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BOTSWANA – Moremi Reserve Chobe NP Photographic Safari
Get checked your bucket list by visiting this fascinating destination! Start in Maun and end in Kasane! With the Safari tour Moremi reserve and Chobe NP Photographic Safari, you have a 10 days tour package taking you through Maun, Botswana and 5 other destinations in Botswana.
Tour Start
Maun
Tour End
Kasane
Flights
• Arrival: Day01 before 2pm
• Return: Day10 after 4pm
Fly IN Airport: Maun Intl. airport (Botswana)
Fly OUT Airport: kasane Intl. airport (Botswana)
Itinerary
Day01
Maun
Day02
Moremi Game Reserve
Day03
Moremi Game Reserve
Day04
Khwai
Day05
Game drives and Mokoro excursion
Day06
Chobe National Park
Day07
Chobe National Park
Day08
Chobe National Park
Day09
Chobe National Park: game drive and cruise
Day10
Chobe National Park and transfer to Kasane
Cost:
$3990 (Double Occupancy)
$4520 (Single Supplement)
Inclusions
Price Includes
* 2 person spacious dome tent (L3m x W3m x H2.20m) with built in groundsheet, 2 large aerating
* windows with mosquito netting.
* high density foam mattress,
* sleeping bag and pillow.
* Bucket shower facilities
* A large canvas tent (7m x 5m) is used as a dining area.
* Services of a professional guide, safari chef and camp assistants
* Meals as per the itinerary
* Tea and coffee available in camp
* bottoled water is provided
* Spacious and comfortable tented accommodation
* High density foam matress and bedding
* Services of a professional guide, safari chef and camp assistants
* Utility vehicle for more than 4 pax
* Game drives and local transfers in customised safari vehicles
* Exclusive camping in private campsites within the national parks and reserves
* All entrance and camping fees within the national parks and reserves
* All meals (mineral water, tea, coffee) whilst in Travel Creations Botswana Tented Camps
* All activities as specified in the itinerary
* All transportation included as per the itinerary. Please mind that the tour starts in Maun and ends in Kasane
Price Excludes
* Flights
* Meals other than mentioned in the itinerary
* Personal Expenses
* Optional activities
* Travel insurance / Visa
* Tips
————————————————
For detailed itinerary and to reserve your seat follow the link below:
[https://www.bucketlistgrouptravel.com/tour/botswana-moremi-reserve-chobe-np-photographic-safari/](https://www.bucketlistgrouptravel.com/tour/botswana-moremi-reserve-chobe-np-photographic-safari/)
Questions?
Text / Call - 2023787696 - Himanshu - Organizer
Candlelight Restorative YinYang Yoga
Gently flow to release the week's stresses, then deeply stretch with the yin and restorative yoga in an accepting, calm environment enhanced with candlelight and the aromatherapy of essential oils. Leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, restored and ready for what the weekend has in store for you! Class is 75 minutes.
The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up at www.piesfitnessyoga.com required at least two hours before class begins.**
The address is 1322 Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314.
Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 36,37,38,39.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.
Advanced Tarot and PotLuck dinner
Advanced Tarot. You need to know how to play. No open hands. Always happy to talk strategy, but these are not teaching sessions. See Tuesday French Tarot for beginners. Beginners will be invited to join as they improve. Goal is maximum 2 tables of 5 players, we can play in multiples of 3,4, or 5.
I'll prepare the main, and post here by Monday with a list of what would work with. Please indicate in comments what you will bring. I will be happy to provide address as we get closer.
Housekeeping notes: 1. We have just learned that if you are on the wait list and a spot opens up you do not get notified. I will try to notify when I see this happening but will not always catch it...check back. 2. If you cancel after RSVP window, those on wait list will not get a notification, the wait list goes away, nor do I get notification. So if you are canceling after 7pm Thursday night prior to event, reach out to me as well so I can notify a possible wait list player.
Candlelight Restorative Yin Yang Yoga
Gently flow to release the week's stresses, then deeply stretch with the yin and restorative yoga in an accepting, calm environment enhanced with candlelight and meditation. Leave feeling relaxed, refreshed, restored and ready for what the weekend has in store for you!
**Please reserve your spot at www.piesfitnessyoga.com.** The session is offered InStudio only. **Sign up for sessions must be made at least 2 hours prior to class.**
The address is 1322 Prince St Alexandria, VA 22314.
