Nature Appreciation

Explore the topic of life beyond earth with a discussion organised by Centre Of the Cell at QMUL and hosted by ("world leading") scientist Prof Fran Balkwill OBE, with colleagues Dr Edward Gillen and Dr Neil McCarthy to add their insight into the possibility of other life and habitable planets in our cosmos. There will be time for questions after the talk. **Age limit: 14+ years.** SIGN UP HERE TO ENSURE ENTRY (walk-ins on the evening may be ok if capacity): [https://www.centreofthecell.org/product/february-life-beyond-earth-exoplanets-extremophiles/](https://www.centreofthecell.org/product/february-life-beyond-earth-exoplanets-extremophiles/) This free to attend event is arranged by Centre of the Cell, running events at Queer Mary University of London, and this group has been explicitly invited by the organisers through GoStargazing. **Walk ins will be accepted dependent on capacity, advanced booking is recommended.** UPDATE: This event is in their Neuron Pod, the structure attached to the Blizard Institute. Enter via reception (see below) and the team will show you through. The space is accessible, its flat access with one lift to move between floors. There is an accessible toilet on the both ground and 1st floor for ease. (reception is in the left building through double doors with an accessible ramp once you're in the main front square, there is a bus stop right outside the main entrance). Help finding the Centre of the Cell: [centreofthecell.org/visit/where-to-find-us/](https://www.centreofthecell.org/visit/where-to-find-us/)

## Details This course is designed for beginners who have completed an A1 course or are familiar with the present tense and the *pretérito perfecto* tense. **Class information** * **Wednesday 7th January 2026 - 15th April 2026.** * **13:00 PM - 14:00 PM** * **15 hours over 15 weeks** * For this course we'll use the book **Aula Plus 2 ( Editorial Difusión)** * All our Online Spanish language lessons take place via **Zoom**. This tool allows the teacher and the students to share screens, cover grammar points on the white board, complete listening tasks, share files and practice conversation with classmates in break-out rooms. * **Price: £200** (Payment method is bank transfer. Once you enrol we’ll send you an invoice). * Please email irene@aprendeahoraconirene.co.uk to enrol or if you need more information. **Communication Goals** * Talking about habits * Talking about time duration * Talking about difficulty * Making suggestions * Describing feelings * Talking about a person’s life (biography) * Talking about past experiences * Describing people * Expressing preferences * Describing a house * Comparing, locating and describing objects **Grammar Points** * Present tense: regular and irregular verbs * Reflexive verbs * *Desde/desde hace* * Talking about the past using the *pretérito indefinido* tense (regular and some irregular forms) * Past time markers: *hace un año, la semana pasada,* etc. * Prepositions of time: desde, hasta, durante… * Prepositions of place : *debajo de, encima de, detrás de, delante de*, etc. * *Este, ese, aquel* * *El/la/los/las + que + verb* * Talking about relationships: *llevarse bien/mal con* and *caer bien/ mal* * Comparatives * Possessive pronouns : *el mío/la mía*, etc. * The verbs *ser* and *estar* * The verbs *gustar, encantar* and *preferir* * The verbs *costar* and *sentirse* * The verbs *ir* and *irse* * The verbs *ser, tener, parecerse* and *llevar* * *Empezar and empezar a + infinitive* **Vocabulary** * Adjectives to express feelings: *ridículo/a, seguro/a, inseguro/a, frustrado/a, bien/mal...* * Biographical details * Cinema * Adjectives to describe physical appearance * Nouns denoting personal relationships * Types of houses * Parts of the house * Furniture and objects

From now on, each Wednesday, we will begin to dive into the great life and works of Adi Shankaracharya. We will begin this series by showing a documentary about His life and works. followed by tea and time to share thoughts. The you tube documentary is in English and some parts are subtitled in English.

