Hello MWABA,

Join us for goalball, hiking with Achilles in Catoctin, a camping trip in Shenandoah, tandem biking, and more! Also, check out this Washington Post article about MWABA’s blind birding event! Blind birders listen, search for birds at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton – The Washington Post

Goalball

· Come to Goalball on May 31st from 10 AM to 1 PM at 1480 Girard St. NW, DC.

Catoctin Hike

· MWABA and Achilles are doing a joint hike on Sunday, June 29th at Catoctin Mountain Park, which is about an hour from DC. We’ll meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Medical Center metro. We plan to do an out-and-back hike (about 3.5-4 miles) to Chimney Rock, which is a fairly strenuous hike, but we can offer easier options for those who prefer that. Sign up here: kevin.andrews94

August Shenandoah Camping Trip

· We’re heading to Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park on Friday, August 22 for a weekend of car-assisted camping, hiking, campfires, games, stargazing, and unplugged community time. This is a two-night trip (Friday to Sunday), not a local overnight like Lake Fairfax—it’s about 2.5 hours away, one-way, without traffic. Because of that, we’re asking everyone to only sign up if you can commit to the full weekend.

· We’ve reserved two group sites (D167 and D163), which gives us space for up to 30 people and 6 vehicles. The campground has potable water, flush toilets, and coin-operated showers, making it a great setup for both experienced campers and first-timers. We’ll share pickup points, carpool plans, and gear needs as the date gets closer. If something changes and you can’t come, we’ll just ask that you give us a heads-up as early as possible so we can offer your spot to someone else. We’ll aim to hold a quick Zoom call closer to the date to finalize logistics.

· Please fill out this form to help us start planning.

Tandem Biking

· We aren’t riding this week because we’ll be camping in Lake Fairfax. Sign up here for our June rides: https://forms.gle/a3fC438hzv9aH8m89

· Tandem Demonstration on June 14th: The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Greater Alexandria chapter is seeking tandem captains for a demonstration for Project RISE students on June 14th from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lyon Village Community House in Arlington. If you’re interested, please email: mwaba.inc.

Other Activities

· “Breaking Boundaries: A Day of Fitness for the Blind” on Saturday, June 7th from 12-1:30 at CrossFit Adaptation, 4144 S. Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington, VA. Come ready for a workout and an opportunity to network and learn more about fitness resources. The event is for those of all fitness levels, they will discuss modifications of the movements for those who need them! Register here: Register for Breaking Boundaries: A Day of Fitness for the Blind at CrossFit Adaptation | PushPress

Thanks and see you out there!

Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes (MWABA)

Sports and fun for everyone! https://gomwaba.org