Camping

Shake off the workday and train with a welcoming crew of internationals and Brussels professionals. This is a **co-hosted session with F45 Brussels**—fast, fun, and coached circuit training that fits perfectly after work. **Why join?** * **Community vibe:** Friendly, social, in English. * **All levels welcome:** Coaches demo every move with **easier/harder options**. * **Time-smart:** 45 minutes, full-body, high energy, great music. * **Accountability:** Come with the group, leave with endorphins. **What we’ll do** 1. Quick intro & warm-up 2. **F45 functional circuits** (intervals that mix strength + cardio) 3. Team finisher & cool down 4. Optional post workout social drink/rooftop bowling nearby (meet new people, not just new burpees 😉) **Good to know** * **When:** Thursday, **6:30 PM start** (arrive 6:15 to check in) * **Where:** **F45 Brussels** (Brussels Central Station) Galeries Ravenstein * **Bring:** Clean trainers, towel, water bottle * **Fitness level:** Beginner to advanced (scalable stations) * **Capacity:** Limited spots — **RSVP required** * **Price:** Free weekly tryout **Who this is for** * New in Brussels and want a **friendly fitness + social** routine * Busy professional looking for a **structured, coached** workout * Sunday Vacations regulars who want to stay fit for hikes & trips **About F45** F45 = **Functional 45-minute training**: coach-led, station-based, results-driven. Expect variety, technique tips, and a positive team atmosphere. See you on the floor at 6:30! 💪🏽✨ By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

**Ready to build a Java project — even if** you've never written a line of Java before? This special edition of our Java Bootcamp series brings together everything we've been building with you, and takes it one step further. Whether you're just starting out or already deep in your Java journey, this evening is packed with practical insight, live demos, and hands-on coding — all in one session. **What's happening on the night:** **🤖 Talk:** Building with AI Agents & MCP Discover how Model Context Protocol (MCP) and AI agents are changing the way developers build software. Learn how to leverage these tools to accelerate your own projects — even when you're still learning the language. **⚡ Live Demo: Zero to Java in 10 Minutes Watch a complete beginner build** a working Java project in under 10 minutes using vibe coding. No prior Java knowledge required — and yes, it's real. **📚 Bootcamp Update:** What We've Covered & Where We're Going A recap of what participants have been building in the Java Bootcamp, what's coming next, and how you can join the journey from beginner to production-grade Java developer. **💻 Mini Project:** Build Your Own Project Get hands-on! We'll set up a mini project so you can experience Java for yourself — in Java, guided by our mentors every step of the way. **Mentors will be on hand throughout the evening to guide you through the vibe coding process, answer questions, and help you get unstuck.** **To join the full Java Bootcamp, register here: [Java Bootcamp Form](https://forms.gle/kw7fgyvwzwxsZPFX7)** The bootcamp is self-paced, built on[ JetBrains Academy](https://academy.jetbrains.com/), and structured across Beginner and Advanced phases. Complete it and earn a certificate recognising your achievement. **Schedule — March 12th, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM (London Time)** **•** Welcome & Networking (6:30 PM - 7:00 PM) • Talk: Building with AI Agents & MCP (7:00 PM - 7:15 PM) • Live Demo: Zero to Java in 10 Minutes (7:15 PM - 7:25 PM) • Bootcamp Update (7:25 PM - 7:40 PM) • Mini Project: Build Your Own (7:40 PM - 8:40 PM) • Closing & Networking (8:40 PM - 9:00 PM) *** **Host:** **🎙️ Speaker Adriana Zencke Zimmermann \| Senior Software Engineer \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dricazenck/) \| [GitHub](https://github.com/dricazenck)** Founder & Director of Women Coding Community and Senior Software Engineer at Centric Software, with 15+ years specialising in backend systems, engineering leadership, and inclusion in tech. **🎙️ Speaker Sonali Goel \| Senior Software Engineer\, Tesco Tech \| [Website](https://sonaligoel.carrd.co/) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonali-goel-tech/)** Women in Tech Award 2025 Winner, with 15+ years in large-scale e-commerce, cloud-native Java, and Agentic AI. A core leader at WCC passionate about mentorship and open source. **🎙️ Speaker Dr\. Ying Liu \| Senior Data Scientist\, Magic AI \| [Website](http://www.yingliu.site/) \| [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yingliu-data/)** Senior Data Scientist at Magic AI with a Ph.D. in Physics. Ying builds human pose estimation models from RGB and sensor data, specializing in real-time 3D pose estimation and end-to-end ML architectures. Outside work, she builds AI agents and tinkers with robotics. **👩🏽‍💻 About Women Coding Community** Our mission is to empower women in tech through education, mentorship, community, and career support. We run workshops and events, connect members with industry mentors, and champion more inclusive practices across the industry. **[Website](http://womencodingcommunity.com/) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/103490940) \| [Slack](https://bit.ly/women_coding_community)** **👩🏽‍💻 Code of Conduct** All attendees are expected to follow our Code of Conduct: **[womencodingcommunity.com/code-of-conduct](https://womencodingcommunity.com/code-of-conduct)**

