Internship Programs

**Important - Please Read** LIMITED SPACES - **You must have a confirmed place to attend this event. ** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Welcome to London's Highest Rated International Languages Exchange group with over 1300 reviews rated 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷🇯🇵🇮🇹🇩🇪🇮🇳🇧🇷🇰🇷🇨🇳🇪🇬🇭🇰🇺🇦🇺🇸🇹🇷🇹🇼🇷🇺🇵🇱 To learn more about us and our community visit [www.languages.london](https://www.languages.london/) WHEN & WHERE Join us on Saturday for our weekend global language exchange and 7pm. The venue is The Craft Beer Co. in Clerkenwell, a really friendly pub with a great selection of drinks (especially beers!) including non-alcoholic options and **we have the whole first floor space exclusively for our event!** The venue has excellent access to public transport via, tube, train and bus. HOW WE DO IT It's simple .... \~ When you arrive please collect your personalised language badge from us, **BEFORE** you order your drinks. We'll be waiting to give you a warm welcome 😃 \~ Please wear your badge during the event and return it before you leave. \~ Start meeting the community and having fun, lots of fun! Confirm your place to attend. There's a small fee of £2, which you can pay when you arrive. Please buy something from the bar to support the venue, who kindly offer us a dedicated space. 🇲🇽🇻🇳🇧🇬🇵🇸🇸🇪🇮🇱🇦🇺🇨🇦🇳🇱🇨🇴🇭🇺🇿🇦🇹🇭🇵🇪🇧🇴🇳🇬🇪🇬🇳🇿🇨🇭 **WHO** Languages in London events are organised for our community - being social, making new friends, building cultural bridges and always very relaxed. Our weekly events in London have the highest number of languages and countries represented. Note - This is **not** a dating event. Our events are open to Internationals, Locals, Expats, Students, Travellers..... Everyone! This is the event for a truly global community and for citizens from around the World 🌎 Is this the Intercambio you've been looking for? Want to practice your ingles, espanol , francais, italiano, Deutsch, portugues or other European languages? Asian languages ? Or maybe prefer to only speak English, that's just fine. **All languages and all fluency levels are welcome** Spread the love, bring your family, friends and colleagues 💙 The creator and organiser of **Languages in London - Girish**, will always be visible at the event and there to support you and help with introductions, if you prefer. These are real events with real people. We aren't one of those groups that fill our events with fictitious attendees👻 We want to remain the **BEST** language events group in London, being the biggest isn't our focus. **No-shows at our events are always removed from the group.** **Inactive members are also regularly removed from our group.** **LANGUAGES** Here's a selection of some of the languages that our community speak or have been practicing English, Spanish (incl Latin American), French, Italian, Portuguese (incl Brazilian), German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Russian, Korean, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Polish, Hebrew, Swedish, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Hungarian, Bengali, Dutch, Catalan, Farsi, Greek, Urdu, Welsh, Romanian, Norwegian, Czech, Slovakian, Estonian, Danish, Finnish, Turkmen, Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, Yoruba, Filipino, Thai, Albanian, Croatian, Serbian, Ebo, Gaelic, Icelandic, Afrikaans, Tamazight, Tagalog, Creole, Malagasy, Mongolian, Tok Pisin and more... you get the idea! 🇷🇴🇬🇹🇨🇿🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇨🇾🇺🇾🇪🇬🇧🇬🇦🇷🇰🇪🇱🇰🇲🇦🇹🇳🇩🇿🇸🇬🇲🇾 **SUSTAINABLE** 🌎🌳 Like you, we really care about our planet. We never use paper stickers or wristbands as they can't be reused or recycled and can even damage your clothing ☹️ The Solution? Our personalised and completely reusable Languages in London badges! 🏆👍 So, please make sure you return your badge to us, before you leave the event. We'll sanitise it (anti bacterial & disinfectant cleaners) and use it again & again & again. Thanks for helping us do the right thing and keep our costs down🙏 **SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE** 👮‍♂️ We don't tolerate prejudice or harassment of any kind, at any time. Be polite and respectful to everyone else and they will reciprocate. Let's keep the space safe, welcoming for everyone and free of any political agendas. Please report any concerns to the Organiser immediately. Please look after your belongings, the venue is a public place. We may take photos or video at the event for future promotional use. Let us if know you'd rather not be included, we respect your choice 📸 **SPREAD THE WORD** 🗣️💬 If you enjoy our events, please tell your friends and colleagues and help us grow **your** community, thank you ♥️ Join our community - [www.languages.london](https://www.languages.london/) We're looking forward to welcoming you at Languages in London 😊😃👋 🇲🇰🇳🇵🇧🇩🇵🇭🇦🇪🇦🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪🇲🇹🇰🇿🇱🇦🇯🇴🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪🇰🇭🇨🇱🇲🇳🇨🇺

Join us for a walk into an area steeped in history and diversity, this area is a living gallery, and a goldmine for graffiti and for black and white photography-textures, contrasts, and urban grit. You’ll find opportunities to experiment with framing, perspective, and light in ways that elevate your artistic storytelling. Slowing down to notice the details-hidden alleyway pieces, layered posters, or a stencil tucked behind a lamppost-sharpens your eye and aids mindful observation – something that can help any photographer in perfecting their craft. Join us for a colourful and fun session! EXPERIENCE * Any EQUIPMENT: * Any camera * A standard 18-55 kit lens will do or use a 70-200 for candid shots OTHER ESSENTIALS * Help will be provided with camera settings * A fun and experimental attitude! TRAVEL * As usual check TFL website for any issues that may delay your journey CONTACT Alex 07956 264049 UPCOMING EVENTS https://www.meetup.com/londonphotographicopa/events/calendar

Hello street photographers, it's time to revive this group and get together again. My name is Flavio Bosi and I am the new organiser for the Street Photographers group. I am a passionate and experienced street photographer and teacher, I have a lot of experience leading workshops in UK and abroad, and I would be delighted if I could get this group to a new life, returning to its purpose of enjoying this wonderful art together. To kick things off I will be inviting you to join me in a workshop I'm running jointly with my other Meetup group, the London Street Photographers Meetup. You will be meeting wonderful people passionate about street photography and get in the groove straight away with a series of workshops aimed at building your skills in street photography to make you a better photographer. The street photography skills development series we started a few months ago continues journeying to Covent Garden. This time we won't be concentrating on a specific framing or technical skill, but we will practice our mindset! Projects can be a wonderful way to create focus in the way we look for images. But what is a project? In street photography projects are a fantastic way to get consistency, cohesion throughout your body of work. Some of the greatest street photographers always work on projects, and working on a project for quite some time can lead to a series of images worthy of publication. In this workshop we will look at how to look for a project, how to start one and how to build it. We will focusing on creating a cohesive set of images from the workshop, Covent Garden and surroundings will be rife with opportunities to work on a series. I will be there helping you along to develop the idea and bring home a set of images that work together as a series. Join us for a great afternoon, sharing your passion with fellow photographers and taking an important step in your journey to mastering the streets with your camera. What will you need? A camera or a smartphone, of course, and a pair of comfortable shoes. And a determination to have a good time, because you certainly will! After the workshop you will be invited to join the Tap on the Shoulder WhatsApp group, where you will be able to share your best efforts from the workshop and receive feedback from me and your peers. At the end of the workshop we will be heading for the nearest pub for a refreshment and some banter, enjoying each other’s company and planning our future street photography mischief! What are you waiting for? Book your place now and take your next step in improving your street photography skills! Bring your children, they can participate as well! Attendance is free for children under 15 years of age: please use the discount code UNDER15. Please come 5-10 minutes early. I will wait for 5 minutes for late arrivals then start the workshop out of respect for the people that arrived on time!

2nd Sunday of every month, join us for a relaxed and fun language exchange, where meaningful conversations flow as freely as delicious coffee and tea! This isn't just practice; it's **accelerated progress** in a supportive setting, designed to quickly boost your **Mandarin, Cantonese and English** skills. **How We Make It Effective & Enjoyable:** * **Perfect Groupings:** We thoughtfully match you with native speakers and learners at a similar proficiency level, ensuring comfortable and productive conversation practice every time. * **Engaging Topics:** Forget awkward silences! We provide fun, engaging discussion topics to spark lively chats and keep the conversation flowing naturally. * **Maximise Your Practice:** Rotate between groups (if you wish) to connect with a wider range of speakers, broadening your conversational horizons and significantly accelerating your learning. * **Expert Support:** Our experienced language tutor is always on hand to provide real-time support **Session Details:** 🗓️ **When:** 2nd Sunday of every month ⏰ **Time**: 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM 💰 **Price:** Free 👌 **All levels welcome!** Native speakers and learners alike. 💛 Please support the cafe by buying a drink or snack while you are here - they've kindly let us use the space. No pressure, just good chats and good vibes. We can't wait to welcome you! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **China Unbound** is the best place to learn practical Chinese for adults. While most schools prioritise grammar and writing, China Unbound empowers you to confidently communicate in Chinese in real-world situations. Join us and discover a fun, fast, and personalised way to master Chinese! **Get FREE 1-on-1 Course Advice.** Spend up to 30 minutes with our expert tutors to find your ideal learning path and get all your questions answered! **No commitment** required. [Book your Free Session](https://chinaunbound.typeform.com/to/iSVRwK) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **🤘 FAQs:** **I'm learning Chinese, are the sessions suitable for beginners?** Yes! Come and speak as much or as little as you like, or just come and listen! There is no pressure! **Are there any discounts for Chinese lessons for members?** Yes, you can use code MEETUP10 for your exclusive £10 discount on our [Chinese courses](https://china-unbound.co.uk/personal/) site-wide! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 每个月的第二个星期天，来加入我们，享受一场轻松又有趣的语言交流体验！在茶香与咖啡的陪伴下，开启一场自然流畅、充满收获的双语对话。 这不仅仅是练习，而是一种更快提升你英语水平的高效方式。我们为你打造一个轻松友好、真正有用的语言环境，让你的口语交流能力飞速进步！ **我们如何让语言交换高效又好玩：** * **精准匹配，聊天不尴尬**：我们用心将你和母语者或相近水平的学习者配对，确保每一次对话都轻松自在又高效实用。 * **话题有趣，轻松破冰**：拒绝冷场！我们提前准备了有趣又实用的聊天话题，让你一开口就停不下来，交流自然顺畅。 * **灵活轮换，提升更全面**：想多练一点？欢迎自由选择是否换组，认识更多人、接触不同语言风格，快速提升真实沟通能力。 * **专业老师现场支持**：我们的资深语言导师会在现场提供实时帮助，确保你在交流中不断进步、有信心开口！ **活动详情：** 🗓️ **时间**：每月第二个星期日 ⏰ **时段**：下午 2:30 - 4:30 💰 **费用**：免费参加 不只是练语言，这里还有文化的碰撞、朋友的陪伴和成长的喜悦。现在就来加入我们，开启你的高效交流之旅吧！ **🤘 常见问题解答：** **我最后会不会一直说中文而一无所获？** -不会，因为我们的“快速聊天”模式鼓励大家用中/英文交换来交流。 **会员有折扣吗？** 有，欢迎你跟你学中文的朋友分享代码**Meetup10**，他们会获得10镑的独家折扣！

Learn the skills needed to create great high contrast photos. Whether you want to shoot in black and while or colour you'll understand the elements needed to capture highly dramatic images. Join us for an after xmas event to help combat the lbs you might be putting on over the holidays! WHAT YOU WILL LEARN * How to spot good locations & conditions * Camera settings * Composition EQUIPMENT: * Any camera * Any lens such as a standard 18-55, 24-70mm etc. OTHER ESSENTIALS * A fun and experimental attitude! TRAVEL * As usual check TFL website for any issues that may delay your journey CONTACT * Alex 07956 264049 UPCOMING EVENTS www.meetup.com/londonphotographic/events/calendar

Discover how to transform buildings, lines, and light into striking abstract compositions. In this hands-on street workshop, we’ll explore how to see architecture beyond function focusing on geometry, reflections, contrast, and minimalism to create powerful visual stories. Perfect for photographers of all levels, whether you’re using a phone or a camera. **Location** We will meet outside of Marks & Spencer at 70 Finsbury Pavement, Moorgate, London EC2A 1SA Near Moorgate Station https://maps.app.goo.gl/iwuzLxrnBQewAWuc9 **Equipment** * Any camera or smartphone. * Fully charged battery + memory space. * Comfortable shoes. * Zoom lens or telephoto prime **Learning Goals** By the end of the session, you will: * Learn to observe and use natural light to highlight form and texture. * Apply composition techniques to create balance, symmetry, and abstraction. * Discover how to transform architectural elements into artistic expressions. * Develop a more intentional, fine art approach to architectural photography.

* **Join Us for a Fun Language Exchange!** 🎉¡Hola Amigos Hispanohablantes! Get ready for a fun and interactive language exchange fiesta; practice your Spanish and English, chat with native speakers, and have an amazing time with fascinating people from around the world! 🍹 **Courtesy Note:** To support our venue and keep the event free, **you must** **buy at least one or two drinks from the bar.** **Our members enjoy exclusive discounts** **on food and drinks**. 📍 **Location:** We meet in a great place with a large indoor space over two floors and a spacious terrace for the summer events. Our reserved area will be the main lounge in front of the bar on the ground floor. Enjoy a massive selection of craft beers, wines, soft drinks as well as many delicious food options from around the world. ✨ **Event Type:** This is a non-academic, laid-back event. Just for fun, practicing languages, and making new friends. 🚩 **Find Us:** Look for the Spanish flag if you're new to the group. 📅 **RSVP:** **Don’t forget to add your name to the event. Thanks!**

**Only takes 20 minutes!** Come anytime between 12pm – 5pm. This one-to-one VirtueScope session is a unique game that encourages individuals to pick and focus on positive qualities for each month, as well as for your personal development, work, life and relationships. It’s a personalised, playful, meaningful and motivating way to set the tone for the year ahead — and to begin 2026 with intention and inspiration. Virtues are not just traits we aspire to; they are the qualities and strengths within each of us. These inner resources are part of who we are at our core and represent the best aspects of our character. **It’s FREE – are you? No booking required**. **If you would like to make a voluntary donation, please click** [here.](https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/ "https://www.innerspace.org.uk/donations/") \* I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored. We will process your personal data in line with the GDPR requirements and always store it securely and use it only for the purpose for which it has been collected. We will not pass on your details to any third parties without your consent.

IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ! 🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷🇯🇵🇮🇹🇩🇪🇮🇳🇨🇳🇧🇷🇰🇷🇪🇬🇭🇰🇺🇸🇨🇴🇺🇦🇹🇷🇷🇺🇦🇺 **Join us for our Sunday International Language Exchange and Social!** The event starts at 4pm and will be hosted at Craft Beer Co. in **COVENT GARDEN** 😊🍻🥂 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Welcome to the Highest Rated International Language Exchange group in London,🏆 with 1300+ reviews rated 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ www.languages.london WHEN & WHERE **This event takes place at Craft Beer Co Covent Garden on Sunday afternoon.** You are spoilt for choice with public transport options including lots of tube, train and buses close to the venue. **The address is 168 High Holborn, London WC1V 7AA** https://maps.google.com/?cid=12246258418147807722&entry=gps **HOW WE DO IT** It's simple .... 1\. When you arrive have your Meetup confirmation visible on your phone\. **Collect your personalised language badge BEFORE ordering your drinks.** We'll be waiting to give you a warm welcome 😃 2\. Pay the £2 event fee\. You can do this by cash or contactless card / phone\. 3\. Wear your badge during the event and always return it before you leave ♻️ ......Start meeting the community and having fun...lots of fun! Please ensure you buy something from the bar to support the venue, who kindly offer us a dedicated space. 🇵🇱🇹🇼🇲🇽🇻🇳🇧🇬🇵🇸🇸🇪🇮🇱🇨🇦🇳🇱🇿🇦🇭🇺🇹🇭🇵🇪🇧🇴🇳🇬🇳🇿🇨🇭 **WHO** Languages in London events are organised for our community - being social, making new friends, building cultural bridges and always very relaxed. We have the largest number of languages and countries represented in our weekly language exchange and social events in London. This is **not** a dating event. Our events are open to Internationals, Locals, Expats, Students, Travellers..... Everyone! This is the event for a truly global community and for citizens from around the World. Is this the Intercambio you've been looking for? Want to practice your ingles, espanol , francais, italiano, Deutsch, portugues or other European languages? Asian languages ? Or maybe prefer to only speak English.... that's just fine. **All languages and all fluency levels are welcome** Spread the love...Bring your friends 💙 The creator and organiser of **Languages in London - Girish**, will always be visible at the event and there to support you and help with introductions, if you prefer. We want to remain the BEST language events group in London, being the biggest isn't our focus. These are real events with real people. We don't fill our events with inflated numbers and fictitious attendees 👻 **Community members that no-show at our events and inactive members are regularly removed from our group.** **LANGUAGES** Here's a selection of some of the languages that our community speak or have been practicing ... English, Spanish (incl Latin American), French, Italian, Portuguese (incl Brazilian), German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Russian, Korean, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Polish, Hebrew, Swedish, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Hungarian, Bengali, Dutch, Catalan, Farsi, Greek, Urdu, Welsh, Romanian, Norwegian, Czech, Slovakian, Estonian, Danish, Finnish, Turkmen, Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, Yoruba, Filipino, Thai, Albanian, Croatian, Serbian, Ebo, Afrikaans, Tamazight, Tagalog, Creole, Malagasy, Mongolian, Tok Pisin and more... you get the idea! 🇷🇴🇬🇹🇨🇿🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇨🇾🇺🇾🇪🇬🇧🇬🇦🇷🇰🇪🇱🇰🇲🇦🇹🇳🇩🇿🇸🇬🇲🇾 **SUSTAINABLE** 🌎🌳 Like you, we really care about our planet. We don't like single use paper name tags, stickers or wristbands as they can't be reused or recycled and can even damage your clothing ☹️ The Solution? ...Our personalised and completely reusable Languages in London badges! 🏆👍 So, please make sure you return your badge to us, before you leave the event. We'll sanitise it (anti bacterial & disinfectant cleaners) and use it again & again & again. Thanks for helping us do the right thing and keep our costs down🙏 **SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE** 👮‍♂️ We don't tolerate prejudice or harassment of any kind, at any time. Be polite and respectful to everyone else and they will reciprocate. Let's keep the space safe, welcoming for everyone and free of any political agendas. Please report any concerns to the Organiser immediately. Please look after your belongings, the venue is a public place. We may take photos or video at the event for future promotional use. Let us if know you'd rather not be included, we respect your choice 📸 **SPREAD THE WORD** 🗣️💬 If you enjoy our events, please tell your friends and colleagues and help us grow **your** community, thank you ♥️ Join our community - https://www.languages.london/ We're looking forward to welcoming you at Languages in London 😊😃👋 🇲🇰🇳🇵🇧🇩🇵🇭🇦🇪🇦🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪🇰🇿🇱🇦🇯🇴🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪🇰🇭🇨🇱🇲🇳🇨🇺