Meet world-leading researchers from universities and science institutions across the UK at the Royal Society’s public events of cutting-edge science. Tonight's lecture is **"This is not the AI we were promised"** as the **Royal Society Michael Faraday Prize Lecture** 2026 delivered by **Professor Michael John Wooldridge**. **This livestream event is free to join and requires prior registration with the Royal Society at the web address below.** **[https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/02/faraday-prize-lecture/](https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/02/faraday-prize-lecture/)** **SUMMARY** Contemporary AI systems like ChatGPT are remarkable. They appear to be confident, articulate experts that can turn their hand to anything we might care to ask them about. It is easy to be dazzled and to conclude that the long-held dream of truly intelligent machines is no longer a dream but a practical reality. Yet these new AI behemoths present a conundrum. While on the one hand, they truly are remarkable, they manifestly fail many of the most basic tests of rational intelligence. For one thing, they simply don't know, and can't tell, what is true and what isn't. They are hopelessly inconsistent; they have no sense of their limits of their knowledge or abilities; they are comically suggestible; and they are easily steered to flights of surrealistic fantasy. AI researchers are busy inventing a completely new field of experimental AI to try to get to grips with these bizarre new artefacts. This is all the more surprising because it is so far removed from popular expectations of what AI would be like: remorselessly logical. So what are we to make of it all? How should we think about the new AI? In his talk, Professor Michael John Wooldridge will look at how the new AI works and why, as a consequence, it exhibits these weird, frustrating, fascinating behaviours. He will show just how far the new AI is from classical expectations and talk about the next frontiers for AI - and how far we are from the dream. **SPEAKER** Michael Wooldridge is the Ashall Professor of the Foundations of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Oxford. He has been an AI researcher for more than 30 years and is one of the founders of the field of multi-agent systems. He is a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Association for the Advancement of AI (AAAI) and is currently co-editor in chief of “Artificial Intelligence” journal. He has received the Lovelace medal from the British Computer Society (2020), the Patrick Henry Winston Outstanding Educator Award from the Association for Advancement of AI (2021), and the Distinguished Service Award from the European Association for AI (2023). In 2023 he was appointed specialist advisor to the House of Lords inquiry on Large Language Models. He has published two popular science introductions to AI: the Ladybird Expert Guide to AI (2018), and The Road to Conscious Machines (2020). He presented the 2023 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, broadcast by BBC TV over December 2023, in the 198th year of the series. ## Attending the event * The event is free to join, please register via [register via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/royal-society-milner-award-lecture-2025-professor-iryna-gurevych-tickets-1341789300919?aff=oddtdtcreator) * Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually ### Attending online * The lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society * **Please note** that as this is a free event, we anticipate that not everyone who reserves tickets will use them and we therefore make more tickets available than there are seats. You are highly unlikely to be refused entry but please be aware that admission is on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed. Please arrive early to secure a seat * This event is free to join. Pre-bookable [tickets are available on Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/this-is-not-the-ai-we-were-promised-tickets-1978114900918?aff=oddtdtcreator) * Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually * Doors will open at 6pm Find [travel and accessibility information](https://royalsociety.org/about-us/contact-us/carlton-house-terrace-london/) on our website. Please [email us](mailto:public.engagement@royalsociety.org) with any access requirements or questions. * You can take part in the live Q&A via Slido * This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event For all enquiries, please contact [awards@royalsociety.org](mailto:awards@royalsociety.org).

[BOOK HERE](https://www.benita-yoga.com/gong-bath-at-the-boathouse-in-barking) spaces are limited !!! Don’t predict anything that can happen in the gong bath, please bring an open mind with no expectations. This is an adventure. Just relax and drift off where the sound takes you 🙂 What to expect in Gong Bath? You simply submerge in the sounds, in the ocean of sounds. All you do is lie comfortably on a mat, close your eyes and slow your breath. Just like during the relaxation after our Yoga class. You prepare yourself to become the receiver of sound. In the place of stillness you become more open and aware of each sound that comes in. Then I create the soundtrack… Your mind, body and soul is bathed with the tones of the Gongs and other instruments. The aim is to go into a deep state of relaxation, taking you to a space of neutrality, a space of bliss where the body’s natural healing process begins… It’s all about opening the passage of energy flow throughout the body to make you healthy and happy. When you awaken, you are ready to come back to the outer world, revived, calm and full of energy. What’s behind this technology of sound vibrations? Sound has been used in various cultures for thousands of years to move us from a place of imbalance to a place of balance. The sound vibrations, confirmed by scientific research help return your body to a natural state of harmony. Sound helps to facilitate shifts in our brainwave state. Our fluctuating brainwaves are synchronised with a stable frequency which the brain can attune to. By using rhythm and frequency it becomes possible to down-shift our normal beta state (normal waking consciousness) to alpha (relaxed consciousness), and even reach theta (meditative state) and delta (sleep; where internal healing can occur). We experience our brainwave balancing to clear the mind, release stress from the nervous system and allow us to feel a deeper inner sense of peace, balance and vitality.

