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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out shelter building events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the shelter building events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find shelter building events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Shelter building Events Today
Join in-person Shelter building events happening right now
Maximalist Gardening - Talk at Inniswood
Garden to the Max
Join the Inniswood Garden Society for their annual meeting and garden reception. Featured speaker, Teresa Woodard, will discuss maximalist gardening
Having a maximalist garden is a bold aesthetic choice—yet it also brings vitality back to the earth, in an abundant expression of more. Garden to the Max celebrates gardens across the US that embrace maximalism through joy and wonder, nonstop blooms, and abundant layers
06/07/2026
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Days: Sun
Inniswood Metro Gardens
940 S Hempstead Rd
Westerville, OH, 43081
(614)508-8111
Location Map: Innis House.
COUNT RMH Housewarmer Volunteering (Ronald McDonald House)
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.
Franklin Park Conservatory / Columbus Brewing Company
**History**
The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood.
In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio.
A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization.
In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden.
Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community.
**Maps of the Conservatory**
Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below).
**Summary**
For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year.
Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now.
**Tickets and pricing**
On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20.
Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4.
Parking is always free.
If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000.
**Where we'll meet**
We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather.
**Your GPS is stupid!**
Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you.
The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road.
If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West.
You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive.
\* Don't really do this.
**After the event**
After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu).
The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event.
We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.
Cape Coral Meet Singles on Zoom Tonight
**🦋 Speed Dating from Home – Meet Cape Coral Singles Live on Zoom**
Genuine conversations with real locals — all from your living room. We match you with compatible Cape Coral locals using a quick personality quiz. You'll chat one-on-one on Zoom in short timed rounds while a host guides the session.
**✅ Grab your spot by RSVPing.** The host will send you a personality quiz and Zoom details directly after you RSVP. Don't leave it too late — places fill up.
---
🎯 **Perfect for:**
- People re-entering the dating scene after a break
- Anyone who likes connecting online before meeting face-to-face
- Singles in Cape Coral who want to meet people from home
**How It Works**
1. **RSVP below** – Click RSVP to reserve your place.
2. **Check your Meetup messages** – The host will reach out with a personality quiz to match you with compatible Cape Coral singles.
3. **Complete the quiz** – A quick personality quiz so we can find your best matches.
4. **Log in on the night** – Connect to the Zoom session from home. The host runs the show.
5. **Chat & match** – Quick timed rounds with Cape Coral singles, then mutual matches sent out after.
**Event Details**
- **Format:** Live on Zoom – guided rounds from your home
- **Location:** From home – all you need is Wi-Fi and a webcam
- **Host:** Experienced host steering the session
- **Vibe:** Great energy, real people, authentic conversation
- **Privacy:** Contact info only shared when both match
- **Tech:** Zoom, webcam, and a stable connection
- **Rounds:** Multiple short one-on-one rounds
- **Matches:** Mutual matches sent out after the event
💡 **Tip:** Good lighting and a clean background make a big difference.
**Frequently Asked Questions**
**Do I need anything besides Zoom?**
Just Zoom, a webcam, and Wi-Fi. That's it.
**How long are the chats?**
A few minutes each — just enough to get a sense of someone.
**What if I'm shy?**
The virtual setting and hosted rounds keep things comfortable for everyone.
---
✨ Your next match could be one RSVP away. 🥰 ✨
Weaving with (Invasive) Weeds - Free
Weaving with Weeds
06/07/2026
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Battelle Darby Creek Cedar Ridge
1775 Darby Creek Drive
Galloway, OH, 43119
(614)508-8111
Location : Cedar Ridge Picnic Area
Learn to identify invasive plant species of Ohio while making a tapestry with them! Materials will be provided. Meet at the Ranger Station.
https://ohfranklinctyweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=46892229
Art & Craft Maker Meetup
**Get your creative flow going with a Sunday Afternoon Maker Meetup!**
Whether you are looking to carve out dedicated creative time, wanting to get a lingering project across the finish line, or just looking to chat with fellow local makers—this is the space for you.
🧵 **What to Bring**
Bring any art or craft project you are currently working on, as long as it is portable and quiet. Think:
* **Yarn & Thread:** Knitting, crochet, embroidery, cross-stitch, hand-sewing, mending.