Our entrance is located on the side of the building, parallel to West St. **Street parking is available and additional parking is located at Shiloh Baptist church, spaces 3,5,7,9.** The church is located across the street from the studio, on the corner of Duke St. and West St.
🍻 Tap Into Summer: May Happy Hour @ 7 Locks Brewing ☀️
🍻 Tap Into Summer: May Happy Hour @ 7 Locks Brewing ☀️
Summer is right around the corner — let’s kick things off with a fun and social happy hour at 7 Locks Brewing in Rockville!
Join us for a laid-back Friday night filled with great craft beer, good energy, and a chance to meet awesome people. Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time joining, this is an easy, welcoming way to get out and connect.
🍺 What to expect:
A relaxed, social atmosphere
A mix of new faces and familiar regulars (20s & 30s crowd)
Excellent craft beers brewed right on site
Plenty of space to hang, chat, and unwind
⏰ When: Friday, May 8 | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 Where: 7 Locks Brewing, Rockville, MD
Feel free to arrive right at 7 or come by whenever works for you — we’ll be there hanging out. Look for the group or check the event chat if you need help finding us.
✨ Friendly reminder:
Please RSVP to help us plan accordingly. If your plans change, update your RSVP so others can join.
Let’s raise a glass to warmer weather and good company — see you there! 🍻
Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun Events This Week
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Photo Class: Exploring Street Photography
THIS CLASS IS OFFERED THROUGH CAPITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER
**PLEASE REGISTER WITH CAPITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER, NOT MEETUP!**
https://capitalphotographycenter.com/classes/class/2026-05-09-exploring-street-photography
Street photography is very popular now more than ever because photographers have access to high quality cameras in mobile phones and smaller high resolution digital cameras. A camera’s ease of access and proliferation raises the issues of ethics and privacy in public places and the difference between a snapshot and a street photograph.
This hands-on class will explore the unique aspects of the street photography genre. Michael Koren will be your guide as you create compelling photographs that go beyond the ordinary snapshot.
First, you’ll learn pro level tips and techniques and discuss privacy issues associated with street photography. Then, with Michael’s guidance and direction, the group will head out to photograph near the White House in Lafayette Square.
You’ll create photographs that demonstrate your personal vision while using your own gear optimized for street photography. We'll then head back to the classroom for image reviews and feedback.
Topics include:
-Proper techniques and settings for street photography
-Pro tips and techniques for capturing compelling images
-Create captivating images using anticipation, patience, composition and
visualization
-Hands-on image capture
-Privacy and ethics concerning street photography
-Image review and feedback
Recommended gear:
-Although any camera will do, for best results we recommend a DSLR or
mirrorless camera with manual exposure controls
-Lenses in the range of 28mm - 70mm (zoom or prime)
-Fully charged camera battery with an optional spare
-Camera instruction manual (paper or electronic)
-No tripod, no flash
Class size is very limited
***
• Important to know
**THIS CLASS IS OFFERED THROUGH CAPITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER**
https://capitalphotographycenter.com/classes/class/2026-05-09-exploring-street-photography
🦐♠️🦐 2nd Saturday Spades Special@Hook & Reel in Greenbelt!
This event is being held in partnership with the DMV Spades Meetup Group. Direct all questions to the Organizer and Host, Nne-Nne Abanobi.
*******
Hi All! We play 2nd Saturday Spades in Greenbelt, MD every month...
📍Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar 🦐
6002 Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20770
⏳️ 6:30pm to 11:30pm
🌟 Join us at this PG County sports bar for food, fun, drinks.....and, of course, Spades.
🍷 Happy Hour Specials from 12pm to 7pm:
https://hookreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HR_GreenbeltMD_HappyHour_Menu_24x36.pdf
Located right off the Beltway in the Plaza. Free parking everywhere!
Remember to support the business by ordering food/drinks.
😀 **This event is posted in multiple groups. So expect a nice crowd.** 😀
All skill levels are welcome. Get matched with a partner onsite.
We hope to see you there! God bless. 😊❤️🙏🏾
*******
Check out The DMV Spades Meetup Group https://meetu.ps/c/8qv5/1SV52/d on Meetup
A Poetry Workshop
Hey Poetry Lovers!
