Backpacking
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out backpacking events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the backpacking events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find backpacking events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Backpacking Events Today
Join in-person Backpacking events happening right now
Level 1 Tuesdays with Salsamante Dance Academy
Salsamante Dance Academy will be at Swerve Every Tuesday Night to share the Rhythm & Energy of Bachata & Salsa.
These are Beginner Level lessons to get you comfortable and understand the two dances. Spread the Good News to all.
Swerve Dance & Fitness Complex
640 Lakeview Plaza Blvd A, Worthington, OH 43085
Bachata 7pm-8pm
Salsa 8pm-9pm
$15 - One Lesson
$20 - Both Lessons
Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup (3rd Tues)
Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. We meet in the bar in the room on the right (the cigar shop). You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room.
This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us.
COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.
***
Did you know that there are atheists everywhere?!?! You may not know it, but we are! We're in your schools, diners, police force, military, government, and some are even still in your churches! So come and join us and meet other local atheists, along with agnostics, heathens, humanists, skeptics, and anyone else who's 'hell bound'!
Vision: a Central Ohio that accepts atheism as a viable alternative in all areas of public and private life.
Mission: grow, support, and provide community for atheists in Central Ohio.
Social meetings held most Tuesdays at a local pub/restaurant at 7:00 PM (and often into the wee hours). Attendees call themselves agnostics, skeptics, humanists, non-theists, deists or even theists. All attendees are welcome but should support our vision.
Atheists of Columbus (AoC) is part of Omnipresent Atheists (OA). AoC members are invited to join this OA meetup and/or OA Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/omnipresentatheists/ ) but are free to continue conversations on the AoC Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/columbusatheists/ ). AoC was founded in 2012 as a networking, social group for Central Ohio area humanists, skeptics, atheists, agnostics, nonbelievers, freethinkers, and the curious. It was a member of Columbus CoR and held weekly meetings, mostly on Fridays, for several years but then operated as an online only group for some time. In November 2018, Omnipresent Atheists (OA), a group that routinely meets on Tuesdays, invited AoC to merge.
Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason (ColumbusCoR.org). Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason ( http://www.ColumbusCoR.org ). Omnipresent Atheists endorses the mission of the Secular Coalition for America ( http://secular.org ).
Backpacking Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
February Social - Thirsty's Pub - Italian Village
Hey all! Let's meet at the new sports bar, [Thirsty's Pub](https://www.thirstyscolumbus.com/italianvillage) , located in Italian Village on 4th Street! You'll be able to find us at a table with CAC flyers.
**Adress**: 944 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201
Morning people unite!! 🐤 ☕ + 💬 @ Good Cafe
Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Good Cafe](https://goodcafeeaston.com/)!
It Takes A Village - A Celebration of Community
Join us for a vibrant gathering that honors the heart and hustle of local entrepreneurs. It Takes a Village is more than an event it’s a movement to uplift and spotlight small business owners who pour passion into their craft and creativity into our community.
From authors and bakers to jewelry makers, t-shirt designers, candle crafters, and beyond. This is your chance to meet the makers, support their work and celebrate the spirit of collaboration.
**_Expect_**
* Local vendors showcasing handmade goods
* Live demos and storytelling from featured creators
* Food, music, and community vibes
* Opportunities to shop, connect and be inspired
* Celebrate the power of small businesses and we all rise
Hike Alum Creek with optional Lunch at Rusty Bucket
Let's go to Alum Creek and hike parts of the Heritage Freedom Trail and the Multipurpose trail. The terrain will be both traditional hiking trail and Multipurpose trail. We'll hike about 3.7 miles at an 18-20 minute pace; faster paces are always welcome. Optional lunch following at Rusty Bucket on Polaris Parkway
Backpacking Events Near You
Connect with your local Backpacking community
BrowserStack QA Meetup- Columbus (March 12)
**Hello Columbus!**
**The community is buzzing and growing well.**
**We are thrilled to bring our third BrowserStack QA Meetup on March 12th!**
We are creating a space for deeper insights, meaningful connections, and a vibe you won't want to miss.
