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Category: Group Walks

  • Save the dates for all of our 2025 walks!

    Save the dates for all of our 2025 walks!

    All of the walks that we have planned so far are listed on our Walk and Event Listing page, also accessible through our Walks and Events menu. Each event has a handy link at the bottom of the page to add it to your Google, iCalendar or Outlook calendars. You can even subscribe to our entire event calendar by using the “Subscribe to Calendar” button in the bottom right side of any Walk and Event Listing page.

    We’ve even created a booklet, suitable for printing, at our 2025 Walk Booklet page. Please note that the booklet will not be updated during the year; you’ll have to grab a pencil and mark up any printed copy as things change. And we already have a couple of changes in the works!

    Our first walk of the year will be our traditional Soup Walk, to be held in the hills of Florence, one of Nebraska’s oldest cities and now part of Omaha. All of the details are available at https://www.nebraskatrailblazers.com/event/annual-soup-walk-5k-and-10k/ Grab a couple of cans of soup, your walking shoes and we’ll see you there!

  • October 2024 news

    October 2024 news

    Here’s the September – October 2024 newsletter Sept – Oct 2024 newsletter (yes, it’s a bit late, but there’s still lots you want to read!) Nominations for the 2025 club officers are being taken, as well as for the 2024 Walker of the Year.

    Upcoming events:

    • Saturday, October 12th, 10 a.m. – Group walk at the Bellevue Lions Club’s Spaghetti Feed. $4 for the walk, $12 for the spaghetti dinner.  This is taking place at St. James Methodist Church,, 4343 Capehart Road, Bellevue, NE. Meet around 9:45 a.m. to start walking by 10 a.m. Dinner starts at 11 a.m.
    • Saturday, November 2nd, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Our traditional November “Pie Walk” is being replaced with a ‘Giving Walk (as in Thanksgiving), where walkers bring the makings for a pie. Walk fee is $2 if an item is brought; $4 if no item, but the $2 will go either to the food pantry behind the Thanksgiving dinner food drive or to our host church. The location is First Covenant Church, 201 N 90th St, Omaha, NE. Specific items requested are: canned fruit (low or no sugar added), pie fillings, 5# sacks of flour, 4# sacks of sugar. Other nonperishable pantry items are also gratefully accepted. This walk is in an area of town where sidewalks are scarce and there are some hills.
    • Saturday, December 14th, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Our annual Lights Walk! The RiverFront is generously sponsoring this event, so all walkers walk for free. We’re collecting gloves, mittens, hats and socks (especially warm socks) for the homeless. The RiverFront will be hosting a Holiday Market as part of the seasonal festivities, and one 5k loop will pass right by/through it. The other is quieter and heads up to see the Joslyn Art Museum at night and the lights on the Creighton campus.

    Send questions to us at netrailblazers@gmail.com. See you on the trail!

  • August 2024 Newsletter and Papillion Walk Event | Nebraska Trailblazers

    Our July-August newsletter was delayed due to illness, so we’re presenting our August 2024 newsletter for your reading pleasure here: August 2024 newsletter

    We also need to call your attention to the cancellation of our Labor Day walk in Table Rock, Nebraska. The folks in Table Rock are still worn out from last year’s celebration!

    We hope you’ll come to our Saturday, September 7th walk a little closer to home in Papillion’s Halleck Park. Our starting point within the park has changed, so use these directions to arrive:

    • Take 84th St. to Lincoln St. go east on Lincoln to Halleck Park Road.  
    • Right on Halleck Park Road to parking lot on right.  
    • Look for yellow AVA signs.

    You can come any time between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., but do plan to be off the trail by 1 p.m. If you like walking with a group, be ready to start walking by 9:30 a.m. Come early enough to pay the $4 fee (exact change gratefully accepted) and to register.

  • June 11th Walk location has changed!

    Due to construction, we’ll be starting our walk near the Iowa Western Community College campus, at College View Elementary School. College View’s address is 1225 College Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, adjacent to the IWCC campus. Be sure to arrive early enough to register and pay the $4 walk fee (exact change appreciated) so that the group can set out promptly at 5:30 p.m.

  • March – April 2024 Newsletter

    Here’s the March/April 2024 newsletter for your reading pleasure: March – April 2024 newsletter  If you’ve been thinking about getting a club shirt, check out the options in the newsletter – it’s a time-limited deal!

    Not mentioned in the newsletter is our March 20th free walk at 11 a.m. at The RiverFront for Women’s History Month. (Remember that free walks don’t earn Event Credit if you are a book stamper.)

    We’ll be sending out a Trail Mail toward the end of March, just to get you all geared up for National Walking Week, April 1st – April 7th.

     

  • New walk just added!

    Wednesday, March 20th: Women’s History Month Walk at The RiverFront

    Join The Trailblazers for this free event. We’ll walk through Gene Leahy and Heartland of America Park and on to Lewis and Clark landing as we learn about significant women in local, national and world history. These women have contributed to our history through arts, activism, science and politics to name a few. We hope to see you there.


    Meet at The Arch 11th & Farnam at 10:45. Start walking at 11:00 a.m. rain or shine. Free event. Leashed dogs and strollers welcome.

  • 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

  • Pop Up Group Walk on Saturday!

    Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 8:00 a.m.  Let’s explore the new trails at Hitchcock Nature Center, just north of Council Bluffs, Iowa! 
    The group walk will start promptly at 8 a.m. from the Loess Hills Lodge. Come 15 minutes early to pay and to sign paperwork. Remember that there is a $5 per car park entry fee in addition to the $3 per person walk fee.
     
    We will hike a couple of new trails, Prairie Pass and Lotus Loop, approximately 3.3 miles of moderate difficulty. There is an option to go to the ski hills, which adds 1.6 slightly more difficult miles. Recommend sturdy shoes, walking sticks, water and insect repellent. This walk has great views, but expect some hilly hiking. Camping available. This walk is not stroller friendly but leashed dogs are allowed.
     
    Hitchcock Nature Center is located at 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, IA.
     

  • Just Announced! – Flanagan Lake 5k Group Walk

    Walk one of the newest lake trails in the area at Flanagan Lake. Walk is on paved trail around this beautiful lake. Enjoy some unique benches to rest on as you walk. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register and start walking promptly at 6. $3 walk fee – exact change is appreciated.

    Easy trail for strollers. Leashed dogs are welcome.

    17401 Ida St. Take Dodge St. or Maple St. to 168th St. North on 168th to Ida St. West on Ida St. to entrance on your left.