The weather outside is chilly, but that’s no excuse not to get outside and play. This week, we feature a fun paddle in Rome, Ga. and introduce some tips to help our entire region save some water. Look for the lightning bolt ~to see something new.

Get your Outdoor Chattanooga E-newsletter Online!
Beginning this week, we will have a printable version of the E-blast on our Website. You will find it here.

~Outdoor Chattanooga’s Outdoor Expo – Sign Up Now!!!!
Outdoor Chattanooga will host our second annual Outdoor Expo and Gear Swap on Saturday, March 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Coolidge Park. Clubs, camps, outfitters, conservation organizations: sign up now to get your exhibition spot. 10’X10’ spaces are $25 and all proceeds will benefit the activities of Outdoor Chattanooga’s OutVenture program. Demo spaces are also available. Call or email Tiffany Ellison to reserve your spot. (423) 842-6629.

~Bike to Lunch
Break up your work day and hop on one of our Bianchi Milano café racers during your lunch break. The stylish, eight-speed cruiser bikes are the perfect way to go to lunch, have some fun and show off. Best of all, they’re free! Email or call Philip Pugliese to learn more. (423) 643-6887.

Sublime in Art and Nature: Neighborhood Urban Hike Jan. 19
On Saturday, Jan. 19 at 1:00 p.m., join Outdoor Chattanooga and the Hunter Museum of American Art for this brisk 4-mile urban hike around the unique neighborhoods of downtown Chattanooga. The hike will start and finish at the Hunter Museum, where participants will get a free pass to view the ChanSchatz exhibit. The artist team used survey responses from members of the Chattanooga community to create the collaborative art seen in the show. Call or email Adera Causey at (423) 752-2053 to make your reservation.

News
~Tell Us a Story
Did you move to Chattanooga because of our outdoor resources? Are you a hunter, hiker, kayaker, cyclist, or fly fisherman? We keep hearing rumors that folks are moving to Chattanooga to play. Tell us your story. We’d like to hear it.

Events
~Rome, GA Polar Bear Paddle Jan. 12
Bring your canoe or kayak to Rome, Ga. and join a bunch of paddlers for the second annual Polar Bear Paddle. The six-mile downriver float starts at Dixon Landing and ends in downtown Rome’s Heritage Park. Registration opens at 10:00 a.m. The trip begins at 11:00. The event is free for people with their own boats. Canoe and kayak rentals are available and a shuttle service is available back to the put-in for $5. Paddlers should be sure to bring water and wear appropriate clothing. Call or email Jim Hunter (706) 252-4785 for more information. Get directions here.

~Cherokee-Crane Days at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge Jan. 19 & 20
Visit the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge in Birchwood, TN for the 16th annual Cherokee-Crane Days Festival. The festival will feature Cherokee history and activities, and family-focused wildlife education at the Birchwood School and the adjacent Cherokee Removal Memorial. Birchwood School will also serve as a base to shuttle visitors to see the starts of the show: 20,000 migrating Sandhill and Whooping Cranes, Bald Eagles, Snow Geese, and dozens of other water fowl.

Adventures
~Day of Guided Caving with the Adventure Guild Jan. 12
>From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on Saturday, Jan. 12, the Adventure Guild will host an introductory day of guided caving. Cost is $100 per person, and all equipment and instruction will be provided. Participation is limited to 10 people and pre-registration is required. Students ages 10 to 16 must be accompanied by a parent. Call or Email Kim Stock at the Adventure Guild for more information or to make a reservation at (423) 266-5709.

Cumberland State Park Activities
The South Cumberland State Park in Monteagle, TN offers special hikes, seminars, and other activities every week. Visit the Friends of South Cumberland Park for a complete calendar.
Thursday, Jan. 3
7:00 a.m. - Morning Hike to Stone Door - Join Ranger Jamie at Stone Door Ranger Station for a brisk early morning hike to beautiful Stone Door and back.
~Saturday, Jan. 12
1:00 p.m. - Foster Falls Hike - Meet Ranger Anthony at Foster Falls parking lot for about a 2-mile round trip hike to Foster Falls.
~Sunday, Jan. 13
1:30 p.m. - Stone Door Hike - Join Ranger Jamie at the Stone Door Ranger Station for an easy 2-mile hike to the Great Stone Door.

~Adventure Guild Climbing Sampler January 26
>From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., join the Adventure Guild for a day-long introduction to the sport of climbing. Cost is $100 per person and includes equipment and instruction. There are only 10 spots available for the event and pre-registration and payment are required. Students ages 10 to 16 must be accompanied by a parent. Call or email Kim Stock at (423) 266-5709 for more information.

Classes and Clinics
Get Smart! Street Smart Jan. 12
Join Bike Chattanooga at the Development Resource Center at 1250 Market Street from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to learn the fundamental skills needed to begin riding a bicycle on the road. Street Smarts covers basic bicycle maintenance and safety checks, traffic laws, and riding skills. The class is geared for adults and children aged 16 and older when accompanied by an adult. Cost is $25 per person and students must have a bicycle and helmet. Pre-registration is required. Call or email Philip Pugliese at (423) 643-6887 to register.

~Photography Workshop Jan. 15
Bring your new digital camera to the Tennessee Aquarium for a workshop on seminar about Beginning Photography Concepts. Led by nature photographers Tom and Pat Cory, the seminar will end with a half-hour photo session in the Aquarium. Cost is $45 for the general public, $30 for Aquarium members and class size is limited to 15. Call (423) 267-3474 to make a reservation or learn more.

Volunteer Opportunities
~BMTA Work Trips Jan. 12 and 26
The Benton MacKaye Trail Association will host trail work days on Saturdays, Jan. 12 and 26. On Jan. 12, at 8:00 a.m., volunteers will side-hill a section near the TN/NC border. Pulaskis and fire rakes will be supplied. On Jan. 26, trail builders will refresh side-hilling on a section in Georgia. For more information, contact Bill Lundin.

~Weekly Water Saver Tip
In spite of recent rains, the Southeast U.S. is still in a severe drought, and NOAA meteorologists predict above normal temps and below-median rainfall for the next three months. With the thought that we are all in this together, we’re going to offer some practical, easy solutions to help us all reduce our water usage. We’ll start with the simple stuff and then get a little more adventurous. If you have any water saving tips, please email Ruthie at Outdoor Chattanooga. Which leads us to our featured Websites this week . . .

Website of the Week
The first step to water conservation is knowing how much you use. Use these water use calculators from the City of Tampa, FLA or the U.S. Geological Survey to learn your daily water consumption. Learn more about our water supplies at these Websites in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.

Coming Up . . .
January
26 Chattanooga Cyclocross Race

February
1 ~Bike2Work
12 Beginning Digital Photography Concepts
26 Leave No Trace Seminar

March
1 Scenic City Half Marathon
~Fall Creek Falls Spring Thaw 15K Run
7 ~Bike2Work
8 Tellico River Cleanup
15/16 ~Fall Creek Falls Spring Waterfalls Weekend
18 Photography Workshop: Introduction to Lightroom
29 Outdoor Chattanooga’s Outdoor Expo
Rock Creek River Gorge Trail Race
29/30 ~Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage

April
4 ~ Bike2Work
6 ~Outdoor Chattanooga’s Urban Century Ride
12 ~Sublime in Art and Nature – Woodland Hike w/ the Hunter Museum
12-13 Georgia Cup Bicycle Races
19 Chattanooga Dragon Boat Races
Chickamauga Chase Road Race
25-27 Picture Chattanooga Workshop
26 ~Rapid Learning’s Splash Into Spring
27 Scenic City Triathlon