Are the outdoors currently encased in a cage of heat? Yes. Will it one day sound good to spend time in nature? Yes, probably. With that in mind: A celebration has been set to mark the completion of the Violet Crown Trail – North extension project. “The new urban trail extension connects to the 34-acre mixed-use Garza Ranch development on Ben Garza Lane in southwest Austin,” according to an announcement from Hill Country Conservancy. The ribbon-cutting party will happen from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on July 29 at the trailhead at 1200 Home Depot Blvd. Expect Popsicles, a nature walk, a family-friendly bike ride led by Ghisallo Cycling Initiative and music from the Crockett High School band. (Go Coogs.) Find more info here.

Austin Community Foundation plans to award $1.5 million in grant funding to local nonprofits by the end of the year, and on Monday, it announced a request for proposals. The foundation’s Black Fund, Hispanic Impact Fund and Women’s Fund will each award $500,000 in “unrestricted, general operating grants,” according to a news release. Nonprofit organizations in Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties are eligible. Applicants can apply to multiple programs. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on July 31, and recipients will be announced in December. Find more info on the application process at austincf.org/grants.

Austin PBS and Decibel are looking for volunteers to be part of their latest community-based journalism project, which will focus on housing in Dove Springs. Austinites that live or work in Dove Springs are invited to help shape the project by joining the volunteer “sounding board” that will help guide the project through feedback and ideas for coverage and by connecting reporters with the community and neighbors. Anyone interested in being part of the project is invited to apply here.

It’s never easy to have tough conversations with kids. That’s why Austin Public Health is launching a public service campaign called “Ask, Listen, Talk, Repeat,” in the hopes of raising awareness of mental health issues in children and teens. The campaign encourages parents and caregivers to have “critical conversations” with young people, “a generation that is sometimes forgotten when discussing mental health.” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County’s health authority, points out that in the last few years kids have “been besieged by several factors from losing time with friends due to the pandemic to the rise in usage of social media. Let’s start our response with simple conversations. Take the time to talk with your kids about how they are feeling and pay attention to changes in behavior.” According to Austin Public Health, national studies show that “one in six children in the United States experience a mental health disorder and that nearly 50 percent of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by the age of 14.” Those are sobering statistics. Find resources at the campaign website, AskListenTalk.org, and a mental health toolkit here.

Why do we never tire of advising people to get vaccinated for Covid? Well, it’s because the vaccine is still the absolute best way to protect yourself and others from getting this extremely nasty disease. If you have summer travel plans, you’ll definitely want to get your vaccination before boarding a train or plane or getting in line with hundreds of your fellow germ-covered humans at some festival or fair. CommUnityCare is offering free Covid-19 vaccines and boosters to people ages 5 and older. To schedule an appointment, visit CommUnityCare’s online portal. And Austin Public Health has decided to sweeten the deal by providing gift cards (while supplies last) to anyone who receives any Covid-19 vaccine, whether it’s their first or second shot or booster. Sign me up! Find APH’s list of community vaccine events – some of them quite festive – here.

With a goal of recruiting 1,000 volunteers this year, the Greater Austin YMCA has launched a “Plug In” campaign to connect potential volunteers with opportunities to be of service. According to a press release about the campaign, volunteer opportunities include youth coaching, policy board volunteers, special events volunteers and community improvement volunteers. Those interested can visit AustinYMCA.org/volunteer or email volunteer@austinymca.org. “People are looking to find more purpose in their lives,” said Kathy Kuras, YMCA of Austin president and CEO, in a statement to the press. “The YMCA is here to help power your purpose, and we’re encouraging people to plug in to areas that they’re passionate about. The Y can help match your passion, skills and schedule to the right opportunity.”