Outdoors
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out outdoors events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the outdoors events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find outdoors events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Outdoors Events Today
Join in-person Outdoors events happening right now
Pickleball.
CHANGED to WEDNESDAYS
COLUMBUS RECREATION CENTERS require membership fee to play. Register & Pay at the desk when you arrive. $5 day pass is available.
I have some extra pickle ball paddles and balls if you donât have one. Definitely bring your own paddle if you have one and bring some balls if you have them.
Legal Stuff: The event hosts/Organizers are just fellow member volunteers. By participating in any event, you assume all risks of liability and injury inherent in these activities. You are responsible for your own safety and for determining if you are in condition fit to participate. You are also responsible for knowing and abiding by all laws and rules during your participation in any event.âŠ
Photos & or Video: by attending these events you acknowledge photos and or video may be taken and used on this and other platforms.
Azure CBUS January: Learn Infrastructure-as-Code Through Minecraft
## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) â Through Minecraft đŽâď¸
**Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS Ă Columbus HashiCorp User Group Ă DevOps Columbus**
What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didnât feel like a whitepaper⌠but more like a game?
Join us for a joint Azure CBUS, Columbus HashiCorp User Group, and DevOps Columbus meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| âThe Azure Terraformerâ\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts.
In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft serversâwhile teaching the same patterns youâd use for production cloud infrastructure.
### What weâll cover
* Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform**
* Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure**
* Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning)
* How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click*
* Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time
### Who should attend
* Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers
* Terraform users (new or experienced)
* Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples
* Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way
No prior Minecraft experience requiredâjust curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way.
Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. đ§ąâĄď¸đ
Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!!
https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/
DevOps Columbus January: Learn Infrastructure-as-Code Through Minecraft
## Details
\#\# Learn Infrastructure\-as\-Code \(the FUN Way\) â Through Minecraft đŽâď¸
**Joint Meetup: DevOps Columbus - Azure CBUS - Columbus HashiCorp User Group**
What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didnât feel like a whitepaper⌠but more like a game?
Join us for a joint DevOps Columbus, Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| âThe Azure Terraformerâ\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts.
In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft serversâwhile teaching the same patterns youâd use for production cloud infrastructure.
\#\#\# What weâll cover
* Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform**
* Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure**
* Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning)
* How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click*
* Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time
\#\#\# Who should attend
* Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers
* Terraform users (new or experienced)
* Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples
* Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way
No prior Minecraft experience requiredâjust curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way.
Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. đ§ąâĄď¸đ
Columbus HUG January: Learn Infrastructure-as-Code Through Minecraft
## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) â Through Minecraft đŽâď¸
**Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS Ă Columbus HashiCorp User Group**
What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didnât feel like a whitepaper⌠but more like a game?
Join us for a joint Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| âThe Azure Terraformerâ\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts.
In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft serversâwhile teaching the same patterns youâd use for production cloud infrastructure.
### What weâll cover
* Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform**
* Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure**
* Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning)
* How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click*
* Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time
### Who should attend
* Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers
* Terraform users (new or experienced)
* Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples
* Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way
No prior Minecraft experience requiredâjust curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way.
Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. đ§ąâĄď¸đ
Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!!
https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/
Board games at The Forge
The Forge does have a full bar and kitchen. There is no cover charge but they do request all attendees to purchase a minimum of ~$20 per person. Soft drink refills are $1 each. Please support our hosts so we can continue to provide great events for the group!
The Forge has a large library of games available for us to enjoy. Hosts and regulars will also provide numerous popular games but please bring any games you would like to teach and/or play.
Doors open at 6, and we expect gaming to be rolling by around 630. Please promptly end your games and clear out the space at 10pm when the bar closes.
We encourage socializing but do not permit disruptive behavior of any kind. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing a fun and welcoming space to veteran, newbie, and rookie gamers in the Columbus area.
Parking can be challenging. There is a parking lot behind the neighboring Mexican restaurant that is free and easy to walk from but it's a bit hidden.