Socializing and Networking 🛜🆕 at PLUX on Thursday. Making new friends and drinking 🚰🎈🎉🚿🌊. Everybody Welocme, locals, expats or new 🆕 in town.

Would you like to be less overwhelmed by what’s going on around you? To learn a lifestyle practice that will help you feel more grounded, more in control? Mindfulness is a pathway to clarity, relaxation, self-guidance and happiness. It offers a map and instructions on how to navigate through life, with some universal truths, suggestions and practices. Join me and learn how to become more aware of how you are and use your body as a guiding radar for your wellbeing. This four hours workshop has been designed for beginners and as a refresher for more experienced meditators. You will have the opportunity to experience different mindfulness meditations and discover its benefits for your daily life. The fee for this workhop is donation based but it requires a registration in order to reserve a place. **registration**: gfitterer@googlemail.com * **Location :** The venue is at CHS Community Help Service, Nachtvlinderslaan 26, in 1000 Brussels * Please register soon, as there are only 8 seats available.

**Vous souhaitez améliorer votre prise de parole en public et développer vos compétences en communication et en leadership ?** 🎤✨ Le **Club des Orateurs**, club francophone de Toastmasters à **Bruxelles**, vous invite à une soirée d’apprentissage dans une ambiance conviviale et bienveillante. **Prochaine réunion** : 📅 **Deuxième jeudi du mois** 🕢 **19h30 – 21h30** 📍 **Villa François Gay (salle au 1er étage)** 📍 **326 Rue François Gay, 1150 Bruxelles** 🏡 Le bâtiment est situé dans un petit parc. 🚀 **Pourquoi participer ?** ✔️ **Améliorez votre aisance à l’oral** grâce à des discours préparés et des interventions improvisées. ✔️ **Développez votre leadership** en prenant des rôles lors des réunions. ✔️ **Rejoignez une communauté dynamique** qui vous aidera à progresser à votre rythme. ✔️ **Une expérience immersive** avec des retours bienveillants pour évoluer rapidement. 🔹 **Déroulement d’une réunion Toastmasters** : Nos réunions incluent des discours préparés, des exercices d’improvisation et des évaluations constructives pour vous aider à progresser. 👥 **Qui peut participer ?** Tout le monde est bienvenu, que vous soyez débutant ou expérimenté ! **L’entrée est gratuite pour les invités.** 📩 **Intéressé•e ?** Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant sur Meetup et rejoignez-nous pour une soirée enrichissante !

**Annual General Meeting & Fitting-Out Supper** **When?** Thursday 12 March 19:00 **Where?** La Brace, Rue Franklin 1, 1000 Brussels **Registration deadline:** 5 March All BISC members are warmly invited to this year's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 12 March at 19.00. As is tradition, the AGM will be followed by our annual fitting-out supper to officially start the sailing season. A separate email with all information and documents for the AGM will still be sent. **How to register:** Send an email to Sue Bird, [social@brusselsinternationalsailingclub.be](mailto:social@brusselsinternationalsailingclub.be)

