2026-2027 Schedule
All programs are held at Cox Arboretum MetroPark
October 15, 2026
6:30-8:00 pm
Michelle and Brian Coleman
The road to Reinvention: our story of travel, growth, and new beginnings
Join the Colemans as they share their honest and imperfect journey of unintended reinvention. This presentation follows Michelle and Brian’s ongoing journey of reinvention, shaped most powerfully by their Camino pilgrimages. From their first Camino—where nothing went as planned—to the many routes, challenges, friendships, and breakthroughs that followed, each pilgrimage invited them to rethink their priorities, embrace change, and grow together.
Their story highlights how the trail repeatedly pushed them out of their comfort zone, offered unexpected lessons, and inspired them to return year after year. For anyone curious about the transformative power of pilgrimage or seeking a fresh chapter in life, their journey offers insight, encouragement, and an invitation to consider what might happen when you step onto your own path. If you’re craving inspiration, courage to try something new, or a reminder that reinvention is always within reach, we’d love for you to join the Colemans.
November 5, 2026
6:30-8:00 pm
Matt Anderson
Backpacking Kentucky’s red river gorge
Natural arches, rock shelters, sandstone cliffs, and quiet forest hollows make Kentucky’s Red River Gorge one of the most unique outdoor destinations in the eastern United States. Its mix of rugged terrain and accessible adventure appeals to both new and experienced backpackers, as well as rock climbers, day hikers, and paddlers. And to top it all off, it’s only three hours from Dayton! Matt will share highlights from a pair of trips to The Red, including arches, waterfalls, natural bridges, and panoramic vistas. Along with these will be tips for planning your own visit, such as route selection, preparing for the ruggedness and elevation changes, understanding the unofficial trail network, and following Leave No Trace principles in a heavily visited wilderness. Whether you are preparing for your first trip, looking to explore new areas, or just curious about what the Red has to offer, this talk will offer both inspiration and useful guidance.
Biography: Matt Anderson enjoys hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and biking, as well as reading about other people’s adventures. Originally from the Detroit area, he moved to Dayton in 2006 and has grown to appreciate all the outdoor activities available in such close proximity in the Miami Valley. When he is not outside, he is typically spending time with his family, working on DIY projects, building software, or trying to figure out how to use CalTopo to plan more trips.
December 3, 2026
6:30-8:00 pm
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January 7, 2027
6:30-8:00 pm
Jim Rahtz
Just Get out !
Growing up in the 60s, if I ever told my mom I was bored, her answer was to go outside, or more typically, “Just Get Out!” As adults, many of us dream about taking an amazing, life changing adventure but have lives we don’t want to disrupt, maybe a mortgage and/or one of those pesky jobs. However, there are epic trips out there that don’t require turning your life upside down. We’ll sample a smorgasbord of these achievable adventures where you can just get out, and it will be a good thing.
Trips we’ll touch on include:
- Backpacking the length of Pictured Rocks
- Backpacking around Lake Tahoe
- Backpacking Sheltowee Trace through once a month weekend trips
- Canoe Camping in the Boundary Waters
- Biking from Cincinnati to Cleveland
Biography: Jim Rahtz spent a career in park and recreation management in Ohio. Once able to retire, he followed the sage advice of “go take a hike” and became reacquainted with backpacking and camping. As a freelance outdoor writer and photographer, his work has won multiple awards; appearing in national publications and websites such as Camping Life, The Boundary Waters Journal, TrailGroove and The Trek.
February 4, 2027
6:30-8:00 pm
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March 4, 2027
6:30-8:00 pm
Andy niekamp
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Biography: Andy “Captain Blue” Niekamp has over 20,000 miles of backpacking experience, including five end-to-end hikes on the Appalachian Trail, a continuous footpath from Georgia to Maine that travels throughout 14 different states. He has also hiked the Buckeye Trail, Florida Trail, Arizona Trail, Camino de Santiago (French Way and Portuguese Way), Colorado Trail, John Muir Trail, Sheltowee Trace, Long Trail, Ozark Highlands Trail, Superior Hiking Trail, Benton McKaye Trail, Ohio To Erie Trail, and other trails. He is the founder and organizer of Dayton Hikers, a Meetup hiking group with 9,500 members, and the Chief Adventure Officer of Outdoor Adventure Connection, a backcountry guide service. His passion lies in organizing special hiking events and encouraging others to get involved in trail maintenance.
