Bamboo

Come join us in Alia lounge for a chill boardgame night. where we have fun and make new friends. Fee is 100 EGP (2$) Time: from 6:30 pm to 10pm Zero Experience in games needed, as i will be your host and Game master introducing you to games Location: [Alia lounge](https://maps.app.goo.gl/vxwSa61yeToELFCd6?g_st=aw) join our whatsapp group https://chat.whatsapp.com/CrOryPPzVTC0j2NLNq75Gj For any enquiries contact 011 00099039 (eyad)

Imagine asking your app: "Show me products under 50 EGP" …and getting a smart, beautifully designed AI-powered experience instead of plain text responses 🔥 In this workshop, you’ll build a production-ready AI chatbot from scratch using: Firebase AI Logic Gemini Function Calling Firestore Clean Architecture patterns for scalable apps You’ll walk away with a fully working demo and practical knowledge on how to integrate AI into Flutter applications as a core feature—not just an add-on ⚡ 📌 Registration: Please note that registration is only available through the following form: Registration Form Build With AI Cairo Edition Agenda --- Hosted By Muhammed Nagy, Head of GDG Cairo Hi, I'm Mohamed, Head of GDG Cairo. Mona Abd Elaziz, Head of Design Zeinab Salem, WTM Cairo Leader Fady Ibrahim, GDG Organizer - Fady is a Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Authorized Trainer with 12 Google Cloud certifications. - He is a Build with AI trainer and a mentor in the 2024 Solution Challenge of Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC). He mentored teams from Germany and Singapore from the Top Global 100 Team. - Fady is the technical reviewer for the book Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Network Engineer Guide, published by Packt Publishing. - Fady has a one-hour video published on the official Google Cloud YouTube channel. Furthermore, he has a 10-video YouTube list about Google Cloud published by Cloud Institute, a Cloud Coaching Company based in Austin, Texas, USA. Ibrahim Fathelbab, Co-organizer Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support.Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support. El-hosary A, GDG Organizer Islam Hassan, Android developer Taghrida Mohamed, Co-organizer Mahmoud Sultan, Co-organizer CyberSecurity Engineer GDG Cairo Organizer Kholoud Ahmed, Co-organizer Mohamed Mohamed, Co-organizer Eslam Kamal, Co-organizer Flutter Mobile App Developer | Coding Instructor | GDG Cairo Organizer | Head of Flutter at GDSC MTI (2023 - 2024) Ali Omar, Co-organizer Youssef Mamdouh, Co-organizer Mohamed Abo el Maaty Zaky, GDG Organizer 🧑🏻‍💻 Software Engineer 💙 Flutter Developer 🇪🇬 Flutter Egypt Organizer 🐦 Flutter Mena Organizer 📱 Mobile Enthusiast 💻 GDG 6 October Organizer 🌐 https://maaty.dev Yousef Bahnsawy, Ai Engineer AI Engineer, GDG on Campus Lead and GDG Cairo Organizer Nour Ashraf Hanafy, Business Developer Abdulrahman Samir, GDG Organizer RaniaM Hafez Photographer, Photographer Saadi Shamallakh, Full Stack developer Abdelrahman Salah, IOS Developer Ahmed Elnaggar, GDE Menna Ahmed, Cloud Engineer Cloud Engineer Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cairo-presents-flutter-talks-to-ai-building-a-smart-chatbot-with-gemini-amp-firebase-workshop-with-mohamed-abo-el-maaty-zaky/.