**🃏 WHAT WE PLAY** We focus on **social interaction games** that are **fun, easy to learn, and engaging**. * **Thursdays** and Saturday nights are for **fun, social games** like Dixit, Coup, Skull, Codenames, Colt Express, Secret Hitler, Exploding Kittens, Bang and more!… Easy to learn, quick to laugh! * **Mondays** are for **deeper strategic games**, for players who love to plan and outthink opponents. Of course, these are just guidelines — you’re always welcome to bring and play whatever game you love! *** **🕖 SCHEDULE** * We meet at **7:00 PM**, with an **intro round at 7:15 PM**. * Arriving later? No problem! Just see a host — we’ll do our best to find you a seat. You might need to wait for a game to finish before joining the next one. **🎉 Good News! BFG is Free Again** As of July 1st, 2025, BFG is once again **free to join**, just like last year! The costs of running the group are now shared by the hosts. If you enjoy the events and want to say thanks, you're very welcome to **offer a drink (or two 😉) to a host** during the evening. A huge thank you to everyone who supported us financially earlier this year — you helped keep the group going, and we truly appreciate it. 🙏 *** **🎒 WHAT TO BRING** * Bring your favorite games and feel free to mention them in the comments. * If we’re meeting in a **park**, bring snacks, drinks, and something comfy to sit on — the grass can be damp even in summer! *** **☕ IF THE VENUE IS A CAFÉ** Please order **at least one drink** to support the venue, and pay directly at the bar. *** **✅ REGISTRATION** Please RSVP to help us plan for space and group sizes. **⌛ WAITLIST ETIQUETTE** * If you can’t make it, cancel **before 7 PM the day before** to give someone else a chance. * If you're **on the waitlist** and your plans change, cancel your RSVP so others aren't left hanging. *** **🤝 WANT TO HOST?** Interested in becoming a host or helping out? Let us know — we’d love to have you on board! *** **💬 FEEDBACK WELCOME** Suggestions or ideas? Drop us a message anytime — we’re always looking to make BFG even better. *** ### **🌟 Let’s have fun, discover great** **games, and build and make new friends** *** ###

We do cycles of 4-6 weeks, with a progressive intensity, and the last session is lighter. Program: 15’ warm up **To be defined** Cool down to get back to the starting point… or more S=All out sprint RF = Run fast, at MAS (Maximum aerobic speed) CF = Run comfortably fast (1h threshold) J = Jog, recuperation Notes: It should take about one hour in total, as the cool down will end when we reach back to the meeting point. It's NOT required to have an activity tracker or smart watch to be able to follow the program, as I'll be giving signals with a whistle. For the "run" part, you can follow your own pace and we'll be regrouping in the "jog" part. Intervals training is not advised for total beginners. To have an idea, the average pace at the warm up is around 5'45"/km-6'/km so this pace should feel very comfortable ***Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability.*** By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves.

This is it—the ultimate window to see the Northern Lights at their strongest in our lifetime. The Sun is reaching the peak of its 11-year cycle, and 2026 will be the final year of maximum activity before the auroras fade in intensity for a decade. We’re heading to Iceland during the new moon and spring equinox (March 17–23, 2026)—a cosmic alignment that gives us the highest possible chance of seeing the skies explode with color. 🌌 What’s included 6 days/5 nights around Reykjavík & the South Coast 2–3 guided aurora-chasing nights (weather permitting) Visits to waterfalls, glaciers, black-sand beaches & the Golden Circle Time to relax in Iceland’s hot springs and enjoy its culture 💡 Why this trip matters Miss this moment and you may need to wait until the late 2030s for conditions this good again. 🌍 For who? Travelers who love nature, adventure, and international company. Expect a mix of hikes, sightseeing, and cozy evenings under the stars. ⚠️ Limited spots—reserve early to secure your chance at witnessing the Northern Lights at their peak.

_IMPORTANT: To RSVP you will also need to register as a member [here.](https://www.sundayvacations.com/membership)_ Join Sunday Vacations for a cozy Saturday brunch at **Aksum Coffee House**, one of Brussels’ most beautiful cafés, where rich Ethiopian coffee, fresh Moroccan crêpes, and vibrant international vibes meet in perfect harmony. This is more than just brunch, it’s a relaxed way to start your weekend, meet new people, and enjoy a soulful spot full of stories and flavors. ### 📍 Where? **Aksum Coffee House – Galeries Sainte Hubert (Just a few steps from Grand Place) ### 🕚 When? **Saturday at 11:30 AM** Come hungry, curious, and ready to mingle! ### 🍽️ What’s on the menu? ☕ Fresh-roasted Ethiopian coffee 🥞 Moroccan-style crêpes & artisan pastries 🥚 Tasty brunch dishes (vegetarian options too) 🧾 Everyone pays their own order at the counter. ### 👋 Who’s joining? Expect a mix of international professionals, friendly locals, and Sunday Vacations regulars. Solo? New in town? Come anyway, this is the perfect place to connect. --- 🧡 **Limited spots** – RSVP early to secure your place at the table. By joining this event, you agree to the Sunday Vacations [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sundayvacations.com/terms), [Privacy Policy](https://www.sundayvacations.com/privacy) & [Code of Conduct](https://www.sundayvacations.com/code)

