Government Grants

**Sign-up closes on Feb 1st or when full** **We don't often run group trips to Yushan these days but we have quite a few people interested so we'll try and make this work. Not much time to get permits so sign up ASAP if you're keen!** **\*\*\*\*\*WHAT WE WILL PROVIDE\*\*\*\*\*** * Transport from Taipei to the mountain and back * Permits and accommodation (first night in a hotel (shared rooms) second night in the mountain cabin) * All the meals, from dinner on Saturday to brunch on Monday (excluding lunch on the Sunday) * Professional, native English speaking guide * Full Insurance * All entry fees * Minimum of 5 people needed. If we don't have at least 5 we'll cancel the trip and return any payments * Full refund if the trip is cancelled for other reasons (typhoons, road closures) * Winter safety gear (crampons, helmets, ice-axes) NOTE - this is a winter hike. You will be required to also carry crampons, an ice axe and helmet. We'll provide all these but you must have space available in your pack. This hike will be harder than a normal Yushan hike and could be -10C at the peak. Bring warm layers. Anyone who is struggling or not confident will be asked to stay at the cabin. The leader will decide and the decision is final. Sometimes conditions change for the worse and it may not be possible to reach the peak, or the peak may be closed by the national park. **SIGN UP FORM -** \*\*\*\* [Sign Up Yushan ](https://forms.gle/ZWZt92W2Cn2VNER69)\*\*\*\* Any problems, please email [ross@taiwan-adventures.com](mailto:ross@taiwan-adventures.com) An opportunity to go with Taiwan Adventures to Yushan (Jade Mountain), on an economical group trip. Due to the difficulty in getting permits, we rarely offer group trips to Yushan. Please read all the information below thoroughly and sign up soon, because the spaces will likely go quickly! This is an OVERNIGHT trip leaving Taipei on Saturday, March 7th and returning to Taipei on Monday March 9th. (If you work Monday to Friday, you’ll have to take Monday off) Included: Private transportation from and to Taipei for our group; dinner 1st night, breakfast and dinner 2nd night at the cabin, breakfast and noodles on the 3rd day; Your own bed\* in a hotel on the first night; Native English speaking guide, permits, and insurance. You need to bring your own lunch for the first day hiking. \*We’ll be staying in private rooms in a hotel near Alishan. You will have your own bed in a room with 4 other people. We might not be able to have separate men’s and women’s rooms. If you’d like a private room, tell us, and we’ll see what we can do, but it will cost extra. The second night will be in Paiyun Lodge and will be mixed company and probably mixed with another hiking group. **\*\*\*PRICE\*\*\*** If you're a full time student or you've been on another overnight hike with us, the price is $11,500TD pp. If this is your first hike with us, the price is $12,200NTD pp. We'll send you payment options after you sign up. **\*\*\*\*ITINERARY\*\*\*\*** Saturday (March 7th) - Meet at 1pm at Wanlong MRT Station, exit 2, Taipei. We'll drive for about 4 hours to Chiayi and have dinner. It’s another 1.5 hours to our hotel in Alishan. Meals Included: Dinner Sunday (March 8th) - Up around 7am, breakfast at the hotel and then drive 45 min to the trailhead. We’ll check in, then take the shuttle bus to the real trailhead. The hike to Paiyun Lodge is 8.5km and \~900m of vertical. It usually takes about 5 hours. Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner Monday (March 9th) - Up early (\~2am) breakfast and head to the main peak for sunrise. Hike back down to Paiyun Lodge for an early brunch (noodles), hike to the trailhead, and then drive back to Taipei. We expect to be back around 7:00-8:00pm. We'll make a brief stop at a 7-11 along the way for you to buy snacks/food. Meals Included: Breakfast, Brunch (noodles at the cabin) **\*\*\*\*\*WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING\*\*\*\*\*** (We’ll give you another packing list after you sign up) \- At least a 40L backpack \- Pack cover \- Sturdy hiking boots \(you will likely need to attach crampons\, running shoes are no use\) \- Fleece \- Raincoat \(essential\) \- Rain pants \(essential\) \- The ability to carry 2L of water \- Headlamp \(essential\) \- Toiletries and personal items \- Sunscreen \- Trousers \(not jeans or other cotton\) Sleeping bags will be waiting at the cabin for you (you can bring your own if you want but the cost is the same). Anyone who doesn't have the right equipment won't be allowed to start the hike. **\*\*\*HOW TO SIGN UP\*\*\*** Please complete the form at the link below. Please note that you are not fully signed up until we receive your payment. After you fill in the information in the link, we’ll send you an email with payment information. [Sign Up Yushan](https://forms.gle/ZWZt92W2Cn2VNER69) The payment is non-refundable and non-transferable unless we are unsuccessful in our permit application. Getting a permit can be difficult and we'll do our best to secure one. However in the event that we are unsuccessful, we will refund payments or rearrange the trip for another date. Be sure to read the group's rules, especially our refund policy: [Refund FAQ](https://www.taiwan-adventures.com/hikes-and-trips/faqs/#toggle-id-15)

