Here are upcoming Outdoor Chattanooga news and events:

Events  

Street Smarts Cycling Seminar Sept. 19 or 26  

Don't just ride your bicycle, drive it! Our free Street Smarts Cycling Seminar offers instruction in the basic rules and regulations of riding your bicycle in traffic. We'll start with a couple of videos, then answer your questions about "vehicular cycling." Bring your bicycle if you'd like to join an optional post-class ride. Don't have a bicycle? Bring $6 to try a Bike Chattanooga bike. The class happens at 6 p.m., Thurs., Sept. 19 or 26, at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888.

Bicycle Maintenance Clinic Sept. 20 - Fix a Flat  

Learn how to do the simplest and most frequent bicycle road repair: fixing a flat tire, at our next free bicycle maintenance clinic on Thurs., Sept. 20, 6 p.m., at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. Mechanics from the Trek Bicycle Store will teach this necessary repair skill from beginning to end. Bring your bicycle if you want to practice. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.  

Fireside at Greenway Farm Sept. 20 - Lou Wamp Band  

Outdoor Chattanooga will host special family night by the campfire at Greenway Farm with our Fireside at Greenway program, beginning Thurs. Sept. 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. Bring camp chairs and marshmallows, and enjoy family music and entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20: The Lou Wamp Band will play bluegrass. Sept. 27: Lodge Cast Iron Pot Luck. Bring your Dutch oven, skillet, cornbread baker or griddle with something to share. We'll have the cook fire and coals going.  Lodge will bring some goodies. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888.  

Family Canoeing at Greenway Farm Sept. 20  

Bring the family to canoe N. Chickamauga Creek on Thurs., Sept. 20, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., before the Fireside program. Outdoor Chattanooga will provide canoes, paddles and life jackets at the farm's south launch for people to use on the creek. Cost is $8. Cash or check only. All equipment and staff supervision will be provided. Life jackets are sized for adults and kids ages 5 and older. Children younger than age 5 should have their own life jackets. To learn more, email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888.

Birding Tour by Bicycle Sept. 22  

Outdoor Chattanooga will host a guided birding by bicycle tour on the TN Riverpark on Sat., Sept. 22, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., beginning at our facility in Coolidge Park, 200 River St. Volunteer birders from the Chattanooga Audubon Society and TN Ornithological Society will lead the birding. Beginners are welcome.  Bring your own bicycle or borrow one from the Outdoor Chattanooga Mobile Bicycle Fleet (for riders 5' tall and over). To learn more or reserve a bicycle, please email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888.    

Downtown Chattanooga Sunset Kayak Tour Sept. 28  

Take a special kayak tour of downtown Chattanooga at sunset on Fri., Sept. 28, beginning at 6 p.m. from Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. We'll launch on the north shore and paddle around Maclellan Island, the bluffs and Ross' Landing by the setting sun and city lights. Beginners are welcome. The trip is appropriate for adults and kids ages 8 and older when accompanied by an adult. Kids 8-13 must paddle in tandem with an adult. Cost is $35 per adult, $25 for kids 8-13. Reservations are required. To reserve or learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.    

Family Campout (and Cookout) at Greenway Farm Sept. 29 & 30  

Try family camping at Greenway Farm with Outdoor Chattanooga's experienced staff on Sat. and Sun., Sept. 29 and 30.Learn about everything from pitching a tent to cooking breakfast and keeping the kids entertained. Cost is $15 per person and includes dinner, breakfast and all activities. Some tents and sleeping pads are available to borrow. Reservations required. Email or call Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 643-6888 to make a reservation or learn more.    

Rapid Learning Moves Indoors to UTC Oct. 2  

Outdoor Chattanooga's Rapid Learning Whitewater Program will move our weekly kayak roll practice indoors to the UTC Maclellan Gym pool, beginning Tues., Oct. 2. We're outdoors at Chester Frost County Park on Sept. 18 and 25.Two sessions: 5:30 to 7 and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Participants can come for either session, first come, first served. As always, members of the public who want to try the program may visit the first time for free. After that, membership is $50 per year for individuals, $75 for adults. Kayakers with their own boats, PFD's, paddles and skirts may join the practice for $5. To learn more, email Outdoor Chattanooga or call (423) 643-6888.    

