Night Hikes

Join Jeff Hunter, Resident Caretaker, in a series of night time adventures. Participants will discover the night time wonders of the forest hiking on the trails at Reflection Riding.   Each hike will be a unique experience as new trails will be discovered each evening. All hikes except for the June 2 date will conclude with a campfire and marshmallow roast.

Friday, May 4-7:30-10 p.m. Discover Nelson’s Upslope and the curvy path along Lookout Creek.

Saturday, June 2-8-10:30 p.m. National Trails Day. Challenge yourself on the moderately strenuous Bradford Williams Trail. This hike is approximately 5 miles.

Cost: CA&NC Members-$7-Adults, $5 kids ages 10 and up, non-members-$9-Adults, $7 kids ages 10 and up. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Call 821-1160 ext. 0 to register for an adventure.

Wake Up With the Birds

Dates: Saturdays-, May 5, 12

Time: 7:30-10:00am

Cost: Free to CA&NC members; Nonmembers: CA&NC admission-$8 adults, $5 for Seniors and kids ages 4-11.

Rise and shine for an early morning boardwalk with our bird watching experts-CA&NC naturalist, Kyle Waggener, and members of TOS. You may spot woodpeckers, summer tanagers, scarlet tanagers, and various migrant warblers. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars for a relaxing stroll along the boardwalk and through the grounds of Reflection Riding. Call 821-1160 ext. 0 to register. Space is limited.

Guided Canoe Trip to Williams Island 

Date/Time: Saturday, May 5, - 8:30 a.m.-5  p.m. 
(Rain date Sunday, May 6) 
Limited to 8 canoes.

Price- $35 for non-members, $30 for CA&NC members

Canoes will leave from the Paddler's Perch at CA&NC for an approximate 3 hour paddle down Lookout Creek and into the Tennessee River, arriving at Williams Island for lunch and a hiking tour.  Things to see on the island include an archeological site, wetland, and organic farm. This will be an ideal time to see migratory birds in the area as well. Bring water for the day and lunch to eat on the island. This trip is limited to 8 canoes. Participants must have be over 12 years and have experience paddling.  Call 821-1160 ext. 0 to register.

Date Bow-drilling Workshop

Saturday, May 12

Time: 1-3:30 p.m.

Cost: CA&NC Members-$12; Nonmembers-$16; Pre-registration and prepayment are required.

Spend an afternoon learning the basic friction fire method of bow drilling.  Participants will learn to identify proper raw materials and how to construct a bow-drill set. Then we will cover the basics of this beginner friendly fire art to get you started using this primitive skill.  All pieces of the bow drill set constructed in the workshop will be yours to keep.  Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes that can get dirty and pack along a water bottle.  This workshop is designed for participants who are 14 yrs.old and up.  Space is limited. Call 821-1160 ext. 0 to reserve your spot.

Nature at Night

Date: Friday, May 25

Cost: CA&NC members $7 for adults, $5 for Seniors and kids ages 4-11, Nonmembers-$10 for adults, $7 for Seniors and kids ages 4-11.

Programs are as follows:

Blacklighting for Insects-ongoing throughout the evening with Julia Gregory and Bill Hailey, educators from the Tennessee Aquarium.

Frog Walk - 8-9 p.m.-Explore our habitat and learn to identify frogs by sound.

Owl Prowl - 9-10 p.m.-Hoot like a pro to call in our resident owls.

Night Sky Viewing-10-11 p.m.-Be a star gazer and explore the night sky.

Preregistration and prepayment are required. Participants have the choice of one or all the programs.

Bat Watch

Date: Friday, June 8

Time: 7:15-9:30 p.m.

Cost: CA&NC members-Adults-$9, Seniors and kids ages 4-11-$5.50; Nonmembers-Adults-$12, Seniors and kids ages 4-11-$7.

Meet at CA&NC for an informative power point presentation about bats. We will then car caravan to the Nickajack Cave, home to more than 60,000 endangered bats. There is a short walk to the viewing platform. As the sun sets, the tiny gray bats wing their way out of the cave to feed on insects. Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable walking shoes. This is a very popular program and space is limited.  The price includes a required parking fee at the Maple View Parking area. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Call 821-1160 ext. 0 to register.

Flint Knapping with Jumping Bull (Jon Kinsey)

Date: Saturday, June 9            

Time: 12-4 p.m.

Cost: CA&NC members-$20, nonmembers-$25. This program is appropriate for adults who are 16 years old and up.

Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Class size limited to 10 participants.

Flint knapping (the art of making arrowheads, knife blades, and such) is coming to the Nature Center.  The purpose of the class is to allow an opportunity for the students to learn the basics to an art that is almost gone and leave with a finished product and a desire to knap thus keeping the craft alive. The class will contain basic information on the history of, proper angle and technique involved in knapping, beginner’s tools, and material to create and arrowhead. We will examine some local stone that can be worked as well.The classes will be relatively small so the student can have a bit of one on one time with the instructor. At the end of the day, the student should leave with an arrowhead that through careful instruction they made themselves

Jon Kinsey (Jumping Bull) of mixed Cherokee and French decent has been performing various Native American arts and crafts for around 4 years. From knapping to pipe making and many arts in between, he attempts to produce usable yet beautiful art in the ways of the ancestors.