This group is on a roll. Here’s the gist:
We meet at the **Capital One Café in Chinatown** from **12pm - 2pm** every other week.
For enrichment, we start by reading and reflecting on a **“published poem”**, suggested by someone in the group. No advance preparation is necessary. But feel free to check out some of the poems we’ve read [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSyE_wCLQCPHRrKmN5F9tOIeeRQUZESxjRXGVBoCF2uU8Gm0_d0uECiCBCQXEy6ksxfsBOhtRIOpW3T/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true&widget=true&headers=false%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E). Or submit suggestions for future meetings [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexGc2Z2Kp6bZW0D3_hfJ7NUUkfNHf7TXX-43FglCeBd9EF2Q/viewform?usp=send_form).
Next, we **share our work and offer feedback**. Depending on attendance, everyone gets \~10 minutes to use as they like. (No need to share, though; you’re welcome to come even if you prefer just to listen.)
We maintain a **Discord server** to help share our work and communicate outside our bi-weekly meet-ups. If you haven’t used Discord before, take a moment to download it and create an account before arriving. When we meet you on Saturday, we will add you to our server, the “DC Poetry Workshop”, and can help you navigate the app if you have questions.
Finally, if you plan on sharing a poem, consider how you will do so. Some options include:
* Print 5-10 copies to distribute in person
* Take and share screenshots in the Discord chat.
* Copy the poem into a google doc, change sharing settings to “anyone with link”, and copy the google doc link into the Discord chat.
Most importantly, we’re excited to meet you!
Catch you on Saturday,
Diego / Ian / Cayden / Nate / Otasha / Lia / An
DC Kali's Beginner & Advanced Class - Saturday Meetup
Covid Alert:
We will start having classes again at Canal Park on Wednesdays and the dojo on Saturdays. Please bring your own hand sanitizer, and a mask are a must! We'll practice from a safe distance from each other; and progress from there. On Saturdays, class is limited to the first 5 persons to rsvp (until further notice)
"DC Kali" is an official training group for FCS Kali. Our curriculum includes knifes, swords, stick-fighting, striking, and grappling; but we place a special emphasis on edged weapons. Please come out and learn some Kali. Our aim is to train hard, learn some sound defense strategies, and make friends along the way. Although FCS Kali is a combat-oriented systems that involves edged weapons, we provide a safe environment for learning w/o sacrificing realism in our training. We teach in small semi-private groups, allowing each individual student to progress as quickly as he or she can absorb the info being taught. Hope to see you all there.
Mosi K. Jack, Esq. Training Group Instructor
· FCS Manong (under Tuhon Ray Dionaldo) http://www.fcskali.com/ )
Filipino Combat Systems is an organization dedicated the preservation and promotion of all Filipino Martial Arts. Filipino Combat Systems(FCS) is an organization/system with members from around the world. FCS is based on Tuhon Ray Dionaldo's over 35 years of practicing various FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) styles. He's combine elements of each, into one system that's efficient, fast, concise, and logical. FCS members have extremely diverse backgrounds, and Martial Arts systems. We’ve all come together because of our love of the Filipino Martial Arts, and our unwillingness to become involved in the politics that has so often stifled our growth.
Please pick one of the following class and fee combos:
Drop-In Fee: $25/per class (after 1st free Saturday class)
Monthly fees: $80/month (Wednesday park classes included for free), or
Quarterly fees: $210/every 3 months (which comes to $70/month; includes the Wednesday park classes), or
Wednesday Park only: $50/month • Cash and Paypal are preferred method of payment (online payments via Square are available at: https://squareup.com/market/dc-kali )
• One free trial class is permitted (but must rsvp ahead of class) •
Equipment: if you have training knives, rattan sticks, training swords, and/or mma gloves bring them. If not, we may have a few extra.
Training Videos http://www.fcskaliphilippines.com/fcs-curriculum-videos.html http://www.bloodnbonesgear.com/id5.html
Financial Literacy Workshop
Come learn how money really works. We’ll cover how to grow it, protect it, get out of debt, and use smart retirement and infinite banking strategies to build long-term security.
🦐♠️🦐 2nd Saturday Spades@Hook & Reel in Greenbelt - Posted in 10+ Groups
This event is being held in partnership with the DMV Spades Meetup Group. Direct questions to the Host, Nne-Nne Abanobi.