The **Women Coding Community (WCC)** is wrapping up our Java Bootcamp with a high-energy, hands-on **Hack Hour** session. This isn't just a presentation—it's a community coding event where we build the future of our platform together. ***The Theme: "Building for the Community"*** We are focusing on practical Java projects that directly support the **Women Coding Community** mission. Whether you are a beginner focusing on core Java or an intermediate developer ready for Spring Boot, we have a path for you. **Choose your approach:** **\- The Architect:** Come with a specific Java project idea and your initial implementation. Use this time to pair program with mentors to solve bugs or add features. **\- The Catalyst:** Just bring an idea! Connect with other attendees, form a team on the spot, and spend the evening coding a prototype with us. ***AI Tools in Practice: Accelerate Your Java Development*** We'll explore how AI assistants can accelerate your Java learning and development. Live demos and discussion covering: • Using Claude, ChatGPT, and JetBrains AI for debugging and code generation. • Best practices for prompting AI when learning a new language • What to trust, what to verify, and when to push back on AI suggestions • Comparing tool strengths for different Java use case ***Project Inspiration*** All ideas are centered around enhancing the **WCC ecosystem**. Pick a level that challenges you: **Basic: Core Java & CLI Tools** * **WCC Member Directory:** Build a command-line tool to manage member profiles (name, skills, location) using Java Collections and File I/O. * **Event Attendance Tracker:** Create a system to track check-ins for our meetups using the Java Date/Time API. * **Coding Challenge Generator:** Develop a tool that randomly selects Java exercises for members to practice. **Intermediate: Spring Boot & APIs** * **WCC Job Board:** Create a REST API for members to post and filter tech opportunities. * **Community Blog Platform:** Build a backend that supports Markdown posts and author profiles for WCC contributors. * **Skill-Tracking Dashboard:** Develop a platform for members to track their learning journey and visualize progress. *Mentors will be on hand throughout the evening to guide you through the vibe coding process, answer questions, and help you get unstuck.* **To join register here: [Java Bootcamp Form](https://forms.gle/kw7fgyvwzwxsZPFX7)** **Schedule — March 13th, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (London Time)** **•** **AI Tools Showcase:** Claude vs. ChatGPT vs. JetBrains AI. (6:00 PM - 6:30 PM) • **HACK HOUR:** Pair programming and feature building with mentors. (6:30PM - 8:40PM) • **Closing & Networking** (8:40 PM - 9:00 PM) **Host:** **🎙️ Speaker Adriana Zencke Zimmermann \| Senior Software Engineer \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dricazenck/) \| [GitHub](https://github.com/dricazenck)** Founder & Director of Women Coding Community and Senior Software Engineer at Centric Software, with 15+ years specialising in backend systems, engineering leadership, and inclusion in tech. **🎙️ Speaker Sonali Goel \| Senior Software Engineer\, Tesco Tech \| [Website](https://sonaligoel.carrd.co/) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonali-goel-tech/)** Women in Tech Award 2025 Winner, with 15+ years in large-scale e-commerce, cloud-native Java, and Agentic AI. A core leader at WCC passionate about mentorship and open source. **🎙️ Speaker Dr\. Ying Liu \| Senior Data Scientist\, Magic AI \| [Website](http://www.yingliu.site/) \| [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yingliu-data/)** Senior Data Scientist at Magic AI with a Ph.D. in Physics. Ying builds human pose estimation models from RGB and sensor data, specializing in real-time 3D pose estimation and end-to-end ML architectures. Outside work, she builds AI agents and tinkers with robotics. **👩🏽‍💻 About Women Coding Community** Our mission is to empower women in tech through education, mentorship, community, and career support. We run workshops and events, connect members with industry mentors, and champion more inclusive practices across the industry. **[Website](http://womencodingcommunity.com/) \| [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/103490940) \| [Slack](https://bit.ly/women_coding_community)** **👩🏽‍💻 Code of Conduct** All attendees are expected to follow our Code of Conduct: **[womencodingcommunity.com/code-of-conduct](https://womencodingcommunity.com/code-of-conduct)**

