Category: Club activities

PLAWKING? What is PLAWKING?

Ever done a Plawking Event? If not, here is your chance! So, what IS Plawking? It is Picking up Litter while Walking.

Event postponed due to forecasted inclement weather – updated 3/22/2024

On Tuesday, March 26th at 2 p.m., we’re going to give back to the community and walk a stretch of the Field Club Trail while picking up litter. Meet at 39th & Marcy Streets in Omaha (parking on the west side of the trail). Keep Omaha Beautiful will provide the equipment, but you might want to bring your own gloves. 

Happy New Walking Year – 2024!

We’ve got 16 walks lined up – just in the first half of 2024! Take a look at the calendar, here: 2024 Calendar – first half  They include some free walks during National Walking Week and a variety of locales and difficulties that should have you reaching for your calendar.  The cost of our regular walks is now $4, up $1 from last year due to a large increase in the cost of insurance.  

We’ve had to retire some of our Seasonal and Year-Round Events, but we’ve added a six-county long Seasonal Event – the Cowboy Trail in Nebraska – stretching between Valentine in the west and Norfolk in the east. This is only available via our Online Start Box on myava.org.

We’re looking at some fun summer activities – think wineries, balloons and trail runs for charity. You’ll want to check back often here and on social media to stay updated. 

Of course, our club meetings, held on the first Monday of the month between February and June, September (2nd Monday) and December, are still fun, social places to be. You’re always welcome to take part in club business, listen to a speaker and to enjoy refreshments and conversations after the meeting.

Reminder: you don’t have to be a club member to take part in any of these activities. But if you would like to join for only $10 ($15 families), here’s the application with the mailing address printed right on it, so you can send it in while you’re thinking about it.

September – October 2023 newsletter, plus a month’s worth of events

Our latest newsletter can be found here: September/October 2023 newsletter

And here’s a quick look at upcoming events for the next month:

  • Friday, September 15 starting from the Plymouth County Historical Museum in LeMars, Iowa, 10 a.m. to noon start times, 5k and 10k routes available, $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.
  • Wednesday, September 20 starting from the Leahy Mall, 6 p.m. start of “How Sweet It is!” walking tour. Registrations have closed for this event, but email netrailblazers@gmail.com to be put on the wait list. No fee to attend. Dogs not allowed. Not suitable for strollers.
  • Thursday, September 28 starting from Tom Hanafan Park in Council Bluffs. 5k Group Walk starting at 10 a.m. $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome.
  • Saturday, September 30 starting from Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. 5k Group Walk starting at 10 a.m. $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.
  • Saturday, October 7 starting from Peak Performance in Omaha, 9 a.m. to noon start times, 5k and 10k routes available, $3 fee. 5k Group Walk starting at 10 a.m. $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.
  • Saturday, October 14 starting from St. James Methodist Church in Bellevue, NE, 10 a.m. start time for 5k or 10k group walk. . $3 fee. Dogs and strollers welcome on the trail.

Now, for the fine print: 

  • You must come 15 minutes early for all group walks to fill out paperwork and pay required fees. 
  • Details, such as starting point addresses and walk ratings can be found on our website at: 2023 Walk Calendar

Little Italy Walk – May 4, 2023

Grab your cameras for a historic walk through the Italian and Sicilian historical sites of Omaha, as the Nebraska Trailblazers take a walk to Little Italy.  You’ll visit historic sites including St. Philomena’s Cathedral, St. Francis Cabrini Church, Bella Vita and Santa Lucia Hall.

We’ll be walking as a group, starting promptly at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 4th. It’s best to arrive 15 minutes early at the Farnam Archway on the 11th Street Promenade at the Gene Leahy Mall (11th & Farnam Streets in Omaha).

There’s no fee for the walk. This walk is not suitable for dogs, due to the nature of the walking tour. Our hosts are providing genuine Italian snacks; although not required, please register by May 2nd here:  https://forms.gle/F5ANvMKfbnNaoDJy8 so that everyone gets a nibble.

National Walking Week April 1 – 7, 2023

We’ve got a lot of opportunities to walk and socialize with others during the first week of April. Check it out!

Please note the March 29th deadline to register to attend the Orpheum Theater Guided Tour on Thursday, April 6th. All other events are walk-up events.

New this year: “Bring a Friend Day”! On April 1st, bring someone to the Bockfest walk that hasn’t walked with us before and we’ll waive the walk fee for your friend.

Saturday, April 1st, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Bockfest, starting from Max & Joe’s (Crescent Moon), 3576 Farnam St., Omaha, NE 68131  Parking available behind the Crescent Moon for $5 or use metered parking in the area. $3/person walk fee. 5k and 10k routes available. Register between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Bring a friend or walk on your own, at your own pace. Group walk at 11:30 a.m. Be off the trail by 3 p.m. After you walk, stay for Bockfest – beer and wurst and oompah music! Bockfest $2 cover charge not included in the $3 walk fee. You are responsible for your own food and drink purchases.

