Outdoor Chattanooga News And Events

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 - by Ruth Thompson

Here are upcoming outdoor Chattanooga news and events:

Outdoor Expo and Gear Swap at Spring Fest April 21
Outdoor Chattanooga will host our sixth annual Outdoor Expo & Gear Swap during the City of Chattanooga’s Spring Fest on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Coolidge Park. The event is free and open to the public.

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Dynamic Kayaking at 10x10, April 18
Grab a railing on the Walnut St. Bridge on Wednesday, April 18, at noon to watch Outdoor Chattanooga staff and volunteers create a dynamic, moving sculpture on the TN River using whitewater kayaks. The event will be part of the MakeWork10x10 exhibition at the Hatch Festival.

Bike Maintenance Clinic April 19 – Prep for Commuting
Outdoor Chattanooga will partner with the Chattanooga Trek Store for a series of free, public bicycle maintenance clinics beginning on Thursday, April 19 at 6 p.m. Each month, mechanic Taylor Keaton will offer advice and techniques for different bicycle maintenance issues. This month’s topic: prepping a bicycle for commuting. Learn about setting up and tuning a bicycle to carry you and your stuff to work or school. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at 643-6888.

Native Plant I.D. Hike on Earth Day April 22
Outdoor Chattanooga invites the public to join professional herbalist Holli Richey for a leisurely hike at Greenway Farm on Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m. Richey will guide hikers through the farm's ecosystem to identify local plants and how to use them for food and medicine. No registration is necessary. Meet at the canoe and kayak barn at the back of the farm. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at 643-6888.

Butterfly Garden Plant Swap April 24
Outdoor Chattanooga and the TN Valley Chapter of the N. American Butterfly Assoc. will host a plant swap at our Coolidge Park facility, 200 River St., on Tuesday, April 24 from 7-8 p.m. The public is invited to bring flowers to swap, and get some new plants for the garden. Some of the plants will be butterfly nectar or host plants, but any type of plant is welcome. (No poison ivy please!) All plants for swapping should be labeled. Call Bill Haley 785-4056 for information.

More Events
Backpacker Magazine Get Out More Tour at Rock/Creek April 17
Outdoor professionals Sheri and Randy Propster will host a free, public seminar on backpacking and gear at Rock/Creek on Tuesday, April 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the 2 Northshore location (Next to Greenlife Grocery). The public can learn some essential outdoor skills and try the newest gear and clothing.

Grand Opening of the Gear Closet at Outdoor Expo & Gear Swap April 21
The Gear Closet, a fundraising store for the Tennessee Student Environmental Alliance (Tenne-SEA), will open during Outdoor Chattanooga’s sixth annual Outdoor Expo & Gear Swap on Saturday, April 21. Shop for great deals on used gear to benefit clean water programs in the Chattanooga area.

Spring Schooling Show at Hidden Hills April 22
Hidden Hills Farm and B. Equestrian invites horse riders to participate in their Spring Schooling Show on Sunday, April 22, beginning at 1 p.m. The show is geared for beginning or young riders to show off their skills.  For more information, email or call Tara at 488-3993.

National Park Week at Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP, April 21-29
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and the National Park Foundation will celebrate National Park Week with free admission for visitors to Point Park April 21-29, living history programs at Chickamauga Battlefield April 21-22, Junior Ranger Day on April 21, and a chance for you to Picture Yourself at a National Treasure on the National Parks Website. To learn more about the week’s activities, contact the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706 866-9241 or the Lookout Mtn. Battlefield Visitor Center at 821-7786.

Marie Humphrey’s Spring Native Plant Sale at CA&NC April 27 & 28
The Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center will host their Marie Humphrey’s Spring Native Plant Sale on Friday and Saturday, April 27 & 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Reflection Riding. To learn more, call 821-1160.

Sign up for Great Outdoors Night at the Chattanooga Lookouts Aug. 14
The Chattanooga Lookouts invites outdoor businesses and organizations to participate in Great Outdoors Night on Tuesday, August 14. Contact Josh Weeks, John Quirk or Gavin Cox at 267-2208 for more information.