* **Paper & Sketching:** Sketchbooks, adult coloring books, watercolors, bullet journaling.
* **Digital:** Tablets, iPad drawing, laptop writing/design.
* *Please note: Because we are meeting in a shared public space, no power tools, sewing machines, or high-odor materials (like strong solvents or spray glues), please!*
**📍 Where to Find Us**
* We will be meeting at **Columbus Metropolitan Library - Martin Luther King Branch** in **Meeting Room 1**. Room is reserved under **CBUS Maker Meetup.**
**⏱️ Timeline**
* **1:00 PM:** Arrive, grab a seat, get settled, and do a quick round of introductions so we can see what everyone is working on.
* **1:15 PM - 3:00 PM:** Open maker time! Chat, craft, relax, and swap creative ideas.
**⚠️ A Note on RSVPs**
Space for this first meetup is strictly limited to 10 spots.
If your plans change and you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to "Not Going" as soon as possible so someone on the waitlist can grab your spot. We ask that you try to give at least 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel.
***
**We can't wait to meet you and see what you're making! All skill levels welcome.**
Shelter building Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Sunday funday: let's play dodgeball at Scioto Audubon park
Dodgeball is back again!
If you’ve been wanting to come out, this is an easy one to join. We’ll be playing for about 1.5 to 2 hours, you do not need to bring any equipment, and no experience is needed.
We use a specific set of rules and equipment to make the games run better and keep them fun for everybody, not just people who already know how to play.
If it rains, the event will be canceled.
Miami Scale Your Social Life from Home
**💓 Online Speed Dating – Real Miami Locals, Live on Zoom**
Speed dating from home — connect with real Miami singles on Zoom. Quick, hosted rounds on Zoom with Miami singles paired to your age group and personality. No awkward pauses — just natural conversation.
**✅ RSVP here and we'll take care of the rest.** After you RSVP, the host will message you directly with the personality quiz and Zoom details. Spots are limited.
---
🎯 **Perfect for:**
- Anyone who likes connecting online before meeting face-to-face
- Introverts who shine in one-on-one conversations
- Anyone curious about speed dating in a relaxed setting
**Event Details**
- **Format:** Zoom video session – short timed rounds
- **Location:** From home – all you need is Wi-Fi and a webcam
- **Host:** Professional host keeping the evening smooth and relaxed
- **Vibe:** Great energy, real people, authentic conversation
**How It Works**
1. **RSVP below** – Click RSVP to reserve your place.
2. **The host will contact you** – After RSVP, you'll get a message with the personality quiz so we can pair you well.
3. **Answer the personality quiz** – Takes just a few minutes and makes the matching much better.
4. **Hop on Zoom** – You'll receive the Zoom link before the event. The host handles the rest.
5. **Chat & match** – Quick timed rounds with Miami singles, then mutual matches sent out after.
**Frequently Asked Questions**
**What if I'm shy?**
The virtual setting and hosted rounds keep things comfortable for everyone.
**Is my info private?**
Absolutely. Contact details are only exchanged on mutual match.
**When will the host contact me?**
Usually within a day or two of your RSVP, well before the event.
**Do I need anything besides Zoom?**
Just Zoom, a webcam, and Wi-Fi. That's it.
---
✨ Real people, real conversations — all from your home. RSVP to join us. 💓 ✨
You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321)
Location: The Goat River South
219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Street parking is free on Sundays
[Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf)
Book summary:
On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.
Yoga @ Goodale Park w/Victoria + Woodhouse Vegan After
Join us Sunday, June 7th at 10am for a gentle beginner-friendly yoga flow in Goodale park with Victoria, one of our very own vegan community members and certified yoga teacher!
Whether you’re brand new to yoga or a long time practitioner, this class is designed to help you slow down, stretch, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. Expect a relaxed, accessible flow focused on easing tension, moving mindfully, and leaving you feeling a little more grounded.
All levels welcome! Bring water and a yoga mat (or towel if you don’t have a mat).
A suggested donation of $10 is appreciated, but payment is absolutely not required to attend and enjoy class. A Venmo QR code will be available on-site for anyone who would like to contribute.
