United Cajun Navy to meet community Monday as Kerr County continues recovery

The United Cajun Navy, one of the volunteer organizations that played a crucial role in search and rescue operations following Kerr County’s devastating July 4 floods, will host a community meet and greet Monday at Off Main Brewing.

The 6 p.m. event offers residents an opportunity to thank the Louisiana-based disaster relief organization that deployed teams to assist with rescue efforts during the county’s most significant natural disaster in recent memory.

The gathering kicks off a week of community activities as Kerr County continues its recovery while maintaining its regular schedule of summer programming and cultural events.

Monday Events

Beyond the United Cajun Navy meet and greet, the Texas Master Naturalist Hill Country Chapter will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the GBNRC/UGRA Building. Guest speaker Jane Duke, who holds a doctorate, will discuss “Managing Soil as an Ecosystem.”

Midweek Activities

Wednesday brings the final “Wednesdays with Woodrow” summer event at The Ridge Marketplace. The End of Summer Splash Day begins at 10:15 a.m. and features water slides, water balloons and painting with water guns.

Thursday’s Fresh Produce Day at Doyle Community Center starts at 10:30 a.m., offering free fresh produce to all community members. Organizers encourage attendees to bring their own bags to the pavilion event, which requires no advance registration.

Weekend Programming

The weekend offers multiple options for families and individuals seeking community engagement.

Friday features a Free College Application Workshop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Calvary Temple Church. The two-day program continues Saturday and allows participants to attend one or both days on a come-and-go basis. Registration and needs assessment information is available online.

A Caregiver Support Group meets Friday at 2 p.m. at the Hospice & Home Care Building.

Saturday morning includes two farmers markets: the Hill Country Heritage Farmers Market at 301 Junction Highway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Heart of the Hills Farmers Market in the 741 Water St. parking lot during the same hours.

The Hill Country Veterans Center hosts a Hill Country 2A Show beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Light on the Hill will conduct a Back to School Event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Arts and crafts enthusiasts can participate in a Mug Workshop at The Color of Clay from noon to 2 p.m., followed by a Beginner Weaving class at The Rogue Skein at 1 p.m. The Rogue Skein also hosts a Social Gathering at 4 p.m.

Ongoing Summer Programs

Several summer camps continue this week, including daily Kids Summer Art Camps at The Color of Clay for ages 6-14, running Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.

Schreiner University hosts multiple athletic camps, including the Lil Mountaineers Tennis Camp Monday for boys and girls 10 and under, and a two-day Lil Mountaineers Softball Camp Tuesday and Wednesday for grades K-7. The university’s Mountaineer Tennis High School Prospect Camp runs Tuesday through Thursday for students in grades 9-12.

Cultural Exhibitions

Multiple art exhibitions continue at local venues. The Hill Country Arts Foundation displays “Counterpoint/Visual Narratives” through Aug. 29, featuring work by Johnson Creek Printmakers and photography by the Kerr County Clickers. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The Kerr Arts & Cultural Center presents three exhibitions through Aug. 16: “Nature Journaling” by Rebecca Stapleton and Ele Chew, photography by J. Reagan Ferguson, and “Photo Quest: Hill Country Camera Club Annual Judged Exhibit.” The center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Museum of Western Art features “Wildlife Icons of the American West,” photographs by Rachel Spener, through Aug. 30. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Bandera, the Smithsonian traveling exhibit “Crossroads: Change in Rural America” continues through Saturday at Bandera Middle School. The exhibit examines rural America’s evolution over the past century and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The Frontier Times Museum in Bandera offers free admission Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with regular hours Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Information about specific events, including registration requirements and contact details, is available through individual organizations’ websites and social media pages.