小聚主題： **電商起手式-那些年沒人教的事 by 俊明** 很多人一直嚮往電商，但你真的知道什麼是電商嗎？電子商務因為不需要店面的關係，讓許多人誤以為他是個可以輕鬆跨足的產業類型，殊不知少掉店面之後\~更多了許多繁雜的操作細節需要了解，本次小聚就和大家分享我操作了近 30 個電商平台後，一些感想，還有早該知道的事。 🔹時間：3/8（週日）14:00〜16:00 🔹場地：圓林園青創基地 (圓林園滯洪池生態公園 2F) 🔹地點：[彰化縣員林市員林大道四段369號](https://maps.app.goo.gl/hFNXasXmUJ98ouFo8) 🔹費用：免費參加 現場為青創基地，有提供飲水機，場地可攜帶食物但請在活動後自行帶走垃圾。 **感謝 彰化縣政府青年發展處提供場地** 👉小聚的分享是練習表達很棒的場合喔！歡迎報名閃電秀或主題分享😉 注意：由於座位有限，如果您的出席有任何變化，請更改您的出席狀態，我們可以將座位安排給其他夥伴。 #WPTW **交通資訊：** * 自行開車：可停大勇街 [員林大勇停車場](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZrZPAhuZ53Wvggp49)，或往大同路方向也有多個停車場可使用 * 大眾運輸工具：員林火車站下車後騎乘公共自行車，約15分鐘距離。彰化公共自行車為 [MOOVO](https://www.ridemoovo.com/)，若有需要先行註冊綁訂扣款方式後，即可使用 APP 掃單車的條碼解鎖後使用。

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Our March speakers are Molly Gaines and Zack Parrish, co-organizers of the Secular Education Association: They will share their story of how a small group of Ohio parents grew into a national organization tracking released-time religious instruction and other church–state issues in public schools. The presentation will cover SEA’s early wins and hard lessons, what we’re seeing nationally right now, and how local advocates can play a meaningful role in protecting public education. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the landscape — and practical ways to get involved. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

This is an in-person meeting. Did you know that unwanted emotions like loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, anger, fear, anxiety, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not chemical imbalance in your brain due to some nebulous chemical reactions by chance. Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. For instance, let's say you are already carrying a huge load on your back, then you cannot take on much more, but, let's say something else happens to you, such as the difficulties from the Pandemic, then the resultant combined weight on you can take you over the edge, kind of like the straw that break the camel's back. When this happens, people's attention usually goes to the straw that was added, but actually the majority of the weight had come from the huge load that were already there, holding a person down and causing a person issues. So how do you remove the huge load that was already there? How do you lighten them up? Is it possible to get rid of them? That is what this meeting will be all about. Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