The class duration will be one hour from 10-11am. After class, we’ll head to Woodhouse Vegan for anyone who wants to keep the good vibes going over food and conversation 🌱
🍕Pizza House 🍕
Who’s up for a pizza night at the highly requested Pizza House? 🍕🍻
Join us at for great pizza, good laughs, and even better company!
Come hungry and ready for a cheesy good time.
Shelter building Events Near You
Connect with your local Shelter building community
COUNT monthly event: Kitchen service at Van Buren Center's shelter
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.
How to Be a Better Communicator - Free Seminar
Communication is everything in life
You are only as successful as your ability to communicate.
\- What if you could confidently talk to anyone?
\- What if you had the ability to calmly control every conversation?
\- What if you could close that sale\, ask for that date\, make new friends\, repair problematic relationships\, get that raise\, or effortlessly express any idea with confidence?
You can!
The secret to success relies on your ability or inability to effectively communicate. Attend a free seminar and gain a better ability to communicate.
Hosted by the Church of Scientology of Central Ohio
1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215
For more information, contact Rhiannon, the Event Host at 614-221-5024
Microsoft Build - Columbus Edition!
We are bringing Microsoft Build sessions to Columbus Ohio!
The Central Ohio Azure Meetup and Central Ohio .NET Developer's Group (CONDG) are coming together to bring some of the labs and breakouts from Microsoft Build to your backyard. In this free, 1 day event, you are going to Build stuff with us!
And yes, there will be free food. So please RSVP for a head count!
Tour local Native wildflower meadow and learn how to make your own
Granville Land Lab
2025 Burg Street | Granville
MEADOWS FOR MONARCHS PROJECT
Learning Landscapes
Tour + Community Science at the Land Lab
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
9 a.m. - 12 noon: Program
12- 12:30: picnic lunch
*meet at shelter house near Granville Intermediate School playground*
Free. Registration Required so we know to expect you,[ click here https://www.lickingpollinatorpathway.org/land-lab-tour](https://www.lickingpollinatorpathway.org/land-lab-tour)
Want to make your own wildflower meadow? Residents of licking county can sign up for this free program to receive free seed and training
https://www.lickingpollinatorpathway.org/meadows
**ABOUT THE EVENT**
Join Pollinator Pathway for a morning at the Land Lab, a ~100-acre prairie and outdoor learning space just steps from Granville Intermediate School. This event explores how schools and other campuses can create living classrooms and contribute to community science.
* **Tour the Land Lab:** Award-winning environmental science educator Jim Reding will lead guided tours through prairie, wetlands and other restored habitat, sharing the story behind this nationally-recognized space and the students and partnerships who helped make it happen.
* **Contribute to Community Science with iNaturalist App:** Learn to identify and document plants, pollinators and other wildlife using iNaturalist. Dr. Karen Goodell, professor of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University at Newark and one of Ohio's foremost experts on native bees will share how to use this powerful tool to learn about the natural world while contributing to scientific research.
* **Connect & Collaborate:** The morning program concludes with an optional BYO picnic lunch and networking at the Land Lab shelter house, overlooking the prairie.
**🌸Anyone passionate about conservation and outdoor learning is welcome🌸**
**WHAT TO BRING, WEAR & PREPARE**
* **Download the iNaturalist app (the new one vs. the "classic" one) & create an account prior to the event if you don't have one already.**
* **Sunscreen**
* **Water bottle**
* **Insect repellent**
* **Hat**
* **Comfortable closed-toe shoes suitable for uneven terrain**
* **Light-colored clothing.**
* **Long pants and socks are encouraged.**
* **Please bring a reusable water bottle**
* **Packed/picnic lunch.**
**Picnic table seating will be available at the shelter house overlooking the Land Lab**
BeComing Circle Initiates
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg
Instructor - Crow, HPS
Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange
RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642.
Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online.
Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only
Please come prepared for ritual.
Blessings ~ Crow
Sunday Brunch
Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!
Columbus Yarn Club at the Grandview Heights Library
12:45-3:45 in the Meeting Room, Library lowest leve, by the drinking fountain. Bring your yarn projects, meet new friends.
Plenty of parking in the lot, in the overflow lot across the street, and on the street.
See you there!





