We're now meeting each month at the Bear in Camberwell, where great food and drink options are available, and we can get some time on their decks. Come along with a bunch of vinyl you'd like to play and share with us. Theme is Winter Olympics ... interpret as you will but suggestions include: - Artic Monkeys Skate Bush Pink Froid Coldplay (actually please don't bring along) The Clash - London Curling Bron(ski) Beat Grab a drink, enjoy some records. And don't forget to RSVP!

[BOOK HERE](https://www.benita-yoga.com/schedule) A slower paced embodied yoga practice helping you to slow down, take a deeper breath and tune in a little more. You’ll be invited to find your own rhythm of the breath and connect with your inner-self via fluid and mindful movements. Eventually arriving to stillness, letting go of any tension to experience a deep relaxation. The busy thinking mind will slow down, nervous system will calm and your body will relax completely. This class is suitable for beginners. Please bring a mat. ###### Prices: – single class – £12 – 3 classpack – access to any weekly class, 30 days expiry from purchase date – \*£33 – 6 classpack – access to any weekly class, 60 days expiry from purchase date – \*£68 \*special events, like courses, Gong Baths, workshops etc not included Abut the venue: [The Wilds](https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Wilds+at+Barking+Riverside/@51.5253889,0.1243979,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x47d8a55bdd4a67bf:0xa9e132218dc5017b!8m2!3d51.5253889!4d0.1243979!16s%2Fg%2F11pxkgqys4?entry=ttu) is the community and ecology centre in Barking Riverside. Well connected with bike paths, public transport, buses or London Overground. Parking is also available.

**Spring is on its way** — and it’s the perfect time to slow down and see differently 🌿 Join us for a relaxed, guided photo walk through **St James’s Park**, exploring the lake, gardens and seasonal details as they begin to shift. Along the way, you’ll receive simple, practical guidance to instantly improve your photos. **All levels welcome \| Phone or Camera** Expect: 📸 Practical photography tips 🌿 A calm, beginner-friendly pace 👥 Good energy & creative company 🎁 A free nature photography guide If you want a refreshing way to spend your weekend — and meet like-minded people — come walk with us :) Spots are limited to keep the group intentional.

**London's first multi-sensory aerial relaxation experience with live ambient music, gongs, aromatherapy and aerial hammocks. An Oasis of Calm in our Busy Lives.** # Aerial Relaxation Pods - Sound Journey Gong Bath Meditation in Hammocks ### **ABOUT AERIAL RELAXATION PODS™** London's first **multi-sensory aerial relaxation experience with a short guided meditation, live ambient music: gongs, crystal bowls, vocals, other live instruments and nurturing electronica, aromatherapy eye pillows and scents, sky-blue silky aerial hammocks** to soothe your stresses away and lift your spirit! **A very unique, next level sound journey experience!** *"An oasis of calm in our busy lives."* Londoners stressed out by their busy lives can now turn to Aerial Relaxation Pods™ to transform their tension to calm, and restore the body’s natural healing wisdom. ***(please confirm all dates / times / venue via eventbrite. Not all dates are correct on meetup!)*** **PLEASE NOTE:** Please book via eventbrite. There are very limited spaces, and no sales on the door. an RSVP here on meetup is not a ticket! **For more information and bookings:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aerial-relaxation-pods-sound-journey-gong-bath-meditation-in-hammocks-tickets-84883457707?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aerial-relaxation-pods-sound-journey-gong-bath-meditation-in-hammocks-tickets-84883457707?aff=oddtdtcreator) *“Our pods are here to help Londoners relax. As a former teacher myself, I am fully aware of just how busy and stressed a lot of people are. And most of us just don't find the time to unwind. Our **Aerial Relaxation Pods** are going to help you alleviate stress, providing time & space to allow your body to deeply rest, harmonising your nervous system. You’ll feel rejuvenated and refreshed after one session.” -* Seth Newman, co-founder of Aerial Relaxation Pods**™**.

