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SAM’S SUMMER SLAM: A Pickleball Tournament Benefiting Explore Austin

Hosted by Sam McCathren of Landy Frost Group at Compass, the second annual Sam’s Summer Slam is a pickleball and corn hole tournament benefiting the youth Explore Austin serves. Register as an individual or team up with a partner and play together for a day of friendly competition!

Individual Tickets

Pickleball Tournament Single Ticket: $75 – Includes entry into the tournament, plus 2 cocktails.
Pickleball Tournament Team Ticket: $150 – Includes 2 entries into the tournament, plus 4 cocktails.
Corn Hole Tournament Team Ticket: $50 – Includes 2 entries into the tournament, plus 4 cocktails.

Become an Event Sponsor

Help ensure that 100% of the funds raised benefit Explore Austin’s youth! Contact Blair Adams, Events Manager for sponsorship opportunities.

ACES FOR ADVENTURE: A Charity Poker Tournament Benefiting Explore Austin

The annual charity Poker Tournament, hosted by Wendy and Jay Papasan of Papasan Properties Group, will benefit the 280 youth from economically disadvantaged communities served by Explore Austin. Last year’s event sold out, so be sure to get your tickets early!

Individual Tickets

Poker Tournament: $199 – Includes buffet dinner, unlimited drinks and first round of chips.
Casino Games Only: $199 – Includes buffet dinner, unlimited drinks and first round of chips for all roulette, craps and blackjack. Does not include tournament poker play.

Host a Table – Bronze Sponsor

Host a table for 10! Tables are now on sale for $1,999. This includes a buffet dinner, unlimited drinks and entry in the Poker Tournament for you and nine guests, plus table signage and a social media shoutout leading up to the event. Purchase a table online, or contact Lauren Zurbrugg, Chief Development Officer to make your table pledge today.

Become an Event Sponsor

With opportunities at all levels, it’s easy to play (and win!) at Aces for Adventure. Help ensure that 100% of the funds raised benefit Explore Austin’s youth! View sponsorship benefits and become a sponsor at the event link, or contact Lauren Zurbrugg, Chief Development Officer with any questions.

Friends of Explore Austin “Winter Warmup”

​Join us as we kick off the new year with snacks, drinks and networking at St. Bernard Sports in West Woods Shopping Center! Our CEO, Kathleen Lyons Schneeman, will be present to give an organizational update, plus we’ll have another great raffle package and in-store shopping for some last-minute Valentine’s gifts.

About Friends of Explore Austin
Friends of Explore Austin is a new group of young, working professionals who care about Explore Austin’s mission and want to stay connected to our community. Whether you’re a program alum or just looking for a way to plug into the young-professional scene in Austin, Friends of Explore Austin is here to facilitate connection, philanthropy and having fun!

Location
St. Bernard
3201 Bee Caves Rd Suite 142, Austin, TX 78746

Questions?
Please be in touch with:

Blair Adams, Events Manager
blair.adams@exploreaustin.org

Supporter Open House + Saturday Challenge Observation

This event is for Explore Austin supporters and is an opportunity to meet some of our Explorers, Mentors and EA supporters, serve breakfast to our youth and witness a Saturday Challenge of rappelling on the greenbelt.

This is a “choose your own adventure” day! You can come for the morning portion to help serve breakfast to the Explorers, or you can do that plus observe a Saturday Challenge on the greenbelt immediately following.

Saturday, January 25

8:00-9:30 am | Serve breakfast at the EA Warehouse | 4200 Burch Dr. Unit A-2, Del Valle, TX 78612

9:45-11:30 am, come and go | Saturday Challenge observation on the greenbelt (location details to come)

More details will be emailed to you as they are available. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this event, please email:

Lauren Zurbrugg, Chief Development Officer
lauren.zurbrugg@exploreaustin.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Warehouse Inventory

Our Summer Wilderness Trips conclude at the end of July, and school-year programming begins in September. Volunteer with us in August to help us get our Warehouse back in tip-top shape before the fall semester launches. Available shifts include:

  • August 7 & 9: Warehouse Restoration – Unloading vehicles and organizing gear
  • August 14 & 16: Full Inventory – Counting gear to identify gaps, and identifying gear that needs repair or replacement

Volunteer Opportunities: Warehouse Inventory

Our Summer Wilderness Trips conclude at the end of July, and school-year programming begins in September. Volunteer with us in August to help us get our Warehouse back in tip-top shape before the fall semester launches. Available shifts include:

  • August 7 & 9: Warehouse Restoration – Unloading vehicles and organizing gear
  • August 14 & 16: Full Inventory – Counting gear to identify gaps, and identifying gear that needs repair or replacement

Volunteer Opportunities: Warehouse Restoration

Our Summer Wilderness Trips conclude at the end of July, and school-year programming begins in September. Volunteer with us in August to help us get our Warehouse back in tip-top shape before the fall semester launches. Available shifts include:

  • August 7 & 9: Warehouse Restoration – Unloading vehicles and organizing gear
  • August 14 & 16: Full Inventory – Counting gear to identify gaps, and identifying gear that needs repair or replacement

Volunteer Opportunities: Warehouse Restoration

Our Summer Wilderness Trips conclude at the end of July, and school-year programming begins in September. Volunteer with us in August to help us get our Warehouse back in tip-top shape before the fall semester launches. Available shifts include:

  • August 7 & 9: Warehouse Restoration – Unloading vehicles and organizing gear
  • August 14 & 16: Full Inventory – Counting gear to identify gaps, and identifying gear that needs repair or replacement

Quest for the Summit 2025

JOIN US! Quest for the Summit is back for the 16th year in a row! Join us for a delightful evening of camaraderie, inspiration and generosity, all in support of Explore Austin’s youth. Silent and live auctions, seated dinner, libations and stories from our Mentors and Explorers await you! #OutdoorsForAllTakesYou

For more information:

Blair Adams, Events Manager
blair.adams@exploreaustin.org

Lauren Zurbrugg, Chief Development Officer
lauren.zurbrugg@exploreaustin.org