**What to expect:**
* **Connect:** Network with Columbus' top engineering and QA minds.
* **Learn:** Real-world tactics and trends you can use immediately.
* **Enjoy:** Food, drinks, and great community spirit.
**Agenda**
* **[Sam Gomez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samueljgomez/)** is presenting "AI is more than LLMs: Choosing the right AI for your needs."
**RSVP Essential:** Space is limited, and we want to ensure a great experience for everyone. **RSVP now to secure your spot!**
📍 **Venue:** Leading EDJE, 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017
📍 **Free Parking:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017
📅 **Date & Time:** March 12, 6:00 PM
**Stay Connected!**
Want to continue the conversation beyond the meetup?
Join our **BrowserStack Discord Server** to get updates, connect with fellow QA professionals, and be part of an ongoing discussion. **Don’t miss out—click below to join!**
🔗 [\[](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[Join the BrowserStack Discord Server](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[\]](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)
**A Few Notes:**
✅ This is an **in-person event**
✅ **RSVP does not guarantee a seat** – A confirmation email will be sent one day before the event.
**TALK ABSTRACT:**
AI is all the hype these days; however, despite (or maybe because of) the excitement around it, a high percentage of AI projects fail. Projects that are over budget, delayed, or that fail to scale past the POC phase are very common. In many of these scenarios, choosing the right approach can be as critical as the solution itself. Should you build a tailored machine learning model, leverage the power of large language models (LLMs), or integrate with AI copilots? Each option has unique strengths, trade-offs, and resource requirements, and the key to success lies in aligning your choice with your business goals and technical constraints.
In this talk, we will go beyond the basic concepts and definitions to provide a practical guide that allows attendees to navigate these decisions through real-world case studies. We will examine scenarios in which different AI paradigms were chosen, discuss the factors that influenced those decisions, and outline the process for evaluating needs, constraints, and outcomes. From assessing data availability and team expertise to balancing cost and scalability, you'll gain insights into the critical considerations that guide the selection process.
By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear process for determining whether machine learning, LLMs, or copilots are best suited to your AI challenges and understand the resources and strategies needed to bring your chosen solution to life. This talk is ideal for decision-makers, technical leads, and innovators seeking to demystify AI implementation and maximize the impact of their investments.
Hike Bexley
Meet at Wolfe Park parking lot by tennis courts. We willl walk along Alum Creek trail, through Jeffrey Mansion Park then along Bexley neighborhood and back.
Optional lunch at Trolley District.
Rhino Barn Tour @ The Wilds
**Summary**
For this event, we will do the [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at [The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/), a ten-thousand acre conservation center in Muskingum County. It is the largest such center in North America and one of the largest in the entire world.
During this tour, we'll visit The Wilds' rhino herd in their state-of-the-art heated barns and learn how The Wilds' animal management team takes care of one of the largest herds of rhinos outside of Africa and Asia.
**The date and time of this tour**
We will be doing the 1:00 p.m. [Rhino Barn Tour](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) on Saturday, February 28. The tour is scheduled to last 90 minutes.
**What you need to do to attend**
Signing up here on Meetup will not get you into The Wilds for the tour. You must go out to The Wilds' [website](https://www.thewilds.org/) and [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour).
Please [purchase your ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour), then sign up here on Meetup so I know how many to expect.
**Attendance cap**
There are only eight total slots/tickets available for this tour. As I obviously have already bought one of the tickets, that leaves seven spaces for everyone else.
If you are interested in this event, I urge you to [buy a ticket](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) at The Wilds' website as soon as possible. Since their website is obviously public, nothing prevents other people having nothing to do with *GOhio!* from buying their own tickets, thereby potentially taking an available slot away from you.
**Additional notes on attendance**
I have now run several events at The Wilds. While the location of The Wilds and the pricing of the tickets generally leads to small turnouts, the people who have gone have all enjoyed it and were glad they went.
If you've never been to The Wilds and you like zoos or animals at all, you are likely to find any tour at The Wilds to be a rewarding experience.
