Ages: All ages with registered and participating adult
Fee: $5
Includes: Light appetizers will be provided.
Terrain/Distance: classroom setting
The Skills & Thrills Series is designed for you to hear an inspiring outdoor adventure story as well as learn new skills you can apply to your next adventure. There will be time for Q&A and adventure
camaraderie at each. Check out the entire series:
- January 22 - Winter Expeditions in Big Mountains
- February 5 - Wireless Outdoors - Best Adventure Apps
- February 19 - Hiking Ohio’s 1,444 Mile Buckeye Trail
- March 4 - Trails on Water
- March 18 - Adaptive Outdoor Recreation
Topics include:
Winter Expeditions in Big Mountains
Have you ever wondered what you can do during the winter? Hear thrilling tales from both Zach Tolles and Dan Sahli about their winter explorations from hiking in the Adirondacks to tele-ski touring in Wyoming, along with tips and tricks learned from other mountainous excursions.
Zach’s High Peak Adventure in the Adironacks was one that he and his friends thought would be the trip of a lifetime. Eleven High Peaks linked together by 35 miles of trail with just 3 days to do it. Hear how warm winter temperatures, broken gear, and tired bodies led to a slightly shortened but still epic adventure. Dan will share stories of his experience tele-skiing in Yellowstone, winter backpacking all over, and lessons learned while climbing the Grand Teton!
Wireless Outdoors - Best Adventure Apps
While many plan to leave their phones at home when heading on an adventure, having it can sometimes be your best resource. Our phones are useful tools for staying in touch and helping us make daily life easier. What if that phone could also help make your next adventure that much easier? Apps such as Guthook, Alltrails, and MapMyHike are great for staying found. Others such as Marine Traffic, FirstMate, and GoPaddling can keep you safe while on the water. Lastly apps such as Leafsnap, Skyview and Animated Knots can teach you skills or identify things that you might not even know are there! Come and join us to find out what apps might be right for your next adventure!
Hiking Ohio’s 1,444 Mile Buckeye Trail
The 1,444 mile long Buckeye Trail circumnavigates Ohio through cities, towns, villages, and countryside. Come hear Everett Brandt and Randall Roberts speak on how they have grown, realized the beauty and power of being outdoors, and challenged themselves on the trail.
Everett’s 50k-a-Day Journey is the fastest known time for completing the Buckeye Trail after averaging 31 miles a day for 55 days. Hear how his planning, preparation, summer heat, blisters, and injury led to love, lifelong memories, and lessons learned.
Randalls EGGS to EPPIC adventure recounts his six years of success and failures in hiking in the annual Emma "Grandma" Gatewood Solstice (EGGS) hiking challenge – an annual challenge hike covering 20, 40, 60 or 80 miles – and how his three abandoned attemps at 80 miles have been thwarted by tropical storms, flooded trails, saturated mud, and heat exhaustion. However, hear about how success, and stubbornness, helped him finish the 20, 40, and 60 mile challenges but not without struggle, and how his Eden Park into Caesar Creek (EPICC) hike shows you can tailor the trail to meet your needs and ability. While not super athletes, these hikers will show you how to get out and push yourself and find your limits.
Trails on Water
Join us for a night of fun and
camaraderie as we seek to maintain paddling inspiration through the cold season. Learn what it means to be a water trail. More importantly, get a paddler’s insight on two new trails coming to Northeast Ohio collectively covering over 100 miles of waterway. Experience the must have safety essentials before embarking on your next journey. Keep your fire for paddling alive through the cold season planning your next paddling adventure.
Adaptive Outdoor Recreation
Join us for a night of inclusitivity and learn more about outdoor recreation for individuals with disabilities. Listen to stories of life-changing experiences and the pursuit of outdoor recreation opportunities from people in NEO's adaptive community. Outdoor recreation adaptive equipment will be discussed, and speakers will share their personal experiences with nature, barriers to recreation, and the benefits of living an outdoor lifestyle.
Conclude the series by joining us for the 4th annual Adventure University & Gear Swap, March 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Baldwin Wallace, Lou Higgins Recreation Center.
Registration begins December 15