Please join us for the Cat Appreciation Meet-up event at Costa Coffee Finchley Road on Saturday 21st February at 2.30pm. Please come along to the café and catch up with old and new friends alike. Food and drinks are available, and please bring your cat photos! See you there! Christie Website: https://www.costa.co.uk/?utm_campaign=fd60f55b-3ccd-4d90-ac53-51a9e82eb49d&utm_source=local Address: 12 Harben Parade, South Hampstead, London NW3 6JP

Join Hannah, Rob and London Wildish Club for a steady winter ramble through one of London’s largest and most varied green spaces. We’ll **start at Hainault Station** and walk just over a mile to the edge of the forest before diving into the glorious green. Along the way we’ll visit Woodhenge, pop up onto Dog Kennel Hill (a small rise of around 80m), and stop by the Hainault Visitor Centre for toilets and a few nature facts. From there we’ll explore a mix of wide plains and woodier areas, before picking up Cavill’s Walk and looping back to the station together. This is a longer, steady-paced walk of around **7.8 miles / 12.5 km** — perfect for warming up for spring and the longer days ahead. Expect mud and puddles in places, crisp winter air, friendly people, and pauses for seasonal noticing along the way. We’re starting a little earlier than usual to make the most of the daylight. Any questions, just give us a shout. **What to bring** • Sturdy footwear (mud-friendly trainers or walking boots recommended) • Warm layers + waterproof jacket • Water + snacks/lunch • Your best seasonal nature facts • A dog friend, if you have one *** **Route info** • Loop route, starting and finishing at Hainault Station • Distance: 7.8 miles / 12.5 km • Terrain: mostly flat, woodland paths, open plains and one small hill • Likely muddy in places • Toilets available at the Hainault Visitor Centre • We’ll walk rain or shine — come prepared 🌦️ **More Info about Wildish Club** You can learn more and [join the club here](https://www.thewildishclub.co.uk/) (it’s free to join). The Wildish Club is place for outside people. Bringing awesome people together across the UK to do interesting stuff outdoors. It's a bit like Cubs, but for adults. When you join the club [via our website](https://www.wildishclub.co.uk/join-the-club) you will gain access to our WhatsApp community. This is where we share events and keep everyone up to date with what’s going on.

