The details of the events are posted on Meetup. If you would like to join an event as a non-member, please contact us to RSVP and get details.
Our monthly meetings are every 4th Tuesday of every month. Anyone is welcome to attend. We offer both in person and Zoom options based on the current health advisories.
We welcome speakers on various outdoor related topics at every monthly meeting. If you have expertise on a topic or know of someone who does, please contact us.
Wednesday Walk
Wednesday, July 12th – 8:30 am
Turkey Creek Trail
Join me for a hike that crosses creeks and is mostly in the shade.
Outing Leader/RSVP: Jacque by Tuesday July 11th please
When: Wednesday, July 12th at 8:30 am
Where: Turkey Creek Trail http://www.texashiking.com/Locations/ShowLocation.aspx?LocationID=1611 If you reach the entrance to the campground and see a kiosk, you have gone too far
1600 City Park Road, Austin, TX 78730
Getting There: From central Austin, take FM 2222 west, past Loop 360. Turn left onto City Park Road and continue south to the Emma Long Park entrance sign. The parking area for the trail is two miles from the park entrance sign, on the right hand side of the road. The parking is right after a sharp turn in the road, so be prepared when you cross Turkey Creek to turn off the road.
Shoes: Hiking shoes/boots, tennis shoes; no sandals or flip-flops. Your feet may or may not get wet.
Canines: Definitely welcome, prepare to pick up poop.
Distance: 2.7 miles with no restroom facilities or water source. There are some inclines and loose rocks. Sometimes we go exploring on new trails.
Bring:, water, sunscreen, snacks, poles for crossing the creek, etc. Friends and spouses are invited.
Thanks! Jacque
Time for kayaking!
Lifejackets/PFDs are mandatory for this outing!
We meet at the Rowing Dock on the s. shore of Lady Bird Lake, behind Zilker Park (www.rowingdock.com) between 5:30 and 6, planning to be on the water by 6 pm in the sleek new boats with great seats and working footpegs. $15 (cash preferred) will rent your boat, paddle, and lifejacket as we head upstream toward Tom Miller Dam, or downstream to admire the skyline and downtown buildings.
If you are new to TOWN or haven’t been out with us in a while or have an afternoon open, you can’t find a better way to enjoy the heart of Austin than on a cool, leisurely paddle on Lady Bird Lake. Two hours of scenery, sights, and enjoyable chatting to your fellow-TOWNies and their guests, followed by a social hour enjoyment on dry land at venues such as Shady Grove, Maudie’s, Rudy’s Barbecue . . . and the Four Seasons. Not kidding, but not usual, either.
If you have your own boat, you can put in behind the Rowing Dock at no charge. We will help you tote it from your car to the small dock.
A Day and Evening at the Springs
Friday, July 14 (Rain date: July 21)
Barton Springs Pool, Picnic, and The Wizard of Oz at Zilker Hillside Theater
Outing Leader/RSVP: MarilynF
Who TOWNies and partners, friends, children, husbands, etc.
What Swim, soak, snack, soak, swim, and watch the Wizard of Oz stage show
Where Meet in the Main Parking Lot of Barton Springs Pool, Robert E. Lee Blvd., 78704,
When 10 AM-10 PM, roughly (the Hillside Theater play starts at 8:15 pm)
Bring Towel, swimsuit, blanket to sit on, or short-legged folding chair/beach chair, ice chest to leave in car, lunch money, sunscreen, sun hat, sandals, float, mask/snorkel, maybe a light sweater (haha), snacks or sandwiches or snack bar dinner, money, water or soft drink for evening. Change of clothes, if desired.
Please also bring your pool admission: See the fees here, https://austintexas.gov/department/barton-springs-pool
There is no fee for parking until Friday evening.
The Zilker Hillside Theater is always crowded, and we may have to take turns holding some space and dunking in the water.
Do not bring Glass containers or pets, and do not bring food into the swimming pool area. There is no smoking anywhere in the Park
Please read the Park and Theater rules:
https://austintexas.gov/page/attending-outdoor-theater
Once we are together, we’ll have some choices:
- take a peek at the Eliza Spring “daylighting” project, an effort to increase the quality of Barton Springs Salamander habitat in nearby Eliza Springs by opening up to sunlight the channel through which Eliza Spring water enters the pool.
- We also can go through the “Splash into Barton Springs” exhibit in the 1930’s era bathhouse.
Then we’ll go into the pool at the main gate and probably walk around to the lovely south side of the Pool, where there is lots of shade. The native plantings, ligustrum removal, and gorgeous stone walkway and reflective area is also on the South. We will have a good vantage point for the best people-viewing in the city. Or we can stay on the North shore.
The snack bar on the North side of the Pool has hot dogs, sodas, great lemonade, and a patio area for eating.
We will start setting up our blankets at the Theater around 6pm, taking turns going back to splash in the water for cooling.
The Zilker Hillside Theater is another “happening” place, though it can be hard to manage going to a show due to limited space and parking, not to mention the heat. By being in the Park early and frequently dipping in the cold water, we can overcome those issues.
Please DO carpool, slather on the sunscreen, and get ready for a relaxing day in the best spot in town.