><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Hi All! Join us for 2nd Saturday Spades in Greenbelt, MD. Our group is friendly and welcoming. Please give us a try!
📍Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar 🦐
6002 Greenbelt Road
Greenbelt, MD 20770
⏳️ 6:30pm to 11:30pm
🌟 Join us at this PG County sports bar for food, fun, drinks.....and, of course, Spades.
😀 All skill levels are welcome! Get matched with a partner onsite.
🍷 Happy Hour Specials from 12pm to 7pm:
[https://hookreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HR_GreenbeltMD_HappyHour_Menu_24x36.pdf](https://hookreel.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HR_GreenbeltMD_HappyHour_Menu_24x36.pdf)
Located right off the Beltway. Free parking!
Remember to support the business by ordering food/drinks.
🌟 **This event is posted in multiple groups. So, expect a nice crowd.**
We look forward to seeing you!
Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun Events Near You
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Pickleball Beginners Workshop - Columbus Ski Club
✨ **Pickleball Clinic (for all skill levels)**
**(TUES MAY 12, 7-9)**
**YOU MUST SIGN UP AND PAY PRIOR TO TUESDAYS CLINIC WITH LINK BELOW:**
[Pickleball Summer 2026 - Calendar - Columbus Ski Club](https://www.columbusskiclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=686961&item_id=2948671&actr=3)
No equipment required (bring your own paddle if you prefer). Non beginners are also welcome for the clinic to improve skills and learn strategy. We will break the group into 2 to learn based on skill levels.
Come out, improve your game, and meet great people. All skill levels welcome!
Columbus Ski Club Membership is not required for the workshops. Try out the sport before committing to the 8 week league.
Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup (2nd Tues)
Jimmy V's Grill & Pub in Grandview Heights. You are responsible for your own meal/drinks. We usually don't have any agenda other than eat, drink and talk. :) If the weather is nice we will be on the back patio, otherwise we are in the cigar room.
This group has been meeting every Tuesday evening for over a decade. Many attendees do not RSVP on meetup. Please don't let the small number here discourage you. Anyone/everyone is welcome to come. We'd love to have you join us.
COTA bus #5 comes to W. 5th and Wyandotte Rd. And it's a minute walk to the restaurant.
***
Did you know that there are atheists everywhere?!?! You may not know it, but we are! We're in your schools, diners, police force, military, government, and some are even still in your churches! So come and join us and meet other local atheists, along with agnostics, heathens, humanists, skeptics, and anyone else who's 'hell bound'!
Vision: a Central Ohio that accepts atheism as a viable alternative in all areas of public and private life.
Mission: grow, support, and provide community for atheists in Central Ohio.
Social meetings held most Tuesdays at a local pub/restaurant at 7:00 PM (and often into the wee hours). Attendees call themselves agnostics, skeptics, humanists, non-theists, deists or even theists. All attendees are welcome but should support our vision.
Atheists of Columbus (AoC) is part of Omnipresent Atheists (OA). AoC members are invited to join this OA meetup and/or OA Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/omnipresentatheists/ ) but are free to continue conversations on the AoC Facebook group ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/columbusatheists/ ). AoC was founded in 2012 as a networking, social group for Central Ohio area humanists, skeptics, atheists, agnostics, nonbelievers, freethinkers, and the curious. It was a member of Columbus CoR and held weekly meetings, mostly on Fridays, for several years but then operated as an online only group for some time. In November 2018, Omnipresent Atheists (OA), a group that routinely meets on Tuesdays, invited AoC to merge.
Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason (ColumbusCoR.org). Omnipresent Atheists is a member of the Columbus Coalition of Reason ( http://www.ColumbusCoR.org ). Omnipresent Atheists endorses the mission of the Secular Coalition for America ( http://secular.org ).
Duty vs. Results: What Makes an Action Moral?
When judging morality, should we prioritize **intentions/duty** or **outcomes/results**? It introduces two influential philosophers as representatives of these approaches.
* **Immanuel Kant (deontology):** An action is moral when it is done from **duty** and follows rational, universal principles (the **categorical imperative**). Certain acts—like lying—are wrong regardless of the consequences; you can’t do a wrong thing for a right reason.