News
Americans are Driving Less, Especially Youth
This new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, published by the League of American Bicyclists, shows that young Americans are choosing to drive fewer miles and use other forms of transportation, like transit and bicycles.

Web Hit of the Week
Wind Map
Last Week’s Web Hit

Read the Adventure Journal’s nine reasons why you shouldn’t bike to work.

Upcoming Events . . .
April

28                Pom Pom Pass5K/1 Mile Fun Run
                    National Corn Bread Festival 5K
                    Run for Ringgold
                    Run for Relief
28/29           Volunteer 80 Race to the Smokies

May
1                 
Rapid Learning Moves to Greenway Farm
2-4             
Tennessee Bike Summit
5                   
3State/3Mountain Challenge
           Wilderness First Responder at SAU
           Bill Gregory Health Care Classic
                   King of the Mtn. Road Race
                   Belvoir Christian Academy 5K
9               
 National Bike to School Day
10         Moccasin Bend Bicycle Rides Begin
12               Opening Day for Upper Ocoee River
           Another Gorgeous Evening with TN River Gorge Trust
           Raccoon Mtn. 10K/5K
17               Bike Maintenance Clinic: All About Brakes
19                Chickamauga Battlefield Bicycle Tours Begin
                  
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
           Wilderness First Responder Recertification at SAU
22               Iron Jr. Triathlon

June
1-3              
TN Valley Canoe Club Paddle School
2                 National Trails Day
           Bicycle Demo Day at ESNP
7          Bicycle Maintenance Clinic: Derailleurs
9                 Splash Into Spring
                   Riverbend Adventure Challenge
10-15          TWRA’s TN Outdoor Youth Summit
15-17          
Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race
25-29         Appalachian Adventure Summer Camp


More Than $1 Million Available For Wildlife Habitat On Private Lands In Tennessee; Application Deadline Is June 10

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has received notification from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Tennessee that more than $1 million has been allocated for the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). Owners and operators of agricultural land and (non-industrial) private forestland who are interested in applying for WHIP have a June 10, deadline. ... (click for more)

Memorial Day Holiday Weekend Kicks Off 2013 Boating Season

Memorial Day holiday weekend is regarded as the unofficial start to the summer boating season and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency wants to emphasize the use of life jackets while boating in a safe and responsible manner. Annually, the Memorial Day weekend is one of the year’s busiest boating weekends. Last year over the holiday weekend, there were no boating fatalities ... (click for more)

City Council Ad Hoc Committee To Study Moving Elections To August, Adding More Districts, Staggering Terms

City Council Vice Chairman Chip Henderson said Tuesday he will lead an ad hoc committee that will look into possibly increasing the number of council districts from the current term. The panel will also look at staggering the terms of council members, who are currently all elected at the same time, he said. Vice Chairman Henderson said the committee will also look into moving ... (click for more)

Chief Magistrate Russell Says Ables Should Have Waited To Sign Warrant For Teen Beer Bust

Officials in the Sheriff's Department said a warrant was not obtained early Saturday morning to go inside a house where over 20 allegedly beer-drinking teens were partying because a magistrate said he was about to get off duty and wouldn't wait over. Sgt. Robert Starnes said he was standing by a deputy who called Magistrate Larry Ables at 4:30 a.m. seeking the warrant ... (click for more)

Thanks, Sheriff

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department is very responsive and professional out in Apison, and I appreciate that.  We have some fine deputies serving Hamilton County.    I took a minute to call and tell them thank you, I hope my neighbors will also. Brian Wood Apison (click for more)

Roy Exum: Please Send Me Funny Jokes

It has been about 25 years or so since I had the opportunity to visit every county in the state of Tennessee and, as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society at the time, I met cancer survivors and listened to their incredible stories. I remember one man in particular who had bone cancer and one night he said he rolled over in bed and literally broke his arm in a very simple ... (click for more)