## Overview Networking event for aspiring school leaders interested in building their own high-quality K-12 public school in their community. **About the Event:** Aspiring school founders in the Columbus, OH, area are invited to join us for this special in-person networking event where you will be able to ask questions, learn more about the BES Fellowship and make sure you are prepared for the application process and beyond. In addition to meeting like-minded leaders who are also committed to transforming education and bringing a high-quality K-12 option to their community, you’ll have the opportunity to meet our team and gain special insights from Dr. Chaundria Smith, BES Senior Director of Fellowship Coaching, who works closely to support BES Fellows. During this event, you can also learn more about the various regions across Ohio we are prioritizing for the BES Fellowship to ensure that new schools will respond to the needs of their community. **About the BES Fellowship:** Leaders in the BES Fellowship embark on a multi-year process to design, found, and lead an excellent K-12 public school that reflects and responds to community needs. We are currently accepting applications to the 2026 BES Fellowship. The extended deadline is March 30, and the 2026 Cohort will begin August 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled. Learn more at [bes.org/fellowship](http://bes.org/fellowship "http://bes.org/fellowship").

Come join us for coffee at Matari Coffee to discuss our March book, "The Enchanted Greenhouse"! Book description: Terlu Perna broke the law because she was lonely. She cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant. As punishment, she was turned into a wooden statue and tucked away into an alcove in the North Reading Room of the Great Library of Alyssium. This should have been the end of her story . . . Yet one day, Terlu wakes in the cold of winter on a nearly-deserted island full of hundreds of magical greenhouses. She’s starving and freezing, and the only other human on the island is a grumpy gardener. To her surprise, he offers Terlu a place to sleep, clean clothes, and freshly baked honey cakes—at least until she’s ready to sail home. But Terlu can’t return home and doesn’t want to—the greenhouses are a dream come true, each more wondrous than the next. When she learns that the magic that sustains them is failing—causing the death of everything within them—Terlu knows she must help. Even if that means breaking the law again. This time, though, she isn’t alone. Assisted by the gardener and a sentient rose, Terlu must unravel the secrets of a long-dead sorcerer if she wants to save the island—and have a fresh chance at happiness and love.

This month, we are in-person at GameArena!!! We will also be joined by students and their games from [Shawnee State](https://www.shawnee.edu/game-design-programs)! \-\-\- Join us for our our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event @GameArena! Come to play and showcase your games. We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk mezzanine area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor as well as the 1st floor in the gaming room below the mezzanine. Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required). [https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu) **Attendees:** Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games the better! **Developers:** Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available. Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out. 75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9) If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)

Why are we unhappy? Where does emotional pain come from? Studies show that people who suffer from long-term emotional pain have painful experiences in their lives that were never fully resolved in their mind. In other words, there were issues in the past that were not completely dealt with. This can include abuse in childhood, breakups, divorce, death of a loved one, to name a few. How do you know whether you have gotten over something painful? Here is an easy test: Do you still have attention on what had happened to you? For instance, do you still find yourself thinking about something painful that you went through? If you are, then you are not over it. In fact, in severe cases, people find themselves playing a "tape" in their mind over and over again. So how do you heal from your past? How do you stop the "tape" playing in your mind? In this meeting, you will learn a technique to help you with that. Come join us! Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics and Scientology life improvement center.

Join us as we get together to see SIRAT, an Oscar-nominated Best International Film from Spain that follows a father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa. Here’s a description, trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: A father, accompanied by his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco while searching for his daughter who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. As their search continues, the journey forces them to confront their own limits. The film is directed by Oliver Laxe and stars Sergi Lopez, Bruno Nunez Arjona and Richard Bellamy. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-IXHXvS70 BUZZ & ACCLAIM: SIRAT has already won numerous awards, including 4 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, along with the Chicago, Montclair and Toronto International Film Festivals! It also earned a whopping 11 nominations at the 40th Goya Awards, including Best Film and Director, and was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound at this year’s Academy Awards. The film is earning a stellar 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes which calls it “an unforgettable exercise in tension” and “a brutal reminder that the journey can be more important than the destination.” PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and we’ll meet inside the upstairs lobby between 6:40 and 6:50pm. Super Tuesday ticket price is just $6.50 (including online fee)! Advance ticket purchase is advised (via Gateway website preferred). Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event! This one will be a “movie only” event. PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan