Mountaineering

Kick off the New Year by joining your fellow LGBTQIA+ folks for a social evening of board games at Marché Board Games Cafe. We have access to the games library at the cafe. If you have a game that you want to share, please feel free to bring it along. We play all sorts of games - card games, party games, strategy games - and we're happy to teach new players. Groups for games usually form between 6:30-6:45, so it's important to try arrive on time to ensure you're allocated to a game/group. Anyone arriving late may have to wait for a game if all groups have started. The cafe has drinks and food available. Check out their menu here: https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf We only accept payment at the time of booking to reserve your spot. This means you will need to pay the booking amount via PayPal at the time of booking to confirm your spot. If you can't make it to the event, please ensure you get in touch by messaging the event hosts or emailing rainbowbg.melbourne@gmail.com at least one day before the event, and we can reverse your payment via PayPal. The cafe does NOT have a liquor licence. Consuming alcohol on the premises is illegal, and will result in any members being banned from future events. See you on New Year's Day!

Hi there, Whether you’re totally new to climbing or intermediate, all levels are welcome. We are not affiliated with UP climbing so if you ask about the meetup at reception they'll be confused 😛. **🕒 When** Every **Thursday at 6pm**. Meet us at **UP Climbing**, right by the **merchandise section** (to the right of reception). **💰 Costs** No meetup fee — just show up! (Regular gym entry and shoe rental aren’t included.) You can check the gym’s prices **[here](https://upclimbing.com.au/prices/)**. **📝 First time at the gym?** Make things quick and easy by filling out the waiver **[here](https://climber.hellocapitan.com/upclimbing/documents/fill/list/)** before you arrive. **🧗 What to bring / wear** * Comfy clothes you can move in * Climbing shoes (rentals available at the gym) * Chalk (optional) * Water bottle (there is a water refill station at reception)

We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches. These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun! Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up: https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/melbourne-vic/meetup/ If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works. Happy hitting! - Scott

Starting a little later so you can still enjoy your Saturday night! It's been a very long time since I did this lap, so this will be at a reduced pace to match my reduced MTB fitness! If you're starting out MTB'ing this is a great location to learn the skills. Lysterfield blue trails are among the easiest blue trails I've ridden. I'll be doing a 15km loop of the Blue trails. These are intermediate trails with some jumps, drops and obstacles with alternate paths around many of these features so you can choose to tackle as much or as little of the challenges as you prefer. I'll point out features to watch out for before each section. **NOTE**: Beginner level mountain biking will require that you are a competent bike rider on tarmac. This includes being able to stand up and move around confidently on a bike while shifting your weight. We will be going at a reduced moderate pace. An opportunity for beginners to come along on the journey and get started. If this is your first time around Lysterfield, don't underestimate the distance. You will get a good workout by the end of it, but you might also get addicted to this sport like I did. A dual suspension mountain bike is recommended, but a decent quality hard tail (front suspension only) mountain bike will also be suitable. These trails are **not suitable** for road bikes, hybrid bikes or full rigid mountain bikes. Department store mountain bikes (Anaconda, Decathlon, etc.) are not recommended, but might make it around once or twice if you go gentle on them. If you're unsure, please message me beforehand. After the ride, there will be an optional stop at Stella's Kitchen for a coffee and a snack. They have a fantastic fruit shop too. **What to bring** * Suitable Mountain Bike with pumped up tyres, working gears and brakes * Helmet * Gloves/Elbow & Knees Protective gear if you have any * Water (bottle or backpack) * Snacks/food * Sun screen/Sun glasses/Protective eye wear **Meeting location** Meet next to the sign at the after hours carpark. https://maps.app.goo.gl/mKbLAmXpBeWKVHDp7 **LIABILITY WAVER** The organiser of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury or accidents to participants or their property on this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. By joining this event you agree to these terms.

**✨ An Evening of Creativity in the Artist’s Studio ✨** Step into my studio for an evening of creativity, wine, and inspiration. In this relaxed sip & paint session, the subject is “Abstract Portrait Fun ” “Grab a friend, partner, or loved one—or come solo with a photo—and join a fun, relaxing paint & sip session! Explore abstract painting together as you create a unique partner portrait full of color, emotion, and personality. No experience needed—just bring your creativity and enjoy a few hours of laughter, wine, and art-making. Perfect for couples, friends, or anyone looking for a playful creative escape.” I’ll guide you step by step, showing techniques and helping you create a piece that reflects your vision. No experience is needed — just bring curiosity, your creativity, and a glass of wine. 🎨 All art supplies provided 🍷 BYO drinks (or enjoy provided light refreshments) 🌸 Limited seats to keep it cozy & inspiring. Chesse Platter (for snackies) Just bring clothes to paint in. Come for the painting, stay for the atmosphere.

An afternoon at Urban Climb, Blackburn! If you haven't been to this gym before, you will need to do an induction. This gym also has a bouldering area. We typically start with a warm-up session from 2:00 to 2:30 PM before moving on to top-rope or lead climbing - through you’re welcome to start top-rope or lead as you prefer. If you’re looking for the host, they will be in bouldering area during the warmup. You can also spot the host on climbing wall, easily recognizable by a dangling ducks hanging from their harness.

Hello Climbers! Just meet at the yellow sign and introduce yourself :) From there we pair up to climb. If we have an odd number of people, we can make a rotating group of 3. There is also a self-belay area if you want to get in more climbing if in a group of 3 or arriving earlier. If the event you are planning to go to only has one or 2 people on the ‘attending’ list, we encourage organising a climbing partner in advance so you can make sure you have at least one other person there to climb with! Feel free to reach out on the event wall or message a host :) Meet up will start at 6pm but if you want to start earlier you certainly can, but again you will need to organise a climbing partner in advance. New climbers are welcome, however your mandatory induction takes about 15/20mins. Harnesses, shoes and chalk bag can be hired also. Book in here for your induction: https://www.hardrock.com.au/online-booking/ If you are unwell, please don't attend!

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.

We will do around 3.5 miles on the paved trail. Toni will be leading at the front - around 16 minute mile - and I’ll be bringing up the rear closer to a 19 minute mile (or as appropriate). No one left behind. Optional lunch at Paddock Pub.

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

Hike approx 4.0 miles at approx. 18 minute mile pace. Meet in front of the Nature Center.