News
6/7/07
Now in our 8th year of serving the outdoor recreational needs of the LGBT community, the volunteer staff of Cleveland Out and About is working hard to bring you a mix of old favorites, new adventures, and collaborations with other organizations that serve our community.
This year, we will have not one, but two camping weekends. The first will be in June at Punderson State Park in Geauga County. This 996 acre park features 14 miles of hiking trails, 4 lakes, and a golf course. The main lake has a beach for swimming and boat rentals for fishing (fishing license required). It is also possible to fish from the shore in many areas.
The second camping weekend will be at West Branch State Park in Portage County. West Branch totals just over 8000 total acres including a 2650 acre lake. With 41 miles of trails, including 20 miles of bridal trails and a 7 mile mountain biking trail, a 700 foot sand beach, and boat rentals for fishing, you'll have plenty of things to do this weekend in September. For more info on these two (and other) Ohio State Parks, go to the park web site at ohiodnr.com/parks
COA will also again have a booth at Cleveland Pride on June 16th. And, for the first time, it will be our very own booth. No need to share expenses with another organization. Then, of course, our annual cookout hosted by Mark and Dale in July.
Among the new things we will offer this year is a trip to wine country. In June we head out to Ashtabula County and the Greenway Trail. After the hike, we will meet at the South River Vineyard in Geneva for a picnic and wine tasting. For more info on the Greenway trail and South River, visit these web sites:
Ashtabula County Metroparks
South River Vineyard
In August, we relive a bit of our childhood days with a game or two of kickball at Softball World on Cleveland's west side. Come to play... or just come to watch and socialize.
We will also be collaborating with The Center for some activities in conjunction with the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization and Steps To a Healthier Cleveland.
Finally, a little community service. The Community AIDS Network (CAN) has an 18 unit apartment building that provides housing for HIV+ persons. Our activities for the day may include tending the gardens and mowing the grass.
Out and About is always looking for new activities and new volunteers to help lead them. If you have a suggestion, or an event you'd like to lead, contact Ann or Jan at mail@clevelandoutandabout.org