## 🌍 About the experience This Sunday we travel to the Belgian coast to explore one of the most fascinating historical sites in Belgium: **Atlantikwall Raversyde**. Hidden in the dunes near **Ostend**, this open-air museum preserves more than **60 bunkers, trenches and underground passages** from the German Atlantic Wall built during **World War II**. Unlike many other sites, the complex remained buried in sand after the war, which helped preserve it almost intact. Walking through the trenches and bunkers gives a powerful glimpse into the reality of the coastal defenses of the time. After the visit, we will enjoy a **relaxing walk along the North Sea coast**, explore the dunes, and finish the afternoon with **drinks or food in Ostend**. As always with Sunday Vacations, the idea is simple: **discover places, meet interesting people, and enjoy the moment together.** --- ## 🗺️ Plan for the day • Meet at **Brussels central train station and travel to Oostende** • Coastal tram to Raversyde • Visit of **Atlantikwall Raversyde museum** • Walk through the dunes and along the beach • Optional food or drinks in Ostend before returning Walking distance: ~6–8 km (easy pace) --- ## 🎟️ Entrance Museum ticket: approx **€10** --- ## 🚆 Getting there Train from **Brussels → Ostend** (about 1h15). Many participants usually take the same train from Brussels. Exact suggestions will be posted in the comments closer to the event. --- ## 👥 Who is this event for? Sunday Vacations events bring together **international professionals, expats and curious locals** who enjoy discovering places and meeting new people in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Expect a welcoming and open-minded group 🌍 --- ## 💛 Participation As a reminder, participation requires either the **organizing fee** or a **membership**: 🔹 **Explorer members** → €5 organizing fee 🔹 **Voyager & Ambassador members** → organizing fee included 🔹 **Not yet a member?** → please complete the **€5 yearly membership** 👉 Your **first activity is free**, so no organizing fee once you join. Membership helps us run the community, ensure safety and organize quality events. --- ## ⚠️ Important • Please register only if you really plan to attend. • Bring comfortable shoes (part of the visit is outdoors). • Weather on the coast can change quickly — bring a jacket. --- ## 🌟 About Sunday Vacations **Sunday Vacations** is an international community bringing together global professionals through shared adventures. Our motto: **Living the moment.**

Karin's hike for Sunday has a long waitlist, so I am organizing an alternative hike in Limburg. We will start from Kiewit and walk towards Bokrijk, which is known for its open air museum about the lifestyle of 19th century people. However, we will only walk through the part that doesn't require an entrance ticket. The area features a lot of walking trails in a peaceful environment. At the end of the walk we will pass by the former mining area of Winterslag. The trail ends in Genk, where we will look for an open bar. As the number of participants is limited, it is important that you manage your registration responsibly: only sign up if you really intend to come and cancel as soon as you know you can’t (this also goes for people on the waiting list!). We will try to keep close to an average speed of about 5 km/h. We will walk mainly on unpaved roads. I’ve not tested this track beforehand, so it’s possible that there are some mistakes in the planning. ●●You can find the track here: https://loc.wiki/u/8622751?wa=uc ●●Meeting point: We meet at 10h06 in Kiewit. From Brussels you have a direct train (IC 1507 direction Genk). If you start from Brussels-Central, the train leaves at 8h41. I am coming from Ghent, so I will be on that train already. You can find me in the first car of the train. ●● Train tickets: Return ticket Brussels-Genk should be fine. ●● Back to Brussels: In Genk there is one direct train per hour back to Brussels. ●● Specifics: Distance: ca 25km Elevation gain: 100 Net walking time: ca 5-6h Weather forecast: Looks ok for the moment. In the unlikely case of too bad weather, we may cancel a hike, even few hours before the event. If this must happen, we will of course update the Meetup website and send out an email to those registered. So it is important to have access to either the meetup website or your emails. ●● What to bring: * Comfortable hiking clothes &shoes * rain gear (just in case) * water + food for the breaks * sun cream * Compeed for blisters * some small money for drinks ●● Basic rules: Please RSVP only if you really intend to come. And if your plans change, update your RSVP asap, even hours before the walk. This is basic courtesy towards others. Repeated late cancellations are not well considered (at all). No-shows are even worse. Do not show up for a hike unless you are on the “going” list. People with the "go-with-the-flow" label are only moved from the waitlist 24 hours before the hike. I give you the label "go-with-the-flow" if you did not show up in one of my hikes before, or if you canceled for one of these hikes less than 24 hours in advance without a good reason. ●● Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability: You are responsible for yourself and should be fit enough if you want to take part. As the participation in the events is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves. By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organisers from any responsibility and liability. Moreover, the organisers aren't tour operators, so they don't feel obliged to answer to every text message or email!

