Acoustic Music

Do you play an acoustic instrument? Guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin? Join us in playing acoustic instruments and singing together. We hope to encourage one another and learn how to play in front of an audience and together. We meet on Tuesday evenings at Blackhawk, beginning in September.
Contact: Jim Southard

Adoption Community

The Adoption Community BAG provides fellowship, encouragement and resources to current adoptive families, families in the adoption process and those who are interested in adoption. Our monthly meetings combine pizza and fellowship (kids included) and a discussion/prayer time to inform and encourage the adults. Please join us to connect around some wonderful stories of God’s care for orphans. We meet monthly on Friday evenings, with an occasional Saturday recreational event just for fun.

Contact: Ellen Blust

Arts Appreciation

The focus of the group is to spend time with others who have an appreciation for the arts. We’ll send out announcements for various live events in the area including art exhibits (e.g. Gallery Night in Madison; Warhol in Milwaukee at the MAM), independent films (Sundance), plays, live music performances, etc. As most artists know, it can be more fun to go to these events with other artists, musicians, writers, actors, etc.

Anyone is encouraged to sign up for the email list and check it out. When you receive an email about an event, you can respond if you want to come. If we need to buy tickets in advance, you’ll receive ticket information and we’ll meet in the lobby.

Anyone is welcome to join the fun – invite a friend!

Please join us on September 16, where tapas will be served and cool ideas will be the main course. Please bring three possible events that we could do this year to the table. Let’s make this year absolutely unforgettable as we explore together!

Contact: Laura Gallagher

Ballroom@Blackhawk

Have you ever wanted to learn how to ballroom dance?
If you’ve always wanted to, but never knew where to start, this is the right place for you. This group is for all ages and no experience or partner is necessary. You can start learning dances such as the waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, cha cha, samba and swing — right here in the Blackhawk community. The group plans to meet weekly, probably at the church.

Contact: BJ Achim

Chick Flicks

A group of women watching movies they enjoy and eating snacks. Meets the first Monday of each month, 6 pm at Irina’s house.

Contact: Irina Shpigelman

Family Game Night

Families with preschool and grade school children gather once a month for a game night in homes.
This is a night for adults to connect and play games while children make new friends, too.

Meeting 6:30 pm one Saturday a month, October to May, in the Madison area.

Contact: Heather Gassman

Family Sunday Brunch

Families with preschool and grade school children gather once a month for a potluck brunch.

Meeting 10 am-1 pm on the second Sunday, October to May, at Verona/West Madison locations.

Contact: Renee Zook

Fishing Group

Fish the local lakes on a 16′ boat with the guys. Fishing dates and lake locations are open. Please join us for some fishing until freeze up.

Contact: Don Nydam

Gourmet Dinner Group

Challenging dishes shared in homes. We will meet about once a month. The dinners are open to couples, singles, anyone who likes to cook, and of course, eat! Menus are selected by the host(s) and everyone is assigned a recipe to bring, with the hosts preparing the main dish. For those who enjoy taking on some more challenging dishes in the kitchen and planning more complex menus – not just your everyday type of fare.

Contact: Gail Braier

Great Golfers

Join us on the second and last Thursday of the month (weather permitting) to play 9 holes of golf. Tee time will be at 5:30 pm at various courses in Madison. Intermediate to advanced levels of golfers welcome. Please bring your own clubs and dress appropriately, no jeans please.

Contact: Kate Wierwill

Green Living

Are you interested in living more sustainably and reducing your eco-footprint? Do you want to ‘green’ your lifestyle and build community along the way? EnAct encourages people to form green teams to help participants make changes in their daily lives and  conserve energy, save water, waste less, drive less and eat well. We are hoping to form some green teams at Blackhawk as a way to promote environmental stewardship. If you are interested in getting involved, email us at enactintern@madisonenvironmental.com. No previous experience is needed, just a willingness to makes some changes for the better and an interest in living more sustainably!

Visit www.enactwi.org for more information.

Contact: Kayla Baake

Horses for the Horseless

Women who are crazy about horses are invited to meet at my house to play, groom, ride and enjoy my two horses. They love attention and I would enjoy having the friendship of other women who don’t own a horse but love to be around them. Rides will be around my place since I don’t have a trailer to transport them to other areas. We can meet as a group or meet individually as you and I have time.

Contact: Joan Mrkvicka

Lacrosse for Boys and Men

This group is for middle school through adult men who love the game of lacrosse and would like to play. Games held weekly. For those interested, there is a cost for field rental to be divided between the players. Goalies play for free. In the winter, games will be held at Keva or Hitters Sports Complex. In the summer, a low or no cost outdoor field may be available. Full lacrosse equipment is required.

Contact: Todd Shoemaker

Let's Get Crafting

We meet the first Friday of each month, 7:30-9:30 pm and bring our craft projects that otherwise would never get done! If you knit, crochet, do felting, scrap booking, jewelry making or any other crafty thing you enjoy, please join us for some fun conversation while we work on our creations. Upcoming dates: February 3, March 2, April 6, May 4.

Contact: Tracey Monroe for details.

Men's Hiking and Fellowship Group

Exploring trails and natural settings of southern Wisconsin. We meet on select Saturday mornings and enjoy fellowship and the beauty of God’s creation. No experience or equipment needed.

