Backcountry
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out backcountry events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the backcountry events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find backcountry events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Backcountry Events Today
Join in-person Backcountry events happening right now
Beginner and Intermediate Bachata Dance Classes with Todd Smith!
**✅ Bachata Mondays with Todd Smith!**
**👉 Beginner Bachata Class**
**$15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
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7:00 pm – 7:15 pm … Registration
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm … Beginner Class
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**👉 Intermediate Bachata Class**
**= $15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
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8:15 pm – 8:30 pm Registration
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Intermediate Class
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**👉 If You Take Both Bachata Classes**
**= $25 In Advance / $35 At the Door**
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**👉 Buy Advance Tickets Now at:**
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https://columbussalsadancing.com/bachata-mondays-dance-class-tickets/
Bachata Dance Classes: Beginner and Intermediate (Every Monday)
**✅ Bachata Mondays with Todd Smith!**
**👉 Beginner Bachata Class**
**$15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
7:00 pm – 7:15 pm … Registration
7:15 pm – 8:15 pm … Beginner Class
**👉 Intermediate Bachata Class**
**= $15 In Advance / $20 At the Door**
8:15 pm – 8:30 pm Registration
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm Intermediate Class
**👉 If You Take Both Bachata Classes**
**= $25 In Advance / $35 At the Door**
**👉 Buy Advance Tickets Now at:**
https://columbussalsadancing.com/bachata-mondays-dance-class-tickets/
Free in-person event: Take Control of Your Mental Health
It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself.
Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went?
Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence?
Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.
In-Person Event: The Answers to Depression & Anxiety
This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them.
Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance".
Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you.
The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life.
Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life.
Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there.
This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.
Backcountry Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Free Backyard Conservation Workshop - get $50 voucher for your yard! Westerville
Community Backyards Workshop
.Community Backyards Workshop - Westerville
Join us for the Westerville Community Backyards workshop! This is a FREE class on how you can protect our waterways and environment with small changes in your gardening habits. We will discuss rain barrels, rain gardens, composting, and native plants. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek.
By attending, any participating community resident can receive a voucher for a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants for attending. Vouchers are limited to one per household per year.
Registration in advance is encouraged but not required.
* Location: Westerville Community Center, 350 N Cleveland Ave, Westerville, OH 43082
* Date and time: Sat, May 30, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
* Organizer: Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org
(Free Workshop Registration: Registration is free. Registering in advance provides your information to Franklin Soil and Water ahead of time, so when you come to the workshop, we will have your voucher ready for you when you arrive)
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/h2w5ms8
**FAQs**
**Our Community Backyards workshops are FREE and a great way to participate in the rebate program. Our workshops are typically 1 to 1 and a half hours long and held in-person. Our workshops cover the same content as the online course, but they are more detailed and allow the chance to ask questions and have discussions with the presenters and other residents. We occassionally have "advanced topics" classes where you dive deeper into one topic of Community Backyards such as invasive vs. native plants or rain gardens.**
**Registration is encouraged but not required.** You can register in advance to receive your voucher at the workshop. If you don't register in advance, that's okay - you can still show up (unless otherwise noted - which is very rare) and sign up for a voucher at the class, and we will send you one via email or mail within a few business days after the workshop.
**"Do I have to be a resident of that community to attend that workshop?"** Nope! Our workshops are open to everyone (unless otherwise noted - which is extremely rare). You can attend a workshop that best suits your schedule even if it is in a different community than your own.
**"Why is registration closed?** Can I just show up?" Yes, you can show up without registering! We close registration typically 1-2 days before the workshop to give the vouchers and materials to the presenters. However, you are always welcome to just show up and fill out a short form to request a voucher at the workshop. If eligible, we will send one to you within 1-2 business days after the workshop.
**Voucher note**: Classes are free for everyone but vouchers are for residents of Franklin county or participating community (list here: https://www.communitybackyards.org/participate)
2026 Participating Vendors: City Folk's Farm Shop, Fisher's Gardens, Leaves for Wildlife, Scioto Gardens, Hoover Gardens & Gift Center, and the FSWCD/SWACO Compost Bin Sale.
*when redeeming your voucher at a vendor, Please bring a physical copy of your voucher to receive an immediate discount on your purchase.
Additionally, to keep up with number of vouchers that are given out, we have changed the expiration date on the vouchers to 30 days
Bike Ride to Sunbury
BIKE RIDE TO SUNBURY
Dust off your bikes, pump up your tires, and get out and ride.
• When: Saturday, May 30, 10AM
• Where: Leaving from the Westerville Library, 126 S. State Street, 43081
◦ Meet at East side of parking lot by the playground.