Sunday, April 2nd, 2 p.m.: Wabash Trace, Iowa West Foundation Trailhead Park, 13996 Wabash Avenue, Council Bluffs, IA 51503  $3 walk fee + $2 for kiosk/per person, payable separately, no change available. 5k GROUP WALK – Up for a challenge? 10k route available

Monday, April 3rd, 5 p.m.: OPPD Arboretum, 10600 Blondo St
Omaha, NE 68164.  FREE EVENT, 5k GROUP WALK

Monday, April 3rd, 6:00 p.m.: Spring Social at DJ’s Dugout, 777 N. 114th Street, Omaha, NE 68154. You are responsible for your own food and drink purchases.

Tuesday, April 4th, 10 a.m.: Walnut Creek Lake Picnic Shelter, S. 96th Street and Hwy 370, Papillion, NE 68046.  FREE EVENT, 5k GROUP WALK

Wednesday, April 5th, 5 p.m.: Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Hwy 370 Access, Omaha, NE 68138   $3/person, 5k GROUP WALK – Up for a challenge? 10k route available

Thursday, April 6th, 10 a.m.: Orpheum Theater Guided Tour. Meet at The RiverFront, The Canopies, 13th and Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE 68102. FREE EVENT  You must preregister for this event by MARCH 29th at https://forms.gle/3JWjEDkpiyFfxhT86

Friday, April 7th, 2 p.m.: Heron Haven, 11809 Old Maple Rd,
Omaha, NE 68164.  FREE EVENT, 1 mile GROUP WALK

2022 isn’t over yet!

Lights along the Gene Leahy Mall, 2022

December 3rd, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Lights Walk: Starting at KANEKO at 11th and Jones in the Old Market, with plenty of paid parking available in the area. Courtesy of The RiverFront, this walk is FREE! In the holiday spirit, we’re collecting diapers and cash donations for Lydia House, so drop those off before you walk. A 5k and a 10k route will be available. After the walk, stay for cookies, hot drinks and a raffle with oodles of prizes available.

December 5th, 7 p.m. – Club Meeting: Our last club meeting for 2022 will be festive, so be sure to come! Voting for club officers and the Walker of the Year is currently taking place online – did you get your member’s link by email to vote? Those not voting online can cast a voice vote at the meeting.

December 31st: Annual club dues should be in to our club treasurer. $10 per individual membership and just $15 for a family membership – what a deal! You can pay at the Lights Walk, the December 5th club meeting OR mail them in to: NWFT  PO Box 8147  Omaha, NE 68108.

January 2, 2023, 7 p.m. – Relax, there’s no club meeting! We’ll be holding our annual Dinner Meeting later in the month (January 21st at Legend’s Patio Bar and Grill in Aksarben Village). More details to come about that meeting.

July – August 2022 Newsletter

Our latest newsletter is available here: July – August 2022 Newsletter 

Three important things (besides seeing all the gorgeous pictures!):

  1. The deadline for registering for the 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30th Junto Wine Group Walk in Seward, NE is Monday, July 25th. We need to know how many lunches we need to order! Please register here: Junto Wine Walk registration  Be sure to bring a lawn chair with you. Plug this address into your GPS to find us: 1356 182nd Seward, NE 68434 (between Lincoln and Seward).
  2. Our next club activity is a 5k Group Walk of the “Veterans and Libraries” seasonal walk, which starts at the Memorial Park Rose Garden. The walk starts promptly at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 30th, so come a bit early to pay your $3 (exact change, please!) and sign the registration form.  This seasonal walk is normally only available via the Online Start Box, so this 5k Group Walk might be the chance you’ve been waiting for to walk this fabulous route.  The Rose Garden is best approached from Robert H. Storz Drive, approximately at N. 57th and Underwood Avenues.
  3. After our September 10th walk at Flanagan Lake (more details at 2022 Walk Calendar), our first club meeting of the season will be on Monday, September 12th at 7 p.m. at a BRAND NEW LOCATION! Maple Ridge Retirement Community has graciously invited us to meet at their facility at 3525 N 167th Cir, Omaha, NE 68116. Be sure to plug that into your GPS, as it’s a bit tricky to get in there. It’s a bit NE of N. 168th and W. Maple Road.

Welcome, July!

Volunteers ready to welcome Gene Leahy Mall Walking Tourists on July 4th

We had a great time working with The Riverfront on Independence Day to welcome the public back to the great multi-use space that is the Gene Leahy Mall in downtown Omaha. If the stormy clouds kept you home, here’s the official walking tour map for you to download and use the next time you visit downtown Omaha.

On Saturday, July 30th at 10 a.m., we’ll be leading a 5k walk at beautiful Junto Wine, a winery between Seward and Lincoln. The exact address is 1356 182nd, Seward, NE 68434. The cost is $3 (exact cash or use Venmo) for the walk and we do need you to preregister, since we’ll be serving complimentary boxed lunches after the walk. The winery will open their tasting room definitely at noon, and maybe a little before? Register here: Junto Wine Walk registration  Leashed dogs are welcome to accompany us on this somewhat hilly walk through the vineyard’s mowed paths. If you’re staying for lunch, you’ll want to bring a picnic blanket or a lawn chair.  

Early season look at the hiking trails