Outdoors Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Morning people unite!! đ¤ â + đŹ @ Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville
Early-bird coffee and conversation at [Crimson Cup Coffee Shop - Clintonville](https://www.crimsoncup.com/about/location/clintonville)!
Hike the Scioto Audubon Trail with optional lunch at Nocterra Brewing
We'll hike about 2.5 miles on the Scioto Audobon Trail and can extend the distance as the group prefers. Will ask one of the faster regulars to take the front (about 16 minute miles) and Iâll bring up the rear at about 19 minute miles. No one left behind.
Those who wish can join for lunch at Nocterra after the hike. Note: There is a $5 gift card on the Nocterra site if you provide your email and birthdate.
Cafe Istanbul-Easton
Letâs meetup at Cafe Istanbul for the last day of Restaurant Week. You get three courses for $30.
This is the menu:
https://614now.com/rw-menu/cafeistanbul-easton
Outdoors Events Near You
Connect with your local Outdoors community
Sunday at Highbanks Metro Park
We will meet next to the restrooms at the [Big Meadows Picnic Area](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/HBK_Web_1980.png). They're all the way at the back of the park, and they can be found at coordinates [40°09'06.6"N 83°02'30.2"W](https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B009'06.6%22N+83%C2%B002'30.2%22W/@40.151828,-83.0423587,214m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m10!1m5!3m4!2zNDDCsDA5JzA4LjAiTiA4M8KwMDEnNDUuMSJX!8m2!3d40.1522222!4d-83.0291944!3m3!8m2!3d40.151827!4d-83.041715?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTIwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) (near the playground and the zip line).
We'll hike about 5 miles at [Highbanks Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/highbanks/) on the Dripping Rock and Overlook Trails. Afterward, we'll head over to [Olentangy River Brewing](https://www.olentangybrew.com/) for drinks, coffee, or food (their Sunday [food truck](https://www.olentangybrew.com/eventsandfood) is Venezuelan and always gets good reviews).
The actual address of the brewery is [303 Green Meadows Dr S, 43035](https://www.google.com/maps/place/303+Green+Meadows+Dr+S,+Lewis+Center,+OH+43035/@40.1551938,-83.0144045,17.25z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x8838f395cef06c97:0xe407de61b3e30069!8m2!3d40.1551765!4d-83.0124352!16s%2Fg%2F11c26jc7j9?entry=ttu). If you can't make the hike, we should be there by noon.
**How to find our starting point in Big Meadows:**
If you are new to Highbanks, the Big Meadows picnic area is 1.5 miles into the park just after you turn into the park off of U.S. Route 23. That is, after you enter the park, drive a mile and a half into the park. You will come to a crosswalk with a yield sign in the middle of it (this is not to be confused with the first such crosswalk you come to just in front of the Nature Center, which you arrive at maybe a quarter of a mile into the park).
Just after this second crosswalk, make a left. Then make another almost immediate left into the parking lot on your left. There you will see the jungle gym and the kiddie zip line to your left. I will be just in front of the restrooms just a bit further down from the jungle gym and picnic shelter; the restroom building will also be on your left.
How to Install a Bog Garden, with David Marsolo - Free Class
Hosted by Wild Ones Columbus
How to Install a Bog Garden, with David Marsolo
Saturday, March 14th, 2026
10:00 am to 12:00 pm (Eastern Time)
Innis House (Inniswoods Metro Park) , 940 S. Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH
Public Welcome Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
A bog can serve the same functions as a traditional rain garden but has the advantages of being low maintenance, climate resilient and attractive for a much longer part of the year.
David Marsolo is a long time Wild Ones member. He has been maintaining artificial bogs at his suburban Westerville home for about 20 years. He will describe how to install a bog and fill it with many interesting native plants including pollinator and host plants
https://columbus.wildones.org/calendar-of-events-and-programs/?wo_event_id=11160
