SCIENTOLOGY **TOOLS** **FOR LIFE** What if you had simple tools which you could use to improve your relationship with others? What if a step-by-step procedure could help you achieve your goals in life? What if you could learn the secret to mastering any subject you wanted to master? Come and find out!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

Come out to Improving for our monthly iOS and Mac meetings. This Month's Presentation: **Use AI to convert an old game into an iOS App** **John Endres** How I decided to learn AI tools in Xcode (Claude and ChatGPT) John is a long time iOS Developer. What is Cocoaheads (http://cocoaheads.org/)? CocoaHeads is a group devoted to discussion of Apple Computer's Cocoa Framework for programming on MacOS X and iOS (including the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch). During monthly meetings, members present on their projects and offer tutorials on various programming topics. What is BuckeyeCocoa (http://buckeyecocoa.org/)? BuckeyeCocoa is a group of Objective-C/Swift developers/enthusiasts. We host monthly Cocoaheads and near-weekly NSCoder meetings in Columbus, Ohio. The meetings are free to attend. Presentations! Presenters welcome! We are always in need of people willing to present material. Any Swift and/or Objective-C related topic is welcome. Times can be 5 minutes (i.e. lightning talks) to a maximum of 2 hours. Interested? Contact info is on the BuckeyeCocoa website. To volunteer for a presentation contact us at @BuckeyeCocoa on Twitter. Follow us on Twitter! @BuckeyeCocoa (https://twitter.com/#!/Buckeyecocoa/) For more information: http://buckeyecocoa.org/

Interested? Contact Preston Moore k.preston.moore@gmail.com 614-300-5989 ———————————— Engaging in men’s work is the new way to forge friendships while being open-minded to personal growth. Many men experience healthier relationships, personally and professionally, by engaging in this work. Open Men’s Group is a container for men to share vulnerably without receiving judgment or feedback. We believe that emotionally mature, powerful, compassionate, and purpose-driven men will help heal some of society’s deepest wounds. We support the powerful brilliance of men and we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating – and suffering. We care deeply about men, our families, communities, and the planet. Visit ManKind Project USA to discover more. https://mkpusa.org/

Bring your work or your hobby, hang out, and code with us. Follow @buckeyecocoa for more information.