In this workshop, you’ll get a practical introduction to building and deploying scalable AI applications using modern Google Cloud tools like Vertex AI and Cloud Run—covering key concepts to help you bring your AI ideas to life. 📌 Registration: Please note that registration is only available through the following form: Registration Form Build With AI Cairo Edition Agenda --- Hosted By Muhammed Nagy, Head of GDG Cairo Hi, I'm Mohamed, Head of GDG Cairo. Mona Abd Elaziz, Head of Design Zeinab Salem, WTM Cairo Leader Fady Ibrahim, GDG Organizer - Fady is a Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Authorized Trainer with 12 Google Cloud certifications. - He is a Build with AI trainer and a mentor in the 2024 Solution Challenge of Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC). He mentored teams from Germany and Singapore from the Top Global 100 Team. - Fady is the technical reviewer for the book Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Network Engineer Guide, published by Packt Publishing. - Fady has a one-hour video published on the official Google Cloud YouTube channel. Furthermore, he has a 10-video YouTube list about Google Cloud published by Cloud Institute, a Cloud Coaching Company based in Austin, Texas, USA. Ibrahim Fathelbab, Co-organizer Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support.Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support. El-hosary A, GDG Organizer Islam Hassan, Android developer Taghrida Mohamed, Co-organizer Mahmoud Sultan, Co-organizer CyberSecurity Engineer GDG Cairo Organizer Kholoud Ahmed, Co-organizer Mohamed Mohamed, Co-organizer Eslam Kamal, Co-organizer Flutter Mobile App Developer | Coding Instructor | GDG Cairo Organizer | Head of Flutter at GDSC MTI (2023 - 2024) Ali Omar, Co-organizer Youssef Mamdouh, Co-organizer Mohamed Abo el Maaty Zaky, GDG Organizer 🧑🏻‍💻 Software Engineer 💙 Flutter Developer 🇪🇬 Flutter Egypt Organizer 🐦 Flutter Mena Organizer 📱 Mobile Enthusiast 💻 GDG 6 October Organizer 🌐 https://maaty.dev Yousef Bahnsawy, Ai Engineer AI Engineer, GDG on Campus Lead and GDG Cairo Organizer Nour Ashraf Hanafy, Business Developer Abdulrahman Samir, GDG Organizer RaniaM Hafez Photographer, Photographer Saadi Shamallakh, Full Stack developer Abdelrahman Salah, IOS Developer Ahmed Elnaggar, GDE Menna Ahmed, Cloud Engineer Cloud Engineer Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cairo-presents-developing-and-deploying-scalable-ai-applications-with-vertex-ai-and-cloud-run-workshop-with-chiraz-chahbani/.

Behind every successful ML model lies a massive ecosystem of pipelines, infrastructure, configurations, dependencies, and automation layers. In this workshop, Mahmoud will break down the hidden technical debt that quietly breaks ML systems in production, including: - Pipeline jungles & fragile glue code - Data dependencies & system entanglement - Infrastructure bottlenecks in real-world AI deployments - MLOps strategies for scalable, stable, and secure systems - Based on Google’s foundational research and modern MLOps practices, this workshop will help you understand how to build AI systems that survive beyond the demo stage. 📌 Registration: Please note that registration is only available through the following form: Registration Form Build With AI Cairo Edition Agenda --- Hosted By Muhammed Nagy, Head of GDG Cairo Hi, I'm Mohamed, Head of GDG Cairo. Mona Abd Elaziz, Head of Design Zeinab Salem, WTM Cairo Leader Fady Ibrahim, GDG Organizer - Fady is a Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Authorized Trainer with 12 Google Cloud certifications. - He is a Build with AI trainer and a mentor in the 2024 Solution Challenge of Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC). He mentored teams from Germany and Singapore from the Top Global 100 Team. - Fady is the technical reviewer for the book Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Network Engineer Guide, published by Packt Publishing. - Fady has a one-hour video published on the official Google Cloud YouTube channel. Furthermore, he has a 10-video YouTube list about Google Cloud published by Cloud Institute, a Cloud Coaching Company based in Austin, Texas, USA. Ibrahim Fathelbab, Co-organizer Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support.Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support. El-hosary A, GDG Organizer Islam Hassan, Android developer Taghrida Mohamed, Co-organizer Mahmoud Sultan, Co-organizer CyberSecurity Engineer GDG Cairo Organizer Kholoud Ahmed, Co-organizer Mohamed Mohamed, Co-organizer Eslam Kamal, Co-organizer Flutter Mobile App Developer | Coding Instructor | GDG Cairo Organizer | Head of Flutter at GDSC MTI (2023 - 2024) Ali Omar, Co-organizer Youssef Mamdouh, Co-organizer Mohamed Abo el Maaty Zaky, GDG Organizer 🧑🏻‍💻 Software Engineer 💙 Flutter Developer 🇪🇬 Flutter Egypt Organizer 🐦 Flutter Mena Organizer 📱 Mobile Enthusiast 💻 GDG 6 October Organizer 🌐 https://maaty.dev Yousef Bahnsawy, Ai Engineer AI Engineer, GDG on Campus Lead and GDG Cairo Organizer Nour Ashraf Hanafy, Business Developer Abdulrahman Samir, GDG Organizer RaniaM Hafez Photographer, Photographer Saadi Shamallakh, Full Stack developer Abdelrahman Salah, IOS Developer Ahmed Elnaggar, GDE Menna Ahmed, Cloud Engineer Cloud Engineer Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cairo-presents-hidden-technical-debt-in-machine-learning-systems-workshop-with-mahmoud-hossam/.