This Sunday, we'll be off for a loop from Aywaille, with a little stop at a brewery on the way. We start from Aywaille going south and up into the hills. The path will first take us first through some forest before the landscape opens up and we will pass fields and some villages on the way. After about two hours, we will reach the manor house where the Misery Beer Co is located (https://www.miserybeerco.be). If they are nice people and let us have our sandwiches there, we will use this as our lunch break spot (possibility to buy drinks). We continue the hike through Harze with its impressive chateau before finally descending back into Aywaille, where we will find a bar for our final drink. Please note that trains back are only every two hours. I expect to be in Aywaille in time for the 17.23 train, but no guarantee, and I will not break into a run to make that train. So please do not sign up if you need to be back at a specific time, or unless you are prepared to break from the group and rush ahead by yourself. As the number of participants is limited, it is important that you manage your registration responsibly: only sign up if you really intend to come and cancel as soon as you know you can’t (this also goes for people on the waiting list!). We will try to keep close to an average speed of about 4.5 km/h. We will walk mainly on unpaved roads. I’ve not tested this track beforehand, so it’s possible that there are some mistakes in the planning (i.e. it may become longer ;-). ●●You can find the gpx track here: **Wikilocs:** https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/wanderung-nach-misery-beer-company-253702625 **Komoot**: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/tour/2514955856?share_token=arLuZVmmkV1kzNNR4jHlohEhhLyVIZLLMwMTJdx5tlq9DFJOTB&ref=wtd ●●Meeting point: We meet at 8h45 in the main hall of Gare Central, in front of Starbucks. Our train (IC507 to Eupen) leaves at 9.01. We change train in Liege (10.07 IC5310 to Troisviege) and arrive in Aywaille at 10.40. ●● Train tickets: BXL-Aywaille 14.90€/9.00€ with train+ each way ●● Back to Brussels: From Aywaille there are trains only every two hours. I will aim to get the one at 17.23, but no guarantees! The next would be 19.23. ●● Specifics: Distance: ca 25 km Elevation gain: around 500m Net walking time: ca 6 h Weather forecast: undecided, but not horrible In the unlikely case of too bad weather, we may cancel a hike, even few hours before the event. If this must happen, we will of course update the Meetup website and send out an email to those registered. So it is important to have access to either the Meetup.com website and/or your emails. ●● What to bring: * Comfortable hiking clothes &shoes * rain gear (just in case) * water and drink for the breaks * Compeed for blisters * some small money for drinks ●● Basic rules: Please RSVP only if you really intend to come. And if your plans change, update your RSVP asap, even hours before the walk. This is basic courtesy towards others. Repeated late cancellations are not well considered (at all). No-shows are even worse. Do not show up for a hike unless you are on the “going” list. ●● Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability: You are responsible for yourself and should be fit enough if you want to take part. As the participation in the events is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join, it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves. By signing up for this event, you agree to release the organisers from any responsibility and liability.