**Distance**: 24km (15 miles approx) circular route **Ascent**: 265m **Duration**: 6 hours walking **Grade**: Moderate Savernake Forest is a quiet, hidden wonder that holds more veteran trees than anywhere else in Europe - walking here feels like moving through deep time. My plan is to visit this February when the forest stands bare, allowing the full presence of the trees to be seen and felt. Without leaves, their vast forms and ancient structures are revealed in a way that is really striking . I’ll return again in autumn, when the same paths are transformed by colour, offering a very different, equally powerful experience. Savernake is the largest privately owned forest in Britain, set within the North Wessex Downs. Its damp, heavy soils are particularly well suited to oak and beech, and many of the trees have immense girths that are awe-inspiring. Some are over 1,000 years old, bearing the marks of centuries of weather, growth, and survival. Some of trees to see are: King of Limbs (Radioheads 2011 album is named after it), Cathedral Oak, Big Belly Oak, New Queen Oak, Replacement King Oak to name but a few! There will be an optional pub stop at the end of the walk. The toilets in the forest are closed for the winter and there are no cafes along our way, so come prepared with enough food and water for the day. **COST AND LOGISTICS** **Cost**: £10 **Group size:** 20 **Start**: 8.40am London Paddington for Group Save **Meet:** 8:50 for those who buy their own tickets **MORNING train from London** **Dep**: 09:05 London Paddington **Arr:** 10.30 Great Bedwyn **RETURN:** **Finish:** 5.30pm at the pub **Return train**: 17:41. Next train is an hour later **Arr:** 18.57 in London Paddington. **Recommended train ticket** Off-Peak Day Return to Great Bedywn * **£29 group save/ network rail price** Recommended: yearly Network Railcard for reduced train prices www.network-railcard.co.uk **Meeting Point:** In front of Heathrow Express Ticket Office **REVIEWS** [Trip Advisor](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d19994843-Reviews-AAA_Hiking_Outdoor_Group-London_England.html) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews) \| [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/aaa-outdoor-hiking-adventure-travel/feedback-overview/) **PRICE INCLUDES** · Guided hike planned and led by an experienced AAA leader, trained in Outdoor First Aid. **PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** · Travel costs · Lunch, drinks or any refreshments · PayPal fees **RECOMMENDED KIT LIST** [(](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist)[complete list]()[)](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist) · Suitable hiking shoes or boots · Packed lunch and snacks · Water - 2 litres recommended · Waterproof jacket and trousers (Please no jeans!) · Warm windproof layer e.g. Down/Primaloft/Fleece · Wicking base layer e.g. Polyester/Tencel/Merino **CANCELLING/REFUNDS** If you can no longer join the hike, please message the Host listed on here, and update your RSVP status to 'Not going', to allow others to take your place. If the hike is full, and you have messaged us and have changed your RSVP to 'Not going', we will refund you, less than the PayPal/Meetup fees. To obtain this, please email info@aaalondongroup.com **after the event**, with the email address you use on your PayPal account and transaction reference. If the hike is not full, unfortunately we will not be able to provide any refund. **QUESTIONS** If you have any other questions, please check visit our [FAQ page](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions). If you are still unsure, contact the event Host shown on this page. We have operated over 1,000 events without significant incidents in the last ten years, achieved through meticulous planning. All participants (members and their guests) in any AAA Hiking event or activity are personally responsible for their fitness, safety and welfare, and must be equipped accordingly. If you have signed up for the event, you acknowledge and accept the AAA London Group Terms and Conditions. © AAA London Group Ltd. Errors and Omissions Excepted

Aerial Relaxation Pods… with Live Ambient Music! - London's Deep Relaxation Experience - Aerial Relaxation Pods - Lift Your Spirit Please watch our video to give you a taste of the experience: Our Aerial Relaxation Pods video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxlR9u44llw London's first multi-sensory, aerial relaxation experience with Live ambient music, aromatherapy and featuring our beautiful sky-blue silky Aerial Hammocks. "An oasis of calm in our busy lives." Two sessions per evening on Thursdays: IMPORTANT: Please note your space is only confirmed once booked through Eventbrite. 7:15-8:30pm book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84883457707 8:45-10pm book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84878729565 COST: 1 x ticket £17 (£18.92 inc ticket fee) Offer (limited availability) 2x tickets £28 (£30.77 inc ticket fee) "Words are inadequate to express the uniquely nurturing experience I had during your Aerial Relaxation Pod class... and the music was amazing! The feeling of being securely wrapped in a silk hammock from head to toe, suspended in the air, slowly rocking, with the crystal bowls and ambient music created a sublime and profound atmosphere. It was as if I was in a cocoon of total support, allowing peace to flow into my entire being." - Alison COVID SAFETY GUIDELINES & PREVENTION MEASURES: - If you are showing any symptoms, please do not attend. Any participant repeatedly coughing in the space will be asked to leave immediately. - You can wear a face-covering during the sessions if you choose to. - Please come already dressed in comfortable clothing ensuring your knees, armpits and torso are covered, and with a bag for your belongings. There are bathrooms at the venue but no changing rooms. - We will provide antibacterial wipes and hand sanitisers at the venue. Please wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitiser supplied upon entering the venue. - All touch hotspots will be regularly cleaned with disinfectant between each session. - We ask that all participants keep at least 1m physical distance at all times. Any participant repeatedly breaching this distance will be asked to leave. - We will provide clean lavender eye pillows and covers will be changed between each session. You are welcome to bring your own eye pillow/ eye mask. - All hammocks will be disinfected with antibacterial spray between each session. - Blankets and cushions: we will provide separate sets for each session. You are welcome to bring your own blanket & cushion. - The venue has skylights that will be opened to allow more airflow in the space. PLEASE NOTE: 1) Strictly no latecomers! - Sorry, please arrive on time! Unfortunately, if you are more than 10 minutes late, you will not be allowed entry, (and there can be no refunds if you are more than 10 minutes late, very sorry!) as we need to make it a calm & peaceful space for people who are already here. 2) Please only arrive 5 minutes before the start of the session, as there is no waiting room. 3) No Refunds. No refunds are available as we need to have enough time to fill the space left. You are welcome to pass on your ticket to a friend, colleague or family member. 4) Clothing: Please wear a sleeved shirt that covers the armpits and leggings or yoga trousers that cover your knees. Wear form-fitting clothing. Please do not wear baggy clothing as they can snag and catch on the sling’s fabric causing accidents. Ensure that your clothing is "zipper free" and remove all jewellery (body piercings, watches and hair clips. These items can snag and damage the silk hammocks.