Trip Itentiary
• 20 miles round trip
• Ride to Sunbury, stop for lunch (Location TBD), then ride back to the Westerville Library
• All skill levels welcome
Contact: Therese Butz (614-561-1976), Art Kahn (614-370-5246)
Columbus Ski Club membership not required for this event. CSC assumes no responsibility for the event or any injuries as this is organized by a third party.
Ticks in Licking County, Diseases and Prevention - Hebron Library - Free
The number of ticks and tick diseases in Ohio have quickly multiplied over the last 10 years. Dean Kreager discusses tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal. Kreager is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension in Licking County
* Lakewood Public Library (in Hebron)- May 26 at 7pm [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621)
* Johnstown public library at 7:00 pm June 8
[https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622)
Free to attend, no RSVP needed
Hike Blendon Woods Metro Park
Hi ladies. We will meet in front of the Nature Center and head to the two Observation decks. We will then hike Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook and Sugarbush trails to get approximately four miles total distance. We will walk approximately a 18 minute mile pace. Please wear appropriate hiking shoes.
Nature’s Bounty: Tea and Native American Traditions - Octagon Earthworks, Newark
Nature’s Bounty: Teas & Traditions
Hosted by Ohio History Connection:
* May. 30
* Time: Noon-4 p.m
* General - $15
* Ohio History Connection Member - Free
* Location: Newark Earthworks - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Octagon Earthworks 125 N. 33rd St., Newark, OH 43055
Did you know that Red Willow has the same natural compounds as aspirin? What about Staghorn Sumac and Purple Coneflower, containing large amounts of Vitamin C? Join us as we learn all about the uses of plants.
This program will hike the grounds of the Octagon to learn about nature’s bounty. In addition, it will explore the vast knowledge of American Indian peoples regarding how plants help humans. Guests will be able to sample several teas made from plants that will be discussed.
Disclaimer: This is for interpretative purposes only, and we are not promoting natural healing or any use of self-care or medical advice.
Click here to register [https://hopewellearthworks.org/events/natures-bounty-teas-traditions/](https://hopewellearthworks.org/events/natures-bounty-teas-traditions/)
Contact 740.344.0498 or newarkearthworks@ohiohistory.org
https://hopewellearthworks.org/site/octagon-earthworks/
Backcountry Events Near You
Connect with your local Backcountry community
Bike Ride - Pickerington Ponds to Three Creeks
**Weather permitting**, we’ll take a casual ride from Pickerington Ponds (Glacier Knoll) to Three Creeks and back.
Distance is **18–25 miles**, depending on where we turn around and whether we add a side loop.
Pace is around **12 mph**, but this is a fun, no‑drop ride — we can slow down as needed.
Here’s the **map** showing Glacier Knoll (bike), Confluence Park (flag), and BrewDog: [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit..](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit..).
Text or call Scott at **614‑975‑4458** if you’re coming.
Columbus ski club membership not required for this event. CSC assumes no responsibility for the event or any injuries as this is organized by a third party.
COUNT RMH Housewarmer Volunteering (Ronald McDonald House)
Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process.
Fast track
• Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell).
• Show up and try it out.
• Complete application, etc. later.
Normal process
• Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/).
• Attend orientation in advance.
• At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility.
• Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM.
• Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895).
The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014.
Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.
Bike Ride - Pickerington Ponds to Three Creeks to Three Creeks
**Weather permitting**, we’ll take a casual ride from Pickerington Ponds (Glacier Knoll) to Three Creeks and back.
Distance is **18–25 miles**, depending on where we turn around and whether we add a side loop.
Pace is around **12 mph**, but this is a fun, no‑drop ride — we can slow down as needed.
Here’s the **map** showing Glacier Knoll (bike), Confluence Park (flag), and BrewDog: [https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit..](https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit..).
Text or call Scott at **614‑975‑4458** if you’re coming.
Columbus ski club membership not required for this event. CSC assumes no responsibility for the event or any injuries as this is organized by a third party.
COUNT Discussion Meeting: Topic: Current Events
We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another.
Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us.
Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.
Ticks in Licking County - Diseases and Prevention -Johnstown Library - Free
The number of ticks and tick diseases in Ohio have quickly multiplied over the last 10 years. Dean Kreager discusses tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal. Kreager is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension in Licking County
* Lakewood Public Library (in Hebron)- May 26 at 7pm [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621)
* Johnstown public library at 7:00 pm June 8
[https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622)
Free to attend, no RSVP needed
Blendon Woods Metro Park
Hi Ladies , Let's Hike Blendon Woods Metro Park .
We will meet at the nature center parking lot.
Hiking about 4 miles completing the blendon woods loop and the sugarbush trail .
Wear appropriate footwear and bring water for hydration .

























