Tag: Nebraska Trailblazers

Join Us for Christmas Tree Arrival and Annual Lights Walk

Our latest newsletter is here: November – December 2024 newsletter 

On Wednesday, November 13th, the RiverFront will be hosting the nation’s Christmas tree as it travels across the nation to Washington, D.C. The Trailblazers will be part of the fun from 5 – 7 p.m. Come and see us! 

On Saturday, December 14th, we will be hosting our annual Lights Walk. Head to the west doors of KANEKO on 12th & Farnam between 4 and 6 p.m. Courtesy of The RiverFront, everyone walks for free! We are collecting hats, mittens, gloves and warm socks for the homeless.

Club members are asked to help with the many volunteer positions available and to bring cookies, treats and items for the dozens of door prizes available to our walking friends.

Mark your calendars for the Saturday, January 18th Annual Dinner meeting, to be held at 1:30 p.m. at Legends Patio and Grill in Aksarben. 

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!

May – June 2024 newsletter and upcoming events

Here’s the May – June 2024 newsletter for you to look over: May-June 2024 Newsletter

We have a few events coming up in quick succession, so here’s a quick run-down for you:

  • May 16 – Little Italy Tour, starting at 5:30 p.m. from The Arch in the Gene Leahy Mall at 11th and Farnam Streets in downtown Omaha. Registrations were due May 14th, but email us at netrailblazers@gmail.com to see if there’s a cancellation. The event is free.
  • May 18 – Agate Fossil Beds walk by the Northwest Nebraska Volksmarch Club, starting near Harrison, Nebraska. Registration from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. $4 per person walk fee.
  • May 19 – PLAWKing event starting at 2 p.m. at 39th & Marcy Streets in Omaha. Come walk part of the Field Club Trail while picking up litter. Keep Omaha Beautiful will provide supplies, but you might want to bring sturdier gloves of your own. The event is free.
  • June 1 – Bennington Lakes Lee Frantz Memorial Walk at Prairie View Lake Recreation Area , just south of Hwy. 36 on N. 180th Street. Registration from 9 a.m. to noon, group walk setting out at 9:30 a.m. $4 per person walk fee. 
  • June 8 – Yanney Park, 2020 W 11th St in Kearney, NE. Registration from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. $4 per person walk fee.

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. 

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.

Lights Walk – coming up soon!

Our annual Lights Walk will be held this Saturday, December 2nd. Thanks to a generous grant from Omaha’s The RiverFront, the normal walk fee will be waived for all participants!

This is a great family event. We’re offering a 5k or 10k marked route through the Holiday Lights Festival, with directions and map. Strollers and leashed dogs are welcome. In the spirit of the season, we are participating in the diaper drive for Lydia House. Diapers, wipes and cash donations will be gratefully accepted.

When: Saturday, December 2nd. Registration between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., event ends at 8 p.m.

Where: KANEKO, 1111 Jones Street, Omaha, NE 68102 (metered parking and pay lots are available nearby)
 
Includes:  Cookies, hot drinks and fun door prizes