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
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- $25.00
Friendsgiving Camp - Bastrop State Park
Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop, TX 78602, USA, Bastrop, TX, USCome camp, swim, kayak, fish, and more at Bastrop State Park!
Your RSVP fee covers your park entrance fees, overnight camping fees, and the use of equipment like tents, cots, fishing poles, kayaks, stoves, cooking gear, and more. Read this entire posting in its entirety.
After RSVPing, please fill out this required camper information form.
Come camp, swim, fish, and kayak with us at Bastrop State Park! Your RSVP fee covers park entry and camping fees.You must arrive at camp with this waiver packet filled out completely and printed single-sided. There is no digital option for the waivers. We cannot accept them printed double-sided because the pages go to different departments. If you do not come to camp with these waivers printed and filled out, you may not set up your campsite or participate in any activities until you have your forms ready. We cannot delay activities or impact other campers' experiences if you come unprepared. Please be respectful of your fellow campers and NEO leaders. Thank you for understanding.
The waiver packet also includes some camping basics and a suggested packing checklist.
The cost of camp for individuals is $25. The cost for families with children is $40 per family. A family can include up to 2 adults and up to 3 children. A family may not include more than 2 adults and must include at least 1 child. If a family has additional adults, you will need to pay an additional $25 for each additional adult.
You may pay your RSVP fee via Zelle at "contact@neoproject.org" or our Zelle Tag, "NEOproject" with no additional fee. Please send me a message if you pay via Zelle so I can be sure you are on the RSVP list.
Otherwise, you can also pay through Meetup's Paypal or credit card options.If paying through Meetup, you should be able to change the rsvp amount to the proper amount. If Meetup gives you a problem, let me know.
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.We encourage attendees to bring some potluck items we can share to have a proper Friendsgiving meal, but it isn't required. In addition to coordinating activities during camp, NEO will provide campfires, s'mores, life preservers for swimming, fishing gear, kayaks, and more. You can bring your own gear if you prefer, but TPWD really likes families to use their tents during these partnership camps we coordinate with them, so leave your tents at home unless you are an individual bringing a smaller tent.
Activities will include birding, swimming, fishing, kayaking, stargazing, a nighttime spider hunt, and more! NEO will provide instructions 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.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 1: You may arrive in the park at any time on Friday and just enjoy the park away from our campground. We will meet at our campsites at 5:00 PM... NO EARLIER. Friday and Saturday nights, we will make a group campfire and bring out camp stoves to cook dinner as a group. Campers are responsible for bringing their own food, snacks, etc. for the duration of camp. We will cook as a group at our basecamp and form a nice community for the weekend.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 2: Sunday morning, we will break camp and be packed up by 10:30 AM. We have to be completely out of the campsites by 11:00 AM, but you can enjoy the park for the rest of the day after that. If tents are wet with dew on Sunday morning, we must stay to allow the tent to dry completely before packing it up.
NOBODY LEAVES EARLY ON SUNDAY. We will all work together to break camp and get the trailer loaded before we leave. 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 donation to NEO. NEO pays for these events ahead of time and cannot get a refund if you cancel. Thank you for understanding.
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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 underserved 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!2 attendees
Past events
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