Join our partners Watermark Woods Native Plants, Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL), and Birch Tree Bookstore for the Read! Plant! Grow! Book Club, which focuses on native plants, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and LCPL. At this meeting we’ll discuss the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Both memoir and journalistic investigation, this book explores how the Kingsolver family took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally -produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation’’s lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. You can either buy the book from Birch Tree Bookstore or contact Allison Forbes at [Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov](mailto:Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov) to borrow a copy of the book at the library. There are two ways to participate: attend the event online via the library website or [sign up to participate in person at Birch Tree Bookstore](https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/event-details/read-plant-grow-2026-02-24-18-30). ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

The **Spotted Salamanders** are coming! Join VOF staff at the South Section of the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve to look for these amazing fossorial amphibious critters. This special behind-the-scenes adventure invites visitors to view this year's salamander surfacing event. Meet at the contact station in the parking lot; the ditches and puddles along Beverly Mill Drive are where we will see the salamanders. The Spotted Salamander, ***Ambystoma maculatum,*** and other amphibians emerge from their burrows when conditions are just right. Usually, that's on a rainy night around 40 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, at the end of winter. This is an event that moves with the weather, so the notice is short to have the most accurate prediction possible. For fun, here are the nights they have emerged in the past few years: 2025: March 5th 2024: February 12th 2023: February 19th This is a family-friendly event, and we invite everyone who wants to learn about the cycles of these secretive salamanders. Please note this is an after-dark event, so we highly recommend you bring flashlights and head lamps, along with sturdy waterproof shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Expect rain! **This event is subject to move / repeat if the salamanders decide to emerge on a different day or if the weather conditions become too hazardous. Watch the Meetup Page for Updates!** Please email Deneith Reif at [dreif@vof.org](mailto:dreif@vof.org) for any questions you may have. As a friendly reminder, no dogs are permitted on the preserve. ##

Join us in Virginia for the Arts of Life: A meditative, creative journey throught art with local artist Nancy Burbridge. Join us every third Friday of the month in Virginia from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM for an afternoon of creativity, relaxation, and self-discovery. In this interactive session, you will learn how to draw, paint, and explore the beauty within, cultivating the best version of yourself in a serene and supportive environment. Come experience the magic of art and meditation as tools for self-expression and inner growth. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to explore! We can't wait to see you there! Fri., Jan. 20th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: **[https://shorturl.at/YmNjZ](https://shorturl.at/YmNjZ)** | | | --- | |

In celebration of Black History Month, we are hosting a special 4-mile Black history hike that highlights some of our mountains’ historic peoples who persevered under improbable conditions and in some cases, quite literally, carved a family legacy out of the mountains’ quarries. For this special event, we are welcoming back past Cultural History Fellow Barinaale Dube, where she will join VOF staff in bringing the stories of historic Black homesteaders to the fore, with new information uncovered by a team of contributors partnering with VOF to help us better understand BRMNAP’s cultural resources and diversely-peopled past. To Bring: This is a moderate hike due to its length, with potential for mud and weather, so be prepared with hiking shoes, water, snacks, bug spray, tissues, rain gear, AND sunblock! There are no facilities at the preserve, but there is a porta-john towards the end of Beverly Mill Drive, next to the contact station trailer. As a friendly reminder, to keep this Natural Area Preserve as wild as possible, we do not allow pet dogs, even on leashes, on our trails. Meetup Specific: Spaces are limited. Please RSVP if you intend to go. If you RSVP and find you can no longer attend, please cancel so that those on the waiting list may have a chance to attend. Thank you! For questions you may have or for more information, please email Preserve Manager, Joe Villari at jvillari@vof.org