**Our March pick is *God of the Woods* by Liz Moore.** **This month’s novel is an award-winning literary mystery that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It explores women’s voices and relationships while delivering an exciting, eerie, and deeply suspenseful story. The book is 576 pages in print or 14 hours and 35 minutes on audiobook.** Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop is an intensive training course designed to quickly teach participants the fundamentals and intermediate skills needed to use Adobe Photoshop effectively. This workshop condenses the material covered in introductory and intermediate Photoshop courses into a shorter, information-packed weekend. Participants will learn to navigate the Photoshop workspace, use tools for retouching and color correction, and manipulate layers and adjustment layers. The workshop also emphasizes practical, hands-on experience with real-world image editing and compositing projects. The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop will follow the outline below: I. Introduction to Photoshop * **A. Understanding the Photoshop Interface:** Exploring the workspace, panels, tools, and options bar. * **B. Basic Image Concepts:** Pixels, resolution, image sizing, cropping, and color models (RGB vs. CMYK). * **C. Non-Destructive Editing Principles:** Why it's important and how to maintain flexibility. II. Working with selections * **A. Selection Tools:** Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand, Quick Selection, and Pen tool. * **B. Refining Selections:** Using Select and Mask, feathering, and other techniques for precise edges. * **C. Creating and Managing Masks:** Layer masks for non-destructive selections and image blending. III. Layers and Adjustments * **A. Understanding and Managing Layers:** Creating, selecting, moving, grouping, and organizing layers. * **B. Blending Modes:** Exploring different ways layers interact and create visual effects. * **C. Adjustment Layers:** Non-destructive color and tonal adjustments (e.g., Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation). IV. Photo retouching and manipulation * **A. Healing Tools:** Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush, and Patch Tool for removing blemishes and unwanted elements. * **B. Clone Stamp Tool:** Duplicating and removing areas within an image for seamless repairs. * **C. Content-Aware Tools:** Using features like Content-Aware Fill and Content-Aware Move for intelligent object removal and image manipulation. V. Advanced techniques * **A. Smart Objects:** Working with Smart Objects for non-destructive transformations and advanced compositions. * **B. Filters and Effects:** Exploring the Filter Gallery and applying various effects to images and layers. * **C. Combining Images:** Compositing and blending multiple images seamlessly using selections, masks, and adjustment layers. VI. Output and workflow * **A. Saving for Web and Print:** Understanding image resolution, file formats, and optimization for different output needs. * **B. Exporting and Sharing Images:** Various methods for exporting and sharing your Photoshop creations. * **C. Workflow Tips and Best Practices:** Efficient techniques and organizational strategies for working in Photoshop. VII. Wrap-up and Q&A * **A. Review of Key Concepts:** Brief recap of the main topics covered during the workshop. * **B. Open Discussion and Questions:** Answering participants' questions and providing further guidance. * **C. Next Steps and Resources:** Suggesting additional resources for continued learning and exploration. The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop is a hands-on workshop, and example files and materials are made available to each participant. Each participant is required to have a computer available for use throughout the workshop. That computer must be adequately configured to run the latest version of Photoshop available in Adobe's Creative Cloud software suite (as of the time of this document, that version is Photoshop 2025 (Version 26.9.0)). Photoshop should be installed and operational before the commencement of the workshop. Please don't hesitate to contact me PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP to confirm that you are indeed prepared for doing the hands-on exercises during the workshop. GENERAL WORKSHOP NOTES: There is a fee of $400 per person associated with this workshop. The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop comprises two sessions (Session 01, November 22nd, and Session 02, November 23rd). The $400 fee covers participation in both sessions. For scheduling purposes, on Meetup.com, the workshop is broken up into two (2) sessions. You only need to sign up for Session 01 (November 22nd), you will AUTOMATICALLY be signed up for Session 02 (November 23rd). The following registration/cancellation policy is in place for this workshop: * The workshop fee is due upon signing up for the event. You will be contacted shortly after you register to make arrangements for processing payment. * Participant cancellations before October 22nd are entitled to a FULL refund of the workshop fee. Participant cancellations after October 22nd, but before November 15th, are entitled to a 50% refund of the workshop fee. Participant who cancel **after November 15th** will not be entitled to a refund of their workshop fee. A continental breakfast is available each morning of the workshop (Session 01, November 22nd, Session 02, November 23rd) and includes coffee, tea, juice, and water. Lunch time (12:00 - 1:00 p.m.) features a catered lunch on each day of the workshop (Session 01, November 22nd, Session 02, November 23rd) and includes a selection of beverages such as coffee, iced tea, soda, and sports drinks.