**Tickets and pricing**
[Tickets](https://www.thewilds.org/rhino-barn-tour) for this tour are $95, or $76 if you're a Wilds' member. I've posted screen shots, below, to help you be sure you're buying tickets for the correct event.
Wilds' memberships pay for themselves if you go to The Wilds at least twice a year, and [Columbus Zoo members](https://www.columbuszoo.org/membership) get a discount on memberships to The Wilds. I will always run at least two events a year at The Wilds.
Tickets for all Wilds' tours must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance of the actual tour.
**Cancellations and refunds**
Per The Wilds' [Cancellation Policy](https://www.thewilds.org/policies): *In order to be eligible for refund and accrue no rescheduling fees, cancellations must be made at least 14 days in advance of reservation. Cancellations made within 14 days of reservation will not receive a refund.*
You may [contact The Wilds](https://www.thewilds.org/contact) at (740) 638-5030 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., or you can email them at information@thewilds.org.
**Waiver of liability**
After you purchase your ticket, you will likely be asked to fill out a waiver of liability. This is a very short document and should take you no more than two minutes to complete.
**Where we'll meet**
We will meet at The Wilds, whose actual address is [14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43732](https://www.google.com/maps/place/14000+International+Rd,+Cumberland,+OH+43732/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837dae07a595557:0xa1ceca93325a8bd1?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111).
Please try to be there by 12:30 p.m. For most Wilds' tours, a shuttle bus will take you to the actual spot of the tour. So think of this as though you're going to the airport to catch a flight. It helps to be on time.
The Wilds generally asks that people arrive at least thirty minutes because the scheduled start time of their tour.
**GPS / Getting to The Wilds**
The Wilds is in a very rural area, but I've never had a problem getting there with my GPS (I have Verizon). I've also uploaded a JPG map, below, of Muskingum County.
Sometimes, though, it's hard to get a signal when you're at The Wilds and getting ready to leave. So you might want to consider downloading an offline map in Google Maps. Your cell phone should pick up a signal, however, within a few minutes after you leave.
The Wilds' Visitor Center does have free Wi-Fi.
**Carpooling?**
If you want to carpool, I recommend discussing this in the comments, below, to this event. While I don't myself carpool, I will do what I can to help you arrange something if I can.
**The weather**
Dress for the weather. Just because the barn is heated doesn't mean it will be warm. And wear closed-toed shoes.
Wilds' tours typically run no matter what the weather is.
**After the tour**
Once we're done with the rhinos, we'll head over to the very highly rated [Y-Bridge Brewing Company](https://ybridgebrewing.com/). The brewery is about thirty minutes from The Wilds, and it will be on the way back to Columbus for most, if not all, of us. The brewery's actual address is [1417 Linden Ave Ste D, Zanesville, OH 43701](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1417+Linden+Ave+d,+Zanesville,+OH+43701/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8837edd6cc50824f:0xe3a0af1ccb2aefbf?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111).
Y-Bridge Brewing does not serve food; however, they have several [food options](https://ybridgebrewing.com/food-options). I encourage you to check these out ahead of time on their website for yourself. However, here are a few of them:
*Within walking distance -- 120 feet away*
* [Angry Bull Saloon](https://www.facebook.com/AngryBullSaloonZanesville/) (pizza & subs)
* The Corner Pub Sports Bar and Grill (classic bar food)
*Delivery options -- [Door Dash](https://www.doordash.com/)*
* [4 Star Pizza](https://fourstarpizza.com/), (740) 452-9300
* [Donatos](https://www.donatos.com/), (740) 452-7900
* [Pizza Cottage](https://www.pizza-cottage.com/), (740) 455-6000
* [Dominos](https://www.dominos.com/), (740) 455-3126
* [Papa John's](https://www.papajohns.com/), (740) 450-4100
If you live in the area or can't make The Wilds but still want to meet us at the brewery, that's fine too.
