Discover how modern AI pipelines can evolve beyond static workflows into systems that continuously improve through feedback and reasoning. 📌 Registration: Please note that registration is only available through the following form: Registration Form Build With AI Cairo Edition Agenda --- Hosted By Muhammed Nagy, Head of GDG Cairo Hi, I'm Mohamed, Head of GDG Cairo. Mona Abd Elaziz, Head of Design Zeinab Salem, WTM Cairo Leader Fady Ibrahim, GDG Organizer - Fady is a Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Authorized Trainer with 12 Google Cloud certifications. - He is a Build with AI trainer and a mentor in the 2024 Solution Challenge of Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC). He mentored teams from Germany and Singapore from the Top Global 100 Team. - Fady is the technical reviewer for the book Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Network Engineer Guide, published by Packt Publishing. - Fady has a one-hour video published on the official Google Cloud YouTube channel. Furthermore, he has a 10-video YouTube list about Google Cloud published by Cloud Institute, a Cloud Coaching Company based in Austin, Texas, USA. Ibrahim Fathelbab, Co-organizer Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support.Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support. El-hosary A, GDG Organizer Islam Hassan, Android developer Taghrida Mohamed, Co-organizer Mahmoud Sultan, Co-organizer CyberSecurity Engineer GDG Cairo Organizer Kholoud Ahmed, Co-organizer Mohamed Mohamed, Co-organizer Eslam Kamal, Co-organizer Flutter Mobile App Developer | Coding Instructor | GDG Cairo Organizer | Head of Flutter at GDSC MTI (2023 - 2024) Ali Omar, Co-organizer Youssef Mamdouh, Co-organizer Mohamed Abo el Maaty Zaky, GDG Organizer 🧑🏻‍💻 Software Engineer 💙 Flutter Developer 🇪🇬 Flutter Egypt Organizer 🐦 Flutter Mena Organizer 📱 Mobile Enthusiast 💻 GDG 6 October Organizer 🌐 https://maaty.dev Yousef Bahnsawy, Ai Engineer AI Engineer, GDG on Campus Lead and GDG Cairo Organizer Nour Ashraf Hanafy, Business Developer Abdulrahman Samir, GDG Organizer RaniaM Hafez Photographer, Photographer Saadi Shamallakh, Full Stack developer Abdelrahman Salah, IOS Developer Ahmed Elnaggar, GDE Menna Ahmed, Cloud Engineer Cloud Engineer Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cairo-presents-semantic-backpropagation-in-llm-pipelines-workshop-with-mohamed-shams/.

