Description: Summer In The Park, Week of August 3-9
Location: Warriors Path State Park
Come enjoy a week full of natural fun! You and your family can hike high and low, track wildlife and wild plants, follow history and adventure, and much more. And it's all free!
Here is the detailed schedule for the week:
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
5:00 PM HIKE THE BONEYARD - Come explore a remote corner of Warriors’ Path, full of geologic discovery. This will be a challenging 2-3 mile hike, so be sure to wear comfortable clothes, good hiking shoes, and bring some drinking water. Meet at the park’s Mt Bike Trail parking,at the end of Freeman Rd, Blountville TN.
8:30 PM GRANDFATHER TALES - Evening is a perfect time to share a story! Come and hear the stories that Grandfathers have told for generations at the Open Air Chapel or the main bath house if it is raining.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
8:00 AM BIRDING! - Some tips on how to get to know our park birds. Bring binoculars if you have them, and meet at the camp store.
9:00 AM HIKE THE WHITETAIL LOOP - Come explore a remote corner of Warriors’ Path, full of wildlife discovery. This will be a challenging 2-3 mile hike, so be sure to wear comfortable clothes, good hiking shoes, and bring some drinking water. Meet at the Mountain Bike Trail parking lot (Freeman Rd, Blountville).
10:30 AM BUTTER CHURNING - Early settlers had no WalMart or Food City! How did they get butter for their bread? Meet at the Open Air Chapel to try an old-timey life skill. If it’s raining, meet at the main bath house.
1:00 PM CORN HUSK CRAFTS - The early settlers along the Warriors' Path couldn't afford to waste anything! Even old corn husks could become a doll or toy. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to try this old-timey craft. If it's raining, meet at the main bath house.
2:00 PM BACKPACKING 101 - Have you ever wanted to spend more than just a day in the back country? Here’s your chance to gain advice on how to begin your overnight expeditions. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
4:00 PM HIKE TO CHILDRESS TOWN - A vigorous hike over the high ridges will bring us to the ruins of the first settlement in the park. This will be a three to four hour hike, so wear good walking shoes and comfortable clothes. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool to the start of the trail.
6:00 PM POLLINATORS ARE PRECIOUS- Let’s take a walk through pollinator country! Come help us discover the creatures who help craft our future by helping plants make seeds. Bring yourself and your keen eyes down to the camp store to begin a short hike.
7:00 PM TREE COOKIES - Let’s read a small slice of nature! The inside of a tree holds many clues to the outside of the land! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
8:30 PM PLANTS & POLLINATORS - Enjoy a slide-illustrated talk on native wildflowers, and the “busy bugs” who help them thrive. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5
9:00 AM WAKE UP WALK - Let's wake up to the sounds of nature around us. Meet at the the main bath house for a refreshing walk through the woods.
10:00 AM LAKE SHORE HIKE – Enjoy a leisurely hike through the Lake Shore Trail, and explore some of the unique habitats our animal neighbors call home. Meet at the camp store.
1;30 PM MAGNIFYING GLASS STROLL - Use your eyes and some handy little magnifiers to get a close look at nature's amazing details. Meet at the main bath house to begin a short discovery walk.
2:30 PM LEAF RUBBINGS - Let's "rub up against" some nature discoveries. Create a lasting reminder of nature's amazing textures. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
4:00 PM WALKING TREES, FLYING PLANTS - Wind, water, and animals carry seeds of new trees and plants all across the land. Our “wind” can help too! Meet at the Open Air Chapel to show off your “hot air” and plant some new life. Meet at the main bath house if it rains.
5:30 PM NATURE JOURNALS - Come learn the basics of nature journaling and create your own masterpiece. Meet at the Open Air Chapel.
7:00 PM TRACKING - Find out how to be a “wildlife detective” - how to read the tracks, dens, and other signs of our fellow creatures. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
8:00 PM TURTLE TALK - Meet a real, live “shelled friend” and find out more about their amazing lives. Join our “wildlife ambassador” at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
THURSDAY AUGUST 6
9:00 AM DEVIL’S BACKBONE HIKE -Come hike to the high places, and get some new views of our park land. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool to the start of an invigorating hike.
10:30 AM WATERSCOPES - Make your own “window” into the world of water. Meet at the Boundless Playground Entrance and we’ll build a little tool to help us see life in the creek.
