Touch: Heat, we had it! The high topped out somewhere in the ‘90s, and the sun shone bright. No worries, we had a river in which to cool our heels.

Sights: With free fishing, biking, and kayaking, there was plenty to see! For paddlers, it was the river moving slowly as they paddled up and down the shoreline. For bikers, it was the awesome trails accessible from downtown. As for fishing—we had a few great catches, too!

Sounds: A bluegrass duo, Jessica and Paul, serenaded us for a few hours. What better to accompany the sounds of spring than a fiddle?

Tents: Around 2:30, it rained for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, we all huddled under our big new tents to protect ourselves. It was a good test run for the tents and we kept perfectly dry.

Treats: We grilled out under the big blue sky, and our guests and members brought lots of tasty side dishes and desserts. The cream puffs were a big hit, in part because they were able to stay more refreshingly cool than any of us. Perhaps most notably, almost everyone commented on missing a Ramen Salad. To our dear member who usually brings it: you know who you are! We hope you’re able to hang with us next time!

New Friends: Holy cow…61 new individuals became members last weekend. Thanks so much for joining, and we can’t wait to see you again!

Photos: Check out some shots from the day below!

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Take a minute to reflect, do you remember the first time you became a Member… what was your motivation? Or when you last renewed you membership, what made you do so?  There’s no right or wrong answer.

Please share your comments in the field below, we want to know your story!

Every Venture Outdoors Membership is up for renewal on one of three dates each year, January 1st, May 1st, or September 1st.

If you don’t know your renewal date, log on to our website, www.ventureoutdoors.org, and in the top right corner and you’ll find your membership type and expiration date. Or look on your Venture Outdoors Membership Card, your renewal date is the same day as your expiration date.

You can renew you membership online at, www.ventureoutdoors.org. Click the ‘Renew your Membership’ under Memberships in the blue bar near the top of the screen.

Mother Nature blanketed the ground with snow for over 80 VO members to play in the picturesque winter wonderland, and she kept a fresh coat coming as we made our mark snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, roasting marshmallows, creating art with our friends from the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, snow creature making, and of course, during a few impromptu snowball fights.

The highlight of our Winter Members Day was our Camp Stove Cook-off. This year, nine folks showed off their backcountry culinary prowess in four categories: appetizer, soup, entrée, and dessert.

Five winners prevailed: Best Appetizer – Sean Brady (mushroom/bacon quesadilla), Best Soup – Robyn Brady (potato soup), Best Entrée (tie) – Dave Smetak (roasted turkey over an open fire!) and Joe Harkiewicz (venison burgers), and Best Dessert – Lora Woodward (apple and cinnamon delight),

Thank you to every member, volunteer, and staff member who made this great celebration of our members and the outdoors possible! Our next members day will be Venture Outdoors 9th Annual Birthday Party in June. Details to follow. Be ready for some kayaking!

Check out some photos from the day below. See more photos from the day on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ventureoutdoors

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We’ll be at the store from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM in the café area offering special discounts and gifts memberships. If you’re looking for a perfect gift, we will be offering special Dual and Family Gift Memberships including Activities and Kayak Pittsburgh passes. Stop by our table with your February 17 receipt from Whole Foods and receive a coupon for $5 off a rental at Kayak Pittsburgh.

Please stop by Whole Foods to say Hi to our staff and support Venture Outdoors!

Whole Foods is located at: 5880 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

This event was originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 10, but was postponed due to weather conditions.

This year’s event will be Saturday, February 6 at Winter Members Day and we’re looking for more culinary expertise. Make us your favorite entree, appetizer, dessert or most creative smore cooked over an open fire and we’ll pick a winner for each category!

To participate in the Camp Stove Cook-off call the Venture Outdoors office (412.255.0564 ext.21) by Wednesday, February 3 to reserve your spot as a chef. Please specify the category you wish to compete in when you call.

Click here to register for Members Day. It’s free for all Venture Outdoors Members and their guests!

Check out some photos from last year’s cook-off below:

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See our entire list of Merchant Discounts

Why not give them a Venture Outdoors Membership, a VO Membership will keep giving all year, through winter snowshoeing, spring hiking, summer paddling and fall biking. Just think – at this time next year, your gift will still be giving!

The holidays are one of our best times to buy memberships. We have membership packages for students, singles, couples and families, and each package includes extra bonuses to use throughout the year.

Packages range from $20 to $60 and can even be purchased for yourself.

So think outside the box this year, or just think outside and wrap the gift in a box. Start your Christmas shopping with Venture Outdoors.

See our membership packages at: ventureoutdoors.org/givemembership.aspx.

The matching funds are still being confirmed but we are estimating that over $16,900 was raised for Venture Outdoors on that day, making October 28th the single biggest day of individual giving in Venture Outdoors history. Thank you to everyone who donated!

As part of this special occasion we also offered up lifetime memberships to anyone who donated $2,500 on the PittsburghGives website, and we are pleased to announce our very first Venture Outdoors Lifetime Members: Tony Delserone, Lazer Palnik and Clark Lingren. Thank you for your generous donations!

But what about the Board of Directors?

A lesser-known but vitally important facet of our operation is the Board of Directors, a group hailing from numerous disciplines in Pittsburgh, united by their passion for our mission and eager to lend their expertise. We think these are people you should know more about, so we’re going to begin publishing short bios every so often. If you see these folks on the street—don’t be shy—thank them!

So without further ado, meet Kathy Risko.
Kathy was recently named Associate Director of CONNECT, the Congress of Neighboring Communities, a project of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. At CONNECT, she manages the coordination of many local initiatives within the city and its municipalities towards united goals which serve our residents collective interests in efficient ways that promote economic development. Kathy was previously the Senior Program Manager at Leadership Pittsburgh.

Here’s a little more about Kathy:

Where’s your hometown? Pittsburgh

What brought you to Pittsburgh, or if you’re a native, what kept you here?
Great friends, wonderful, amazing city—more opportunities, both professional and personal, to count.

Do you live with friends, spouse, or children, who?
My husband—Michael Horvath.

How did you become involved with Venture Outdoors?
Erik [our Executive Director] pestered me for 2 years! But really, I believe deeply in VO’s mission and I think it is an incredible organization that is poised for great things to come, and I like to be involved in organizations that not only give back to the community but also contribute to the continued revitalization of the region—VO does both and very well. I think VO is one of the few organizations that is helping to debunk the myth that Pittsburgh is a dirty old city.

How long have you served on the board, and what role do you play on it?
Almost a year now—I am the development chair—so I ask people for money—with Sean Brady

We are in the in the process of naming this new periodical and we want your help. Check out the names below and let us know what you think. Some names are straightforward others are more conceptual, however each name includes a tag line that clarifies exactly what the publication is. What do you think!

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