Most AI apps stop at sending prompts and displaying text… But real-world AI products need much more than that 🔥 In this workshop, you’ll learn how to build intelligent, scalable, and secure AI-powered Flutter applications using Google Genkit and modern agentic workflows. 🚀 What You’ll Explore: - Integrating Gemini and AI models using a unified SDK - Building Agentic AI workflows with tools & function calling - Creating type-safe structured AI outputs - Debugging and optimizing AI reasoning using Genkit Developer UI - Deploying secure production-ready AI logic with Firebase & Cloud Run - This workshop is designed to help you move from “AI demos” to building real AI-powered products ready for production. 📌 Registration: Please note that registration is only available through the following form: Registration Form Build With AI Cairo Edition Agenda --- Hosted By Muhammed Nagy, Head of GDG Cairo Hi, I'm Mohamed, Head of GDG Cairo. Mona Abd Elaziz, Head of Design Zeinab Salem, WTM Cairo Leader Fady Ibrahim, GDG Organizer - Fady is a Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Authorized Trainer with 12 Google Cloud certifications. - He is a Build with AI trainer and a mentor in the 2024 Solution Challenge of Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC). He mentored teams from Germany and Singapore from the Top Global 100 Team. - Fady is the technical reviewer for the book Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Network Engineer Guide, published by Packt Publishing. - Fady has a one-hour video published on the official Google Cloud YouTube channel. Furthermore, he has a 10-video YouTube list about Google Cloud published by Cloud Institute, a Cloud Coaching Company based in Austin, Texas, USA. Ibrahim Fathelbab, Co-organizer Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support.Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support. El-hosary A, GDG Organizer Islam Hassan, Android developer Taghrida Mohamed, Co-organizer Mahmoud Sultan, Co-organizer CyberSecurity Engineer GDG Cairo Organizer Kholoud Ahmed, Co-organizer Mohamed Mohamed, Co-organizer Eslam Kamal, Co-organizer Flutter Mobile App Developer | Coding Instructor | GDG Cairo Organizer | Head of Flutter at GDSC MTI (2023 - 2024) Ali Omar, Co-organizer Youssef Mamdouh, Co-organizer Mohamed Abo el Maaty Zaky, GDG Organizer 🧑🏻‍💻 Software Engineer 💙 Flutter Developer 🇪🇬 Flutter Egypt Organizer 🐦 Flutter Mena Organizer 📱 Mobile Enthusiast 💻 GDG 6 October Organizer 🌐 https://maaty.dev Yousef Bahnsawy, Ai Engineer AI Engineer, GDG on Campus Lead and GDG Cairo Organizer Nour Ashraf Hanafy, Business Developer Abdulrahman Samir, GDG Organizer RaniaM Hafez Photographer, Photographer Saadi Shamallakh, Full Stack developer Abdelrahman Salah, IOS Developer Ahmed Elnaggar, GDE Menna Ahmed, Cloud Engineer Cloud Engineer Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cairo-presents-build-ai-flutter-apps-with-google-genkit-workshop-with-ibrahim-fathelbab/.

Join us for an exciting and interactive workshop, "Build with AI: Cairo Workshop 2026," where you'll dive into the transformative world of Artificial Intelligence. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced developer, this workshop caters to all skill levels, providing hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools and techniques. Meet like-minded tech enthusiasts, gain valuable insights from industry experts, and work on real-world AI projects that make a difference. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your skills and network in the growing field of AI. Register now and be part of the AI revolution in Cairo! Agenda --- Speaker Nejmeddine BEN OUARRED - Google Developer Expert (Customer Success Manager) Nejmeddine BEN OUARRED is a Google Authorized Trainer and holds multiple active Google Cloud certifications. As a Cloud Architect, he specializes in Google Cloud, with a particular focus on GKE and Apigee, supporting companies across France and Europe in designing effective cloud migration strategies. A key part of Nejmeddine’s work involves leading Apigee implementations, helping organ… Hosted By Muhammed Nagy, Head of GDG Cairo Hi, I'm Mohamed, Head of GDG Cairo. Mona Abd Elaziz, Head of Design Zeinab Salem, WTM Cairo Leader Fady Ibrahim, GDG Organizer - Fady is a Google Developer Expert and Google Cloud Authorized Trainer with 12 Google Cloud certifications. - He is a Build with AI trainer and a mentor in the 2024 Solution Challenge of Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSC). He mentored teams from Germany and Singapore from the Top Global 100 Team. - Fady is the technical reviewer for the book Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Network Engineer Guide, published by Packt Publishing. - Fady has a one-hour video published on the official Google Cloud YouTube channel. Furthermore, he has a 10-video YouTube list about Google Cloud published by Cloud Institute, a Cloud Coaching Company based in Austin, Texas, USA. Ibrahim Fathelbab, Co-organizer Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support.Highly motivated and results-oriented Flutter developer with 4 years of experience in building and growing successful mobile applications. Proven ability to design, develop, and launch high-quality apps with a focus on user experience and performance. Skilled in managing all aspects of the app development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch support. El-hosary A, GDG Organizer Islam Hassan, Android developer Taghrida Mohamed, Co-organizer Mahmoud Sultan, Co-organizer CyberSecurity Engineer GDG Cairo Organizer Kholoud Ahmed, Co-organizer Computer Science Student Mohamed Mohamed, Co-organizer Eslam Kamal, Co-organizer Flutter Mobile App Developer | Coding Instructor | GDG Cairo Organizer | Head of Flutter at GDSC MTI (2023 - 2024) Ali Omar, Co-organizer Youssef Mamdouh, Co-organizer Mohamed Abo el Maaty Zaky, GDG Organizer 🧑🏻‍💻 Software Engineer 💙 Flutter Developer 🇪🇬 Flutter Egypt Organizer 🐦 Flutter Mena Organizer 📱 Mobile Enthusiast 💻 GDG 6 October Organizer 🌐 https://maaty.dev Yousef Bahnsawy, Ai Engineer AI Engineer, GDG on Campus Lead and GDG Cairo Organizer Nour Ashraf Hanafy, Business Developer Abdulrahman Samir, GDG Organizer RaniaM Hafez Photographer, Photographer Saadi Shamallakh, Full Stack developer Abdelrahman Salah, IOS Developer Ahmed Elnaggar, GDE Menna Ahmed, Cloud Engineer Cloud Engineer Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-cairo-presents-build-with-ai-cairo-edition/.

☕🎀 The Soft Café Circle 🎀☕ We’re so excited to welcome you to our very first gathering 💗 A cozy, girly hangout created for soft conversations, genuine connections, and calm, comforting vibes. This is the beginning of a little circle where we explore the most beautiful, cozy cafés around Cairo that truly match our energy ☕🌷 For our first meetup, we’ll be spending a relaxed afternoon at Tree House Cafe enjoying: ✨ Card games & board games ✨ Getting to know each other in a friendly, easygoing way ✨ A warm, welcoming space where you can just be yourself Coming alone? You’re not the only one most of us are meeting for the first time too 💗 📅 Saturday, 23 May 📍 Tree House Cafe, Dokki 🕰 Time: [4pm ] 🎀 Rules & Notes: • Girls only • Age range: 20–30 • This is our first meetup , kindness, respect, and soft energy always 💌 Once we reach around 20 members, a WhatsApp group will be created to stay connected, plan future meetups, and grow our cozy circle together. If you’ve been looking for a soft place to belong, meet new people, and discover lovely cafés… this is your sign 🌸 https://share.google/G50wEDT4rc8oaVYxS

Community Backyards Workshop Join us at the Ohio Herb Center in Gahanna to learn about sustainable home gardening. We can make small changes in our yards to make a BIG impact for a better environment and healthier waterways while saving money. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek and hosted by Ohio Herb Center. 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. Click here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/65f65aw (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) * Location: Ohio Herb Center, 110 Mill St, Gahanna, OH 43230 * Date and time: Sat, May 23, 2026 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM * Organizer: The Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org **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

The theme for May is Thriller. • The book we will be discussing is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. (determined by votes from April Book Club. Let me know if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the main library. Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group.

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Wild Ones Columbus Annual Native Plant Sale Saturday, May 23th, 2026 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (Eastern Time) Overbrook Presbyterian Church Parking Lot, 4131 N High St, Columbus, OH, 43214 Public Welcome, Family-Friendly Free Event A wide variety of native flowering plants, grasses, shrubs, and trees will be available from Wild Ones Columbus and local vendors Natives in Harmony, Leaves for Wildlife, and Scioto Gardens. Wild Ones will publish a list of plants that will be available at this year's sale closer to the event date. Be sure to stop by! Show up anytime!

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

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