January 2024 Update

Happy New Year! This month we are excited to start the year with two new programs, our Youth Fashion Showcase at Patagonia Old Town on Sunday, January 21 from 6:30-9:30pm and our first Kayaking Pool Session on Tuesday, January 23 from 7-9pm at Takoma Park Elementary School. Our Youth Showcase is an opportunity to present the most stylish and functional ways to hit the trails this season. We are also debuting the first of three kayaking pool sessions on Tuesday, January 23 from 7-9pm at Piney Branch Elementary School. We appreciate you and can’t wait to see you in the outdoors!

We start with our annual Day of Service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 15. We will be serving at Fort Dupont Park in SE Washington DC, where we will be picking up trash and clearing the path along the Fort Dupont Hiker Biker Trail. Tools and supplies such as gloves, trash grabbers, and trash bags will be supplied, but feel free to bring your own gloves if you have them. 

Please feel free to arrive a few minutes before 9:00a, as we will start the event right at 9:00 with an orientation and welcome before starting our work. Make sure to come prepared for working outside, so warm layers and good shoes. In the event of inclement weather, the project will be postponed to a later date. 

Next we have our monthly Bouldering Night at the Bouldering Project-DC on Eckington Pl in NE Washington on Tuesday, January 16 from 7-9pm. The event normally takes place the first Wednesday of the month and is a community centered program offered at no cost to the first 25 Soul Trak participants, community members thereafter pay an entry fee but receive free rentals.

We’re looking forward to seeing  new faces at our popular climbing event. Volunteers are available to show first-timers how to boulder.

Interested in Volunteering with Soul Trak? Join us for an introductory Volunteer Happy Hour  on Friday, January 19 from 6-8pm at Treehouse on 14th St. NW DC to meet the Soul Trak staff and other volunteers, learn about what volunteers do, and sign up for Spring events. Soul Trak’s programs would not be possible without the help of our amazing team of volunteers. Learn how to lead group hikes, bike rides, or climbing trips, no experience necessary. If you are excited about the outdoors and making the outdoors more accessible and diverse, then come volunteer with us!

Note: Treehouse is a groundbreaking, multi-disciplinary art space and gallery, meticulously crafted by artists for artists. It stands as a vibrant embodiment of the free expression and boundless creativity of emerging talent in today’s artistic landscape. With a vision to establish itself as an integral cornerstone within the rich tapestry of the D.C. and DMV art and performance community, Treehouse is poised to be a beacon for artistic innovators, collaborators, and performers.

Join us on Sunday, January 21 from 6:30-9:30pm at Patagonia Old Town in celebrating our youth as they grace the runway, showcasing a variety of winter layering options, from cozy hats to jackets, gloves, and more, generously supported by Patagonia. This event is not just a fashion display; it’s an opportunity to shed light on the most stylish and functional ways to hit the trails during your winter adventures. Be part of this empowering showcase and discover the perfect gear to elevate your next outdoor journey in style.

• Ticket Cost: $30
• Tickets Admit +1 Additional Guest
• Slots are Limited
• Date: January 21, 2023
• Location: Patagonia Old Town
  815 1/2 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
• Time: 06:30 PM – 09:30 PM

Additionally, there will be a special performance from local artists, making this evening a celebration of both fashion and local talent. Connect and discover other local businesses at the tables set up during the event, providing an opportunity to explore and learn more about their offerings.

Join Soul Trak and the Canoe Cruisers Association at the pool to gain comfort and confidence in a kayak while in a safe, supportive environment for practicing. Volunteers from CCA will provide gear (life jacket/PFD, boats, and paddles) as well as guidance and pointers to practice maneuvering in a kayak. By practicing in a pool, participants gain confidence in rolling and exiting a kayak while in the water. Participants will have the opportunity to meet experienced kayakers, learn about whitewater kayaking, and gain confidence in a kayak in preparation for outdoor adventures! No experience necessary, just come ready to get wet and with enthusiasm to practice! These pool sessions will prepare participants to take the Soul Trak Whitewater Kayaking Class in July on the Potomac River in conjunction with Calleva River School.

Soul Trak will be offering 3 total pool sessions in the months January, February and March. Due to limited volunteer and gear capacity, there will be a registration limit of 5 participants per session. If the session is full, we encourage you to try signing up for the next session or get on the waitlist as availability might open up. Registration for each session will close a week from the session date. 

You can find all our January programs on our events page. We look forward to seeing you in the outdoors!