Here are upcoming outdoor news and events:

Outdoor Expo and Gear Swap at Spring Fest April 21 – Register Now!

Outdoor Chattanooga will partner with the Office of Sustainability and Education, Arts and Culture, and Chattanooga Parent Magazine for the City of Chattanooga’s Spring Fest on Sat., Apr. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Coolidge Park. Registration is now open for outdoor organizations, clubs, outfitters and gear swappers. New this year is the Spring Fest Adoptapalooza dog and cat adoption event. Cost is $25 per 10’x10’ space. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at 423 643-6888.

Winter Workshop: Preserving Your Land in a Conservation Trust Feb. 23
Tricia King, of the Land Trust for TN, will talk about the benefits of preserving private land through a conservation easement in our next Winter Workshop, Thurs., Feb. 23, 6 p.m. at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park.  King will explain the step-by-step process of donating a conservation easement as well as the potential financial benefits to a landowner under the tax code.  A conservation easement is a legal agreement that ensures a property will be managed in perpetuity according to the landowner’s desires, and can qualify the landowner for tax benefits. The workshop is suitable for the general public, as well as estate planners, accountants and attorneys. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at 423 643-6888.

Winter Workshop: Introduction to Backpacking the Cumberland Trail Mar. 1
Learn about backpacking our community’s most extensive backyard path, the Cumberland Trail at next week’s Winter Workshop, happening on Thurs., Mar. 1, 6 p.m. at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. Rangers from Cumberland Trail State Park will offer information about the trail, while Outdoor Chattanooga staff will help with gearing up for your trip. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at 423 643-6888. The workshop is free and open to the public. No reservations necessary.

Bike2Work Mar. 2
Join Chattanooga’s bicycle commuting crowd for Outdoor Chattanooga’s monthly Bike2Work breakfast on Fri., Mar. 3, from 7-8:30 a.m. at the Waterhouse Pavilion on Miller Plaza. Enjoy free coffee, breakfast and a place to warm your fingers and toes. Hosted by Hamilton Co. Step One, River City Co., Velo Coffee Roasters, and River City Bicycles. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at 423 643-6888.

Traffic Skills 101 Mar. 10
Outdoor Chattanooga will offer the League of American Bicyclists' Traffic Skills 101 course on Sat., Mar. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. Students will learn bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, lane positioning, on-bike skills and emergency maneuvers. Classroom instruction in the morning is combined with parking lot drills and on road training in the afternoon. Adults and children age 16 and older may attend. Cost is $10 to cover the cost of a student manual. Pre-registration is required. Limit: 10 students. Email or call Ruth Thompson at 423 643-6889 to register or learn more.

Bike Chattanooga – Join Now!
The City of Chattanooga’s Bike Chattanooga Bicycle Transit System is still offering discounted yearly memberships. Get your membership now, so you’re ahead of the game when the system launches in April!

More Events
FrogWatch Training Sessions at Chattanooga Zoo Mar. 3 & 29
The Chattanooga Zoo and Frogwatch USA will host free training sessions for an amphibian data collection program on Saturdays Mar. 3 and 29, from 6 to 8 p.m. FrogWatch USA is a citizen science program that trains volunteers to listen and report the breeding calls of frogs and toads in the greater Chattanooga community.  Participants will learn to identify frog species by call and report their findings to the national FrogWatch Assoc. The data will then be used towards large scale amphibian conservation and stewardship efforts.  Space is limited and preregistration is required. Email Rick Jackson to reserve a spot.

Mtn. Bike Demo Day Mar. 4
East Ridge Bicycles will host a free mountain bike demo day on Sun., Mar. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Enterprise South Nature Park. Giant Bicycles will bring a trailer of bikes for people to try for free. Helmets and drivers licenses are required and riders who want clipless pedals should bring them. For additional information please call East Ridge Bicycles at 423 894-9122.

Adventures
Family Camp and Hike Mar. 16-18
The Chattanooga Trekkers family hiking group will host a camping and hiking weekend at Ft. Mtn. State Park in GA, Fri.-Sun., Mar. 16-18. Park amenities include a lake for paddling, hiking trails and a developed campground. Anyone who wishes to participate must register through the Chattanooga Trekkers and also reserve a camp site through GA State Parks. For more information, email or call Valerie Radu at 423 503-2318.

Volunteer Opportunities
Cumberland Trail Breakaway Feb. 26 – Mar. 31
Cumberland Trail Conference's Break Away program in Hamilton and Rhea counties will happen Feb. 26 - Mar. 31. Volunteers are needed to help with trail construction and maintenance, and help in the kitchen. Base camp will be at the Dogwood Lodge near Soddy-Daisy, TN. For non-student volunteers requiring lodging/meals and who are not TTA or CTC members a $25/night fee is charged. Please contact the CTC to register for this event. For more information, email Tony Hook
or call 931 456-6259

Tellico River Area Cleanup Day Mar. 10
The Appalachian Chapter of Trout Unlimited is asking for people to help with the annual Tellico River Area Clean-up Day on Sat.,Mar. 10.  Volunteers are needed to help clean up trash around the river. All participants will sign up from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Tellico Ranger District Office. The first 75 people to sign up will get a free event t-shirt. Bring your own gloves, water bottle, sturdy shoes, long pants and wear bright clothing for safety. Trash pick-up and bags are provided. For more info contact Steve Fry at (423) 432-2210 or the Tellico Ranger Station at 423 253-8400.

Web Hit of the Week
Montlake Classic Clays has a new site and Facebook page. Let’s go shootin’!
Last Week’s Web Hit
Bikenomics. Read the whole series.

Upcoming Events . . .
March
8    Winter Workshop: Intro. to Climbing for Beginners
9    CaribbeanSEA Beach Party
10  Scout Day at CA&NC
      Booker T. Duathlon and Mtn. Bike Race
11  Booker T. XC Mtn. Bike Race
13  No Rapid Learning Roll Practice
15  Winter Workshop: Bicycle Riding for PreSchoolers
17  Durham Mine Site and Fossil Dig at CA&NC
      S.O.A.R. Day at Lookout Mtn. Flight Park
22  Winter Workshop: Fitting your Bicycle to You
24  Rock/Creek River Gorge Trail Race
      Rear in Gear 5K
29  Winter Workshop: Build a Rain Barrel
30-04/01 Marie Humphreys Spring Wildflower Festival & Native Plant Sale
31  65 Roses 5K Race/Walk

April
7    Out Run the Police
13  Run at the Mill 5K and 1/2 Marathon
14  Battlefield Bash
21  City of Chattanooga Spring Fest: Outdoor Expo and Gear Swap
      Chickamauga Chase 15K and 5K
21-22 Sequatchie Valley Fest
28/29 Volunteer 80 Race to the Smokies

May
2-4  Tennessee Bike Summit
5     3State/3Mountain Challenge
19   Scenic City Trail Marathon and ½ Marathon
       Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Festival
       Chattanooga Tour de Cure
        IHN 5K Run and Walk to End Homelessness
        Viola Valley Half Marathon
20    Scenic City Triathlon

June
1-3   TN Valley Canoe Club Paddle School
2      National Trails Day
10-15 TWRA’s TN Outdoor Youth Summit
15-17 Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race