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the NOVAC. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event. The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. **Please park your vehicle at the south end of the main visitors lot and follow signs and red lights to the observing site. As a reminder, parking during the event is free.** Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC's astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. As the sky gets dark, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Don't forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated. Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

Join our partners Watermark Woods Native Plants, Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL), and Birch Tree Bookstore for the Read! Plant! Grow! Book Club, which focuses on native plants, sponsored by Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and LCPL. At this meeting we’ll discuss the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Both memoir and journalistic investigation, this book explores how the Kingsolver family took on a new challenge: to spend a year on a locally -produced diet, paying close attention to the provenance of all they consume. Concerned about the environmental, social, and physical costs of American food culture, they hoped to recover what Kingsolver considers our nation’’s lost appreciation for farms and the natural processes of food production. You can either buy the book from Birch Tree Bookstore or contact Allison Forbes at [Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov](mailto:Allison.forbes@loudoun.gov) to borrow a copy of the book at the library. There are two ways to participate: attend the event online via the library website or [sign up to participate in person at Birch Tree Bookstore](https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/event-details/read-plant-grow-2026-02-24-18-30). ***Questions:*** *Contact [info@loudounwildlife.org](mailto:info@loudounwildlife.org)*.

**Gaze at the Northern Lights, enjoy a sleigh ride, be a reindeer herder for a day, learn about the Sámi culture, visit an ice hotel, taste some good Scandinavian delicacies, visit the ABBA museum...My, oh my! These are just some of the fun activities we are planning to do during this once-in-a-life time adventure!** Like all our adventures, this one is crafted from the ground up with the true spirit of Meetup in mind. We handle every little detail before and during the trip, accompany and guide the group, creating a stress-free journey with a laid-back, friendly vibe. No big tour operators, no inflated prices — we work directly with locals to give you authentic experiences and unbeatable value. Come as strangers, leave as lifelong friends — and make memories that stick forever! ***We visit:*** * Stockholm * Kiruna (Lapland) * Helsinki * Copenhagen (optional pre-trip) ***The trip includes:*** \* 2 nights in Stockholm \* A night train from Stockholm to Lapland in a private sleeping compartment \* 4 nights in Kiruna \* 3 nights in Helsinki \* Airfare from Kiruna to Helsinki \* Arrival and departure transfers \* Sightseeing tours in Stockholm and Helsinki \* Boat ride in Stockholm \* Food tasting in Helsinki \* Breakfast daily \* 2 dinners and 3 lunches \* Northern Lights Tour \* Jukkasjärvi Icehotel Half-Day Tour \* Full-Day Reindeer Tour \* Husky Sleigh Ride **Price per person, double occupancy: $4995** (we match roommates for those wishing to share) **Price for single room: $6545** ***Not Included:*** x Transatlantic Airfare (we can help you arrange that) x Meals not listed above x Tips and any personal and incidental expenses x Optional extension to Copenhagen **The only way to secure your spot is a $500 deposit** **[Click Here for Secure Deposit Link](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/TL3CB3BJL7MNA)** **Deposit is refundable up to 90 days before the departure (less PayPal fees).\*\*\* Final payment due 60 days before departure\*\*\*** ***[Click Here](https://forms.gle/MqXy8zWAB6pv2dW37)***[ and Fill out this Form if you are making a Deposit](https://forms.gle/MqXy8zWAB6pv2dW37) For a detailed Day By Day itinerary: **[Click Here](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8)**[ to fill out our info request form](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8) Limited capacity of 16 total. This trip will fill up extremely quickly. **\*\*\*Airfare from/to the US not included\*\*\*** **OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP TO COPENHAGEN offered at $590 per person/double or $785 solo occupancy (air from Helsinki to Copenhagen not included)** ***[Click Here](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062)***[ to Message Direct to Anna with any questions including airfare quotes.](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062) She can help you arrange the airfare and answer any logistics questions. [Click Here to see all our other fun events](https://www.meetup.com/CulturalArts/Events) SOT 2000318-10