Parks Department to host Expedition: Find Bigfoot Event
Saturday, July 15 – 7pm
Outing Leader/RSVP: Sandy Ostiguy – – 512-796-2172
What: Round Rock Parks dept. Bigfoot event
Where: Dell Diamond, Round Rock, TX
When: Saturday, July 15th 7pm – 11pm
Sounds like it could be fun and the first 400 get an event T-Shirt !
Special walking tours/hikes available.
Could meet early to eat dinner then check out the event.
Designed to get folks out and about on the Round Rock trails, etc.
All in good fun !!!!
Leader: MarshaK
Distance: 4 -5 miles at a very brisk pace
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Meet at Marsha’s house before 7:30 am. Group will finish before 9:30 as Marsha needs time to prep for church.
Water is required as well as good walking shoes. Sticks are also helpful.
Dogs must be on leash. Prepare to pick up your dog’s poop. Furnish water for your dog.
Contact MarshaK via email by Saturday evening if you wish to walk with her.
Leader: MarshaK
Distance: 4 -5 miles at a very brisk pace
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Meet at Marsha’s house before 7:30 am. Group will finish before 9:30 as Marsha needs time to prep for church.
Water is required as well as good walking shoes. Sticks are also helpful.
Dogs must be on leash. Prepare to pick up your dog’s poop. Furnish water for your dog.
Contact MarshaK via email by Saturday evening if you wish to walk with her.
Our TOWN-Austin monthly meeting occurs each month on the fourth Tuesday.
Our agenda is typically the following: bring your brown-bag dinner or a snack; we gather at 6 pm & socialize; 6:30-7:00 greetings, introductions, business, outings reports and planning; 7- 8 speaker; 8 – 8:15 adjournment and cleanup.
Our speaker will be Dianne Odegard from the Austin Bat Refuge who will talk about Living Among Bats.
Though among the most poorly understood and needlessly feared of all animals, the almost 1400 bat species worldwide are beneficial to human interests as diverse as agriculture, forestry, tourism and medicine. Whether consuming vast numbers of damaging insect pests (saving agriculture across the U.S. an average of $22.9 billion a year), pollinating plants important to local economies or dispersing seeds critical to restoration of rain forests, bats are undeniably important, and unfortunately under threat of harm from sources both old and new.
Human fear of bats has existed for centuries, and sometimes seems to be the most intractable threat of all, based almost entirely on myth, exaggeration and misinformation.
Dianne Odegard is President and Co-Founder, along with her husband, Lee Mackenzie, of Austin Bat Refuge, a non-profit organization focused on local education and outreach, and on rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned bats.
She studied graphic art in college, but has always been fascinated by bats, and by the various ways humans respond to them. Working for Bat Conservation International from 2005 until June of this year, she immersed herself in bat biology, bats and public health, bats in buildings, and in conservation education for children and adults. She has shared her knowledge with a wide range of audiences in Texas and beyond as BCI’s urban bats specialist.
Dianne and Lee share their home with Zoey and Zuzu, BCI’s retired Ambassador Bats (African straw-colored fruit bats) and, as state-permitted wildlife rehabilitators, with as many as 60 native Texas bats of nine different species.
Join us and bring a friend!
Time for kayaking!
Lifejackets/PFDs are mandatory for this outing!
We meet at the Rowing Dock on the s. shore of Lady Bird Lake, behind Zilker Park (www.rowingdock.com) between 5:30 and 6, planning to be on the water by 6 pm in the sleek new boats with great seats and working footpegs. $15 (cash preferred) will rent your boat, paddle, and lifejacket as we head upstream toward Tom Miller Dam, or downstream to admire the skyline and downtown buildings.
If you are new to TOWN or haven’t been out with us in a while or have an afternoon open, you can’t find a better way to enjoy the heart of Austin than on a cool, leisurely paddle on Lady Bird Lake. Two hours of scenery, sights, and enjoyable chatting to your fellow-TOWNies and their guests, followed by a social hour enjoyment on dry land at venues such as Shady Grove, Maudie’s, Rudy’s Barbecue . . . and the Four Seasons. Not kidding, but not usual, either.
If you have your own boat, you can put in behind the Rowing Dock at no charge. We will help you tote it from your car to the small dock.
Leader: MarshaK
Distance: 4 -5 miles at a very brisk pace
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Meet at Marsha’s house before 7:30 am. Group will finish before 9:30 as Marsha needs time to prep for church.
Water is required as well as good walking shoes. Sticks are also helpful.
Dogs must be on leash. Prepare to pick up your dog’s poop. Furnish water for your dog.
Contact MarshaK via email by Saturday evening if you wish to walk with her.
Leader: MarshaK
Distance: 4 -5 miles at a very brisk pace
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
Meet at Marsha’s house before 7:30 am. Group will finish before 9:30 as Marsha needs time to prep for church.
Water is required as well as good walking shoes. Sticks are also helpful.
Dogs must be on leash. Prepare to pick up your dog’s poop. Furnish water for your dog.
Contact MarshaK via email by Saturday evening if you wish to walk with her.