [contact@neoproject.org](http://www.neoproject.org/?page_id=891)
Upcoming events
3
- $20.00
Sushi, Onigiri, and Musubi... Oh My!
Patriots' Hall, 231 Patriots Hall Blvd. Dripping Springs, TX. 78620, Dripping Springs, TX, USCome learn how to make some delicious sushi rolls (makizushi), onigiri (stuffed rice balls), and Hawaiian musubi (stacked layered rice and fillings)!
All ingredients will be cooked. There will not be any raw fish, etc. Participants will be taught how to roll/form these three staple rice meals/snacks and will choose from a buffet of ingredients to make their perfect yummy treats! Vegetarian and vegan options will be available. My favorite roll has steak, cream cheese, and avocado!
Attendees are expected to assist with all aspects of this event, including setup and cleanup. Thank you for your help!
NEO will provide the instruction/demonstrations, molds, rolling mats, and the ingredients. There should be plenty of leftovers to take home. Kids are welcome, so bring them along. This will be a ton of fun for younger participants.
This is a limited-attendance event. Payment can be made here via Paypal or Credit Card. You can also pay fee-free via your bank's Zelle feature to Zelle Tag "NEOproject" or email "[contact@neoproject.org](mailto:contact@neoproject.org)" or at this QR code link. If you pay via Zelle, please message me so I can add you to the attendee list.
I hope to see you there! Be sure to come hungry, and bring some to-go containers or zip-lock bags. As usual, well-behaved kids are welcome to attend, and kids under 14 can participate for free.
Because there is substantial planning for this event and supplies are purchased ahead of time, NO REFUNDS CAN BE ISSUED for this event unless it is canceled. If you cannot attend for any reason, you can give your spot to someone else or just consider it a much-appreciated donation. Thank you for understanding.
***
The NEO Cultural Cooking Club is part of a NEO (Nature and Eclectic Outdoors) initiative to promote cultural diversity, understanding, and appreciation through delicious food and great conversation. NEO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
We hope to see you there!8 attendees - $35.00
Pedernales Falls Hill Country Camp!
Pedernales Falls State Park, 2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, TX, USCome camp and swim with us at beautiful Pedernales Falls State Park!
While many of our activities allow for pets to attend, this one does not. Please leave pets at home. Service animals may participate, but they need to be certified to serve a specific function (for example, seizure detection). Emotional support animals do not qualify.
Please check out our waiver, a supplies list and some state park camping tips HERE.
Your RSVP fee covers your park entrance and camping fees. Whether you are an individual or a family with children, the reservation fee is only $35. We offer this opportunity to families with children at the same rate because they tend to have to pay more on their end to participate in general, and we do not want the RSVP fee to prohibit them from participating.
You may pay your RSVP fee via Zelle at "contact@neoproject.org" or our Zelle Tag, "NEOproject" with no additional fee. If you need to pay via Paypal or credit card, you will need to cover any associated fees. Please send me a message when you have paid so I can be sure you are on the RSVP list.
If you are unable to come to camp for some reason, you may give your spot to someone else or consider it a much-appreciated donation to NEO. If you are RSVPing for a family, please note in the comments how many adults and children will be in your group.
This will be a super fun and exciting weekend camp to enjoy each other's company in one of my favorite state parks, Pedernales Falls. This park is featured in many Sci-Fi movies due to its other-worldly appearance after thousands of years of water flowing through limestone and carving spectacular trenches, crevices, and caves to explore.
Activities will include hiking, birding, swimming, fishing, stargazing, a night hike, scorpion/spider hunt, and more! We will provide instruction and safety guidelines for all activities. No outdoor experience is necessary to participate. If you represent a school, church, or youth group that would like to participate, please contact me directly at contact@neoproject.org.
You may arrive in the park at any time on Friday and just enjoy the park. We will meet at the campsite area at 5:00. Friday and Saturday nights, we will make a group campfire and bring out camp stoves to cook dinner at our basecamp. Campers are responsible for bringing their own food, snacks, and drinks for the duration of camp. We will cook as a group and form a nice community for the weekend.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Sunday morning, we will break camp and be packed up by 10:00 AM. If tents are wet, you must stay to allow your assigned tent to dry completely before packing it up. Once we are packed up, you can choose to enjoy the park for the rest of the day on your own if you like.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED for this event unless the event is actually canceled. If you need to cancel for any reason, you can give your spot to someone else or just consider it a much-appreciated donation to NEO. NEO pays for these events ahead of time and cannot get a refund if you cancel. Thank you for understanding.