The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop is an intensive training course designed to quickly teach participants the fundamentals and intermediate skills needed to use Adobe Photoshop effectively. This workshop condenses the material covered in introductory and intermediate Photoshop courses into a shorter, information-packed weekend. Participants will learn to navigate the Photoshop workspace, use tools for retouching and color correction, and manipulate layers and adjustment layers. The workshop also emphasizes practical, hands-on experience with real-world image editing and compositing projects. The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop will follow the outline below: I. Introduction to Photoshop * **A. Understanding the Photoshop Interface:** Exploring the workspace, panels, tools, and options bar. * **B. Basic Image Concepts:** Pixels, resolution, image sizing, cropping, and color models (RGB vs. CMYK). * **C. Non-Destructive Editing Principles:** Why it's important and how to maintain flexibility. II. Working with selections * **A. Selection Tools:** Marquee, Lasso, Magic Wand, Quick Selection, and Pen tool. * **B. Refining Selections:** Using Select and Mask, feathering, and other techniques for precise edges. * **C. Creating and Managing Masks:** Layer masks for non-destructive selections and image blending. III. Layers and Adjustments * **A. Understanding and Managing Layers:** Creating, selecting, moving, grouping, and organizing layers. * **B. Blending Modes:** Exploring different ways layers interact and create visual effects. * **C. Adjustment Layers:** Non-destructive color and tonal adjustments (e.g., Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation). IV. Photo retouching and manipulation * **A. Healing Tools:** Spot Healing Brush, Healing Brush, and Patch Tool for removing blemishes and unwanted elements. * **B. Clone Stamp Tool:** Duplicating and removing areas within an image for seamless repairs. * **C. Content-Aware Tools:** Using features like Content-Aware Fill and Content-Aware Move for intelligent object removal and image manipulation. V. Advanced techniques * **A. Smart Objects:** Working with Smart Objects for non-destructive transformations and advanced compositions. * **B. Filters and Effects:** Exploring the Filter Gallery and applying various effects to images and layers. * **C. Combining Images:** Compositing and blending multiple images seamlessly using selections, masks, and adjustment layers. VI. Output and workflow * **A. Saving for Web and Print:** Understanding image resolution, file formats, and optimization for different output needs. * **B. Exporting and Sharing Images:** Various methods for exporting and sharing your Photoshop creations. * **C. Workflow Tips and Best Practices:** Efficient techniques and organizational strategies for working in Photoshop. VII. Wrap-up and Q&A * **A. Review of Key Concepts:** Brief recap of the main topics covered during the workshop. * **B. Open Discussion and Questions:** Answering participants' questions and providing further guidance. * **C. Next Steps and Resources:** Suggesting additional resources for continued learning and exploration. The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop is a hands-on workshop, and example files and materials are made available to each participant. Each participant is required to have a computer available for use throughout the workshop. That computer must be adequately configured to run the latest version of Photoshop available in Adobe's Creative Cloud software suite (as of the time of this document, that version is Photoshop 2025 (Version 26.9.0)). Photoshop should be installed and operational before the commencement of the workshop. Please don't hesitate to contact me PRIOR TO THE WORKSHOP to confirm that you are indeed prepared for doing the hands-on exercises during the workshop. GENERAL WORKSHOP NOTES: There is a fee of $400 per person associated with this workshop. The Photoshop Bootcamp workshop comprises two sessions (Session 01, November 22nd, and Session 02, November 23rd). The $400 fee covers participation in both sessions. For scheduling purposes, on Meetup.com, the workshop is broken up into two (2) sessions. You only need to sign up for Session 01 (November 22nd), you will AUTOMATICALLY be signed up for Session 02 (November 23rd). The following registration/cancellation policy is in place for this workshop: * The workshop fee is due upon signing up for the event. You will be contacted shortly after you register to make arrangements for processing payment. * Participant cancellations before October 22nd are entitled to a FULL refund of the workshop fee. Participant cancellations after October 22nd, but before November 15th, are entitled to a 50% refund of the workshop fee. Participant who cancel **after November 15th** will not be entitled to a refund of their workshop fee. A continental breakfast is available each morning of the workshop (Session 01, November 22nd, Session 02, November 23rd) and includes coffee, tea, juice, and water. Lunch time (12:00 - 1:00 p.m.) features a catered lunch on each day of the workshop (Session 01, November 22nd, Session 02, November 23rd) and includes a selection of beverages such as coffee, iced tea, soda, and sports drinks.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!