11:30 AM CREEK CRITTERS - Come find out what critters are hidden in the water of East Tennessee and what they can tell us about the health of our water. Wear closed-toe shoes and be prepared to get wet! Meet at the Boundless Playground.
1:30 PM FALL CREEK LOOP TRAIL -Let’s hike the park’s most scenic trail! Enjoy beautiful vistas of the summer fields, as we search for signs of the unique habitats in the open country. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool to the start of a two hour hike.
2:30 PM FERN FUN - Make friends with some of the local ferns and their kin. Meet at the main bath house.
THURSDAY, CONTINUED
4:00 PM NATURE ART - You’ll be amazed at how creative you can be with nature’s own “crayons”. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to create your own natural masterpiece. If it is raining, meet at the main bath house.
5:30 PM MAKE A FISH - You won’t need bait or a hook, just your imagination and a little “fishy knowledge!” Meet at the Open Air Chapel to create your own watery friend. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
6:30 PM MEET THE OWL - Meet a real live feathered hunter. - one of our “Wildlife Ambassadors!” See “whooo...” is waiting for you at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
8:30 PM NIGHT HIKE TO SINKING WATERS - It's a whole different world out there at night! Tonight is our chance to discover the peace and the excitement of a night in the Sinking Waters wetland. Bring a dim flashlight and drive to the camp store. We'll carpool out to the back country.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
9:00 AM RIPARIAN HIKE - “Riparian” means “along the creek bank.” It also means an extra-rich wildlife habitat! Come along for an “extra- cool” hike near Fall Creek. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool.
10:00 AM MUSHROOM MARCH - There is so “mush room” for mushrooms at the park! Come take a walk down the cool and shady trail to meet these fungi and to learn more about them. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool. Please wear sturdy shoes.
1:00 PM MICRO-PARKS - Here’s your chance to plan and share your own nature park. You might even get “paid” by your “customers”! Bring your best park managing skills to the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
3:00 PM ID THE TREE - “Wood” you like to know what tree you are camping under? You don’t want to “leaf” the park without finding out! Meet at the main bath house, and we’ll learn some local trees together.
4:00 PM STATE SYMBOLS - Enjoy a talk on our Tennessee State Symbols, and discover which symbols you can find here at our park! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.
5:00 PM THE LOST TRACK - Our park is tied to history through the rails! Let's hike the old railroad grade, and hear the stories of these old railroaders' lives. Meet at the MOODY BLUFF CAMPGROUND - in the field near the campground entrance.
6:00 PM EDIBLE PLANTS RAMBLE - Are they weeds or are they dinner? Learn to make a salad from lawn plants. Meet at the camp store and let’s walk on down.
7:30 PM EVENING STROLL - Let’s wake up our senses to evening in the forest. Meet at the main bath house for a short, refreshing hike.
8:30 PM CAMPFIRE - What a perfect combination: A dark night, a crackling fire, and some local, traditional ghost tales. Meet at the campfire circle, east end of the main campground. If it is raining, we’ll have an indoor “campfire” at the main bath house.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8
8:00 AM “HIKING ADVENTURE” AT FLINT ROCK - Come along for a strenuous 8-9 mile hike on the rugged rocky slopes of nearby Holston Mountain to an awesome overlook. Discover unique flora & fauna along the way. Note that you MUST pre-register in order to participate in this “Hiking Adventure” -a part of our on-going Hiking Adventure series. Get all the details, and register, at:
https://reserve.tnstateparks.com/register/hiking-adventure-flint-rock26
10:00 AM LIFE UNDER LOGS - Every corner of this earth is a home - and rotten logs are some of the best! Help us "dig into" this unique habitat. Meet at the main bath house, and be ready to get your hands dirty.
11:30 AM LEAF PRINTS - “Ordinary” leaves come in such extraordinary shapes and textures. We can capture these patterns with ink and paper. Come make a leaf souvenir at the main bath house.
8:00 PM SUNSET HIKE - Watch the sun go down across the green hills. Meet at the Soccer Fields parking lot (past the Boundless Playground). This is a short, but rather steep hike. Bring a flashlight for the walk back down.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
9:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE - Enjoy a peaceful morning worship service at the Open Air Chapel, or at the pool entrance if it is raining. Sponsored by Fall Creek Baptist Church.
Program Host: Marty Silver
Contact Email: marty.silver@tn.gov
Contact Phone: 423-239-6786