* **John Stuart Mill (utilitarian consequentialism):** The morality of an action is determined by its **effects**, specifically how much **happiness/well-being** it produces. Mill argues that some pleasures are “higher” than others, and that good intentions don’t redeem harmful outcomes.
## Discussion Questions
1. **The lying dilemma:** A murderer comes to your door and asks if your friend is hiding inside. Kant would say you must not lie.
2. **Can good intentions rescue a bad outcome?**
3. **The organ harvest problem:** A surgeon has five patients dying of organ failure and one healthy patient in for a checkup. Killing the one to harvest organs would save five lives, and the math works out for the utilitarian. Why does this feel so deeply wrong? Is that feeling a point in Kant's favor, or just a bias we should overcome?
4. **Do rules need exceptions?** Kant insists moral rules must be universal, with no exceptions. But most of us can imagine extreme scenarios where any rule seems like it should bend. Does the need for exceptions fatally undermine deontology, or is the strength of the system precisely that it refuses to bend?
5. **Who gets to calculate the consequences?** Utilitarianism asks us to maximize good outcomes, but we're notoriously bad at predicting consequences. If we can't reliably know the results of our actions, is it practical to base our entire moral system on outcomes? Does this uncertainty push us back toward rules and principles?
6. **Everyday morality:** Think about a real moral decision you've made recently, even a small one. Did you reason more like a Kantian (what's the right thing to do in principle?) or more like a utilitarian (what will produce the best result?)? Do most people naturally lean one way?
7. **Justice vs. the greater good:** A town can prevent a deadly plague by sacrificing one innocent person. The greater good is clearly served. But is it just? Can an action be morally right and deeply unjust at the same time?
8. **The big synthesis question:** Are these two systems actually opposed, or do they often arrive at the same answers by different paths? Is it possible that we need both: rules to guide us in the moment and consequences to evaluate systems and policies over time?
Christians in Tech - Meetup #35 @ Improving
Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you.
Our Website
[https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus)
Sponsors and Partners
* Improving (Venue Sponsor)
* Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor)
* Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)
Choose Your Movie: THE SHEEP DETECTIVES vs HOKUM at Cinemark Stoneridge!
Join us as we get together to see your choice of two VERY different movies – one sweet and wholesome – the other a terrifying folklore horror! Option 1 is the fun whodunnit-action-comedy-mystery led by Hugh Jackman, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES! Option 2 is the top-reviewed supernatural-horror-thriller starring Adam Scott, HOKUM! Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event:
THE SHEEP DETECTIVES: Every night a shepherd reads aloud a murder mystery, pretending his sheep can understand. When he is found dead, the sheep realize at once that it was a murder and think they know everything about how to go about solving it. The film is directed by Kyle Balda and take a look at this ensemble cast: Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau and Emma Thompson and the voices of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein and Rhys Darby. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyZI5oM6hWk
HOKUM: In this film, a horror writer visits an Irish inn to scatter his parents' ashes, unaware the property is said to be haunted by a witch. It is written/directed by Damian McCarthy stars Adam Scott, Peter Coonan, David Wilmot, Florence Ordesh and Austin Amelio. Hokum premiered to rave reviews at this year’s SXSW Festival and is being release by Neon. It is earning a stellar 97% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which calls it, “A classic haunted house story enriched with atmospheric folklore and perfectly-timed shocks!” TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVCIK_MPyhc
PLAN: For those seeing HOKUM, please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and meet inside the theater lobby at 6:50pm! For those seeing THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, please purchase your ticket for the 7:15pm showing and meet inside the theater lobby at 7:00pm! For BOTH films, we’ll plan for a pre-show bite at nearby El Vaquero! For those joining for dinner, we’ll meet at El Vaquero at 5:45pm!
Should be a couple of fun movies and a good time together, Dan
Speak Easy (Storytelling)
The topic for May is "Ink"
Speak Easy: true stories, told live.
The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast.
Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect.
The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!
Trails & Ales! Blendon Woods Metro Park / Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
**History**
The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville.
Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people.
As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support.
The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts.
In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area.
**Map of the Park**
Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png).
**Summary**
For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks.
**Where We'll Meet**
We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center.
**After the Hike**
Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.
The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.





