***
NEO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to lead more outdoor-oriented lives for better health, well-being, and resilience. Much of our work serves schools and historically under-served communities. If you like what we do, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at neoproject.org/donate. There are multiple donation options available. Your dollars make a difference!
Thank you!1 attendee - $1,400.00
Little Rock to Memphis Adventure!
Little Rock, Arkansas, 1 Airport Rd, Little Rock, AR 72202, Little Rock, TX, USREAD THIS ENTIRE POSTING!!! When you join the waitlist and make your RSVP payment, please message me so I can add you to the confirmed attendee list.
Come on a grand adventure beginning in Little Rock, Arkansas, winding through a variety of beautiful parks and historic sites, and ending up in Memphis, Tennessee! This is a limited attendance event, so get your RSVP in quick! Your RSVP fee covers the vehicle rental, fuel, and overnight accommodations in a combination of hotels and Airbnbs.
The pecking order of room and bed preferences will be based on the order people sign up for the trip. The RSVP fee assumes 4 people will share a room with 2 queen beds, 2 people to a bed. If you do not want to share, it will cost more. Let me know, and I'll have to figure out that math. Sometimes people who really don't want to share a bed but still want to keep the cost low will bring a small air mattress to sleep on the hotel floor.
Your RSVP amount covers the cost of overnight accommodations throughout the trip (Hotel or Airbnb) as well as the rental van and gas. The cost of airfare, entrance fees, activities, food, and all other incidentals are your responsibility.
We will fly into Little Rock on Sunday, June 7th, and fly out of Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday evening, June 13th. You can come in earlier or depart later if you need to. If you absoluletly need to come in on a later date or leave on an earlier date, we can probably accommodate that, but the RSVP cost will still be the same.
There is a lot we can do during this trip, and we will schedule a Zoom call to discuss options in more detail. We do not all always have to do that same activities. For example, there are a lot of Civil Rights historic sites in this region. Some people may want to visit some of those while others may want to do a hike instead. While in the parks, some may want to do a scenic wildlife photography drive while others want to kayak.
My bullet point areas of interest are below, but we will have a Zoom meeting to discuss everyone's preferences ahead of the trip:
*Little Rock section:
- Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site where the "Little Rock Nine" were integrated
- Big Dam Bridge
- Hot Springs National Park
- Lake Ouachita State Park
- Louisiana Purchase State Park
*Memphis section:
- Multiple Native American Historic Sites
- Graceland, home of Elvis Presley
- Shelby Farms Park
- Memphis Zoo
- Memphis Botanical Garden
- National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.
You need to have the type of personality that can go with the flow, adjust to changing circumstances, and get along well with others. Drama will not be tolerated. If you cause drama that interferes with others' ability to enjoy the trip, you will be asked to leave the group for the remainder of the trip with no refund. We have never had to do this, but we have come very close once. Luckily, the indivual corrected their actions before we had to take that step.
You may pay your $1400 RSVP fee via Zelle at "[contact@neoproject.org](mailto:contact@neoproject.org)" or our Zelle Tag, "NEOproject" with no additional fee. If you need to pay via Paypal or credit card, you will need to cover any associated fees that come from the total RSVP amount. Please send me a message when you have paid so I can be sure you are on the RSVP list.
Because we have to plan ahead for events and make non-refundable reservations, NO REFUNDS CAN BE ISSUED for this event unless it is canceled. If you cannot attend for any reason, you can give or sell your spot to someone else. Thank you for understanding.
***
NEO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to lead more outdoor-oriented lives for better health, well-being, and resilience. Much of our work serves schools and historically under-served communities. If you like what we do, please consider making a tax-deductible donation at neoproject.org/donate. There are multiple donation options available. Your dollars make a difference!Thank you!
1 attendee
Past events
214