Contact: Steve Fine

MOB Men's Chorus

The Men’s Chorus BAG is meeting Monday nights at 7 pm at church. We have had about 16 to 20 men participating, and have sung at various venues in the greater Madison area. We welcome any men who like to sing. Having a fantastic voice is not a pre-requisite. We have great fellowship in a very non-threatening environment. Interested men should feel free to come and “test the water” before making a commitment. Cost is free.

Contact: Robert Ames

Mom's Night Out

Moms! Need a break? Enjoy fun monthly activities with a group of fellow moms. Gatherings are typically scheduled in the evenings or weekends, about once a month. These events are sponsored by the Blackhawk Titus Group (Moms of preschoolers) but all moms are welcome.

Upcoming dates (all at 7 pm):

• Friday, February 10
• Tuesday, March 6

We also meet in the Blackhawk Gym every other Thursday, 9-11 am, for a play date.

Contact: Tracey Monroe to RSVP or for details.

Mother/Daughter Book Club

Mothers and daughters of girls ages 8-12 years meet and talk about our favorite books. Books are from all genres and the content will build the character of the young girls. We meet once a month in a local coffee shop or participant’s home.

Contact: Claire Falk Wells

Movies that Matter

Learn about unique cultures, social movements and international affairs by watching meaningful yet entertaining movies and documentaries. If you love watching movies and discovering more about our world, this group is for you! Examples of movies we will watch include: Hotel Rwanda, Cry Freedom, City of God. Group meetings are the first Friday of each month.

Contact:  Efosa Ojomo or Derek Diemer

Outdoor Club

Do you like the outdoors? How about camping, mountain biking, rockclimbing, hiking, rafting, snowboarding/skiing? If so, then you’ll want to be a part of the Blackhawk Outdoor Club. The group plans to meet once every month or two, to explore places such as Devil’s Lake, Peshtigo River, Kettle Moraine, Door County, Tyrol Basin, and other areas to be determined.

Emily and Adam Dunn have stepped down as group coordinators/leaders. Emilie Shields and Stephanie Hilbrand are the new coordinators/leaders.

Contact: Emilie Shields

Paddling Group

Casual paddling trips, May through October, for all ages (rent a canoe or bring your own). We will plan about two trips a month in various rivers and lakes around Southern Wisconsin. We also want to help those who are planning other trips to have a way to invite other paddlers to join them (these could be overnight, whitewater, after-work trips, etc.).

Contact: Mike & Heidi Fisher

Photography

This group is about growing as a photographer. Whether from the first time picking up a camera or a already a pro. We are a group of folks wanting to better themselves at photography and share information/help each other out. We meet for a workshop/review the second Saturday of the month. We then network with each other to go out and shoot during the rest of the month. There is a Challenge based on the workshop, if you wish, to give you purpose for the month. Then we meet again the 2nd Saturday to review the photos and the cycle starts over. All ages, levels, digital or film. We use YahooGroups and Flickr to keep in touch and post photos. Please sign up for a free yahoo account and request to join us at: Yahoo groups and Flickr groups.

Ping-Pong

Enjoy playing Ping-Pong? Then come and play with others in this fun sport! We have everyone from “experts” (people playing in leagues), to those who haven’t played in 15 years, to those just wanting to improve their game. Everyone’s welcome! NOTE: meeting date/times are currently in flux, so let us know your interest and what works best for you!

Contact co-leaders Jing Ning and Daniel Yang  here.

Singles Over Sixty

The S.O.S. (Singles Over Sixty) meets for “Coffee & Conversation” every second Wednesday of the month from 2-4 pm, in the Sauk Garden Apt. Community Room (8501 Old Sauk Road). The group also goes out to dinner on the last Friday of each month. We are presently adding a “Gastronomical Tour Around the World,” visiting various Ethnic Restaurants in Madison and the surrounding areas, usually for lunch one or two days a month. We enjoy going to concerts, plays and movies together and sometimes have a potluck or a game night. For more information, please email Norma Dodds or call her at 829-1142.

Volleyball

We meet Thursdays from 7-10 pm in the church gym for co-ed pick-up volleyball. The goal is for the group to have a social element and be friendly and welcoming to non-church folks, as well as help people improve their volleyball skills.

Contact: Brian Hart

Women's Book Club

The Blackhawk Book Club for women (BBC) meets once a month, usually on the fourth Monday evening, 7-8:30 pm, in a different home each month. At our August meeting we bring suggestions and vote on books for the whole year. We don’t meet in December.

Many of the books we read are fiction, the majority not by Christian writers, but we also read some non-fiction and some Christian books. Newcomers are welcome at any time. Contact Alison Haworth for more information or to be added to the email list for news and updates.

2011-12 Book List

List of books read in the past 13+ years

Contact: Alison Haworth

Writers' Group

Wanna write good? Our writers group may be able to help you. We’re a mix of generations, genders and genres who meet monthly to share our writing dreams and goals with each other. Whether you’re interested in poetry, fiction, short stories, newsletters, inspirational materials or technical writing, we will encourage you on your writing journey. Join us!

Contact: Shelley Soceka