**History** [Blacklick Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blacklick-woods/), established in 1949, holds the distinction of being the first Columbus Metro Park. Its creation stemmed from a post-World War II push to preserve natural areas amid rapid suburban growth. The land, originally farmland and woodlots along Blacklick Creek, was acquired by the Columbus Metropolitan Park Board through donations and purchases. Early efforts focused on basic trail development and reforestation to combat erosion. The park's name derives from the creek, which early settlers called "Black Lick" due to its dark, mineral-rich waters. By the 1950s, it served as a model for the expanding Metro Parks system. In the 1960s, Blacklick Woods expanded significantly with additional land acquisitions, reaching over 600 acres. A golf course was added in 1964, one of the first public courses in the region, designed to generate revenue for park maintenance. Native American artifacts, including arrowheads from the Adena culture, were discovered during construction, highlighting the area's prehistoric use as hunting grounds. The park introduced interpretive programs to educate visitors on local ecology and history. Flood control measures along the creek became a priority after heavy rains caused damage. These developments solidified its role as a recreational hub. The 1970s and 1980s brought environmental awareness, leading to habitat restoration projects at Blacklick Woods. Invasive species were removed, and native wildflowers were planted in the meadows. A nature center opened in 1976, featuring exhibits on wetlands and forests. The park's slate-covered bridge, a remnant of 19th-century infrastructure, was preserved as a historic feature. Birdwatching gained popularity with the addition of observation decks. Community volunteers played a key role in trail maintenance and cleanups. During the 1990s, Blacklick Woods underwent major upgrades, including paved multi-use trails for biking and hiking. The Walter A. Tucker Nature Preserve, a 53-acre old-growth forest within the park, was dedicated in 1995 to protect rare beech-maple woodlands. Educational partnerships with local schools introduced field trips on topics like stream ecology. The golf course was renovated to improve playability while minimizing environmental impact. Annual events, such as the fall festival, drew thousands to celebrate the park's natural beauty. These enhancements balanced recreation with conservation. In the 21st century, Blacklick Woods has adapted to increasing visitation with sustainable practices. Solar panels were installed at facilities in the 2010s to reduce energy costs. The park now spans 643 acres, offering diverse habitats from wetlands to uplands. Recent initiatives include pollinator gardens and prescribed burns to maintain prairie areas. It remains a flagship for the Metro Parks, inspiring similar preservations system-wide. Ongoing archaeological surveys continue to uncover traces of early inhabitants. **Map of the Park** Here is a [map of Blacklick Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/BLK-map-May-2025-with-extended-greenway_1980px.jpg). **Summary** For this event, we will hike about 4.5 miles by doing a couple loops of the Buttonbush, Tucker, Maple Loop, and Beech trails. Blacklick Woods is a very nice park, but it is generally flat and not strenuous, so this will be one of the easier hikes that we do. **Where We'll Meet** Drive all the way to the back of the park to the parking lot that is nearest the Nature Center. There are restrooms here next to the Canopy Walk. We'll meet near these restrooms. Speaking of the [Canopy Walk](https://www.metroparks.net/blog/canopy-walk-is-your-gateway-to-the-sky/), it's not officially part of the event this time. However, if interested people want to freelance and check it out after the hike (before heading to the brewery), that's okay. **After the Hike** After we're done with the trails, we'll head to [Prost Beer & Wine Café](https://prostcafe.com/) for drinks and [food](https://prostcafe.com/reynoldsburg-prost-beer-and-wine-cafe-food-menu). The actual address of the brewery is [7354 E Main St, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068](https://www.google.com/maps/place/7354+E+Main+St,+Reynoldsburg,+OH+43068/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8838648cfb8d2dbb:0x545274bab130e9bb?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111), and we should be there by 5:00 if you just want to do that and skip the hike.

**NEW LOCATION: Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: * 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. * 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). For this first meeting of the year, we will be reviewing submissions for the Your Program is Hideous and Obfuscated Challenge (YPHOC). Submissions for this challenge are due by January 12th, 2026. The details can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13zbxwElpJqPMuAN4Ele2hUgsqtFKzH3OCTL5NEeiLKQ or on our website http://www.cohpy.org We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact centralohpython@gmail.com