Celebrating Community, Cooperation, and Music

GOKY Sets a New Standard for Community Engagement with the Unify Cooperative and the Play Music on the Porch Day Summer Finale

Berea, Kentucky – As summer draws to a close, Get Outside KY (GOKY) is making a significant stride in its position to integrate community engagement, sustainable outdoor recreation, and advance local tourism initiatives into the fabric of Berea. Beginning September 1, GOKY will begin to shift its attention to the establishment of the Unify Cooperative (UNIFY CO-OP), a new organization dedicated to advancing these ideals for a stronger more resilient active outdoor community. UNIFY will officially take over the property in front of the Berea College Forestry Center, marking a new era of collaboration, cultural preservation, and outdoor activities in the heart of the community; Alex Sipple is looking for volunteers now to help clear away the current infrastructure, transform the landscape, and create a mini-forest park area. 

Solo guitarist playing music on his guitar. (Photo from Play Music on the Porch Day Website)

To celebrate this milestone and mark this transition, GOKY is hosting an informal Summertime Season Finale on Saturday, August 31. Alex has teamed up with friends Mari Amber Melder, Camryn Shaffer, Jay Rogers, and others in Berea like the Berea Earth Warriors to host a Block Party and Open House at Get Outside KY.

This event is more than just an Open House—it's a community celebration aligned with the "Worldwide Play Music on the Porch Day" initiative, now in its 10th year. Taking place 11:00 AM at GOKY Adventure Headquarters, 204 Estill Street, the event promises a day filled with local music, local food, and plenty of fun, making it the perfect way to cap off the summer. Everyone is invited, though not required, GOKY asks that those who attend the event use Facebook when they check-in to check-out the outdoor fun. Rain or shine!

What is “Play Music on the Porch Day”?

"Play Music on the Porch Day" is a global event that encourages people to come together through music. Originating in 2014, the event has grown into an international celebration, with participants from over 70 countries. The idea is simple: on this day, musicians of all skill levels are invited to get outside and play music on their porches, creating a tapestry of sound that transcends geographical boundaries. The event is a reminder of the power of music to connect people, regardless of where they are in the world. Literally thousands of communities and people in the US are registered to begin making music on August 31, more than a dozen in Kentucky alone.

It started as an idea... 

What if for one day everything stopped? And we all just listened to the music.

GOKY’s Summertime Finale: A Local Celebration with Global Roots

In Berea, GOKY has embraced the spirit of community and music by teaming up with Camryn Shaffer of "Living Sound Delusions Studios" to host the 10th Annual "Play Music on the Porch Day." This event will take place from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on Saturday, August 31, at 204 Estill Street. It will feature an open mic session from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, where local musicians can sign up at the sound booth starting at 10:30 am to showcase their talents in 15, 20, and 30-minute sets.

The day’s musical lineup highlight includes:

• 3 Men & A Banjo (4:00 pm): An Appalachian swing trio from Madison County, bringing traditional sounds that resonate with the local culture.
• Dirty Low Down Band (5:00 pm): A five-piece cover band from Madison County, offering a mix of rock, country, blues, and grunge that promises to get the crowd moving.
• The New Developments (6:00 pm): A fun funk rock band also hailing from Madison County, known for their energetic performances and vibrant sound.

In addition to the music, there will be food vendors, snacks, and drinks available, with a local soda company, a co-sponsor on hand offering samples to quench your thirst.

A New Chapter for GOKY and Berea

The launch of UNIFY marks a significant expansion of GOKY’s vision for community engagement and through it's proprietor Alex Sipple, tourism in Berea. By creating a dedicated nonprofit organization to host the clubs and activities previously sponsored by GOKY, Alex Sipple, his team, and friends are ensuring that their passion for outdoor engagement and community development continues to grow without compromising their professional endeavors.

This strategic move allows GOKY to maintain its focus on providing top-tier outdoor adventure and tourism services while UNIFY takes the lead in fostering local community initiatives that engage GOKY's ambitions and the community. As UNIFY begins its stewardship of the property in front of the Berea College Forest Center on September 1, the cooperative is poised to become a hub for outdoor activities, cultural preservation, and community events.

The first organizing members and volunteers of the Unify Cooperative Foundation will meet on Sunday, September 1, in the morning around 11AM at the front of the Indian Fort Mountain Trail Parking Lot.