Outdoor Chattanooga at River Rocks, 2012  

Yes, the River Rocks Outdoor Festival is only three weeks away and Outdoor Chattanooga will host a full schedule of activities, including the Light up the Night Family Bicycle Ride and an overnight kayak camping trip in the TN River Gorge.

Web Hit of the Week

Walden's Ridge Whitewater has posted a very appropriate obituary for Jeff West, who lost his life last week while kayaking the Stikine River in British Columbia. West owned the Ace Funyaks/Ace Kayaking School in Ocoee, TN. A brilliantly talented kayaker, West also mentored and taught hundreds of whitewater paddlers. He was, according to one friend, "a superhero."   

Last Week's Web Hit  

Why do cyclists ride in the middle of the lane? This great graphic from Cycling Savvy explains the REAL reasons.

More Events 

Free Sports Nutrition Lecture Sept. 20  

Dr. David Phillips, ironman triathlete and specialist in sports nutrition, will offer afree, public lecture called "Performance Needs Protection" on Thurs., Sept. 20, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2343 Shallowford Village Dr. (Across from O'Charley's). Phillips will talk about how to stay fueled for performance, as well as finding food first solutions to counteract stress and other modern lifestyle challenges.    

Appalachian Trout Unlimited Meeting Sept. 20

The Appalachian Chapter of Trout Unlimited will feature guest speaker Captain Mark Scarborough, licensed guide with Southeastern Anglers. Scarborough will give a presentation on "Fishing the Southern Tailraces."  The meeting is at 6:30 at Greenway Farm in Hixson. The public is invited.    

Marie Humphreys Fall Open House and Native Plant Sale Sept. 21-23
The Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center will host their annual Marie Humphreys Fall Open House and Native Plant Sale, Fri. - Sun., Sept. 21-23. The public is invited to come participate in a full schedule of activities, including seminars and guided hikes. To learn more, email or call CANC at (423) 821-1160.

Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championships Sept. 22-23  

The best canine athletes in the world come to Chattanooga for the Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championships the week of Sept. 18. The public is invited to come watch the final competition absolutely free on Sat. or Sun., Sept. 22 or 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at AT&T Field in downtown Chattanooga. The event benefits McKamey Animal Care and Adoption Center.

National "Plug In" Day in Chattanooga Sept. 23
The public invited to "plug in" with an electric vehicle tailgate party at 2 Northshore, 301 Manufacturers Rd., on Sun., Sept. 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf owners, as well as electric bicycle owners and vendors will be on hand to share their experiences and offer free rides.

Audubon (Maclellan) Island Campout Sept. 22  

The Chattanooga Audubon Society will host an overnight family campout on Audubon (Maclellan) Island on Sat. and Sun., Sept. 22 and 23. The event features a night hike, ghost storytelling, campfire meals and a Sunday morning birding walk. Preregistration is required. Cost is $30 for adults, $25 for kids (Chattanooga Audubon members receive discounts). Two man tents are available for rent at $10. Call (423) 892-3690 to register or learn more.   

Jack's River Hike with Chattanooga Trekkers Sept. 22  

The Chattanooga Trekkers family hiking group will host a two to four mile hike on the Jack's River Trail in the Cohutta Wilderness on Sat., Sept. 22, beginning at 12 noon.  The trail will be moderately difficult with multiple river crossings. All participants must RSVP. To learn more, email or call Valerie Radu at (423) 503-2318.    

Volkswagen Conservancy Tour w/ Chattanooga Audubon Sept. 29  

The Chattanooga Audubon Society will host a behind the scenes tour of the conservation areas around the Chattanooga Volkswagen manufacturing plant on Sat., Sept. 29 at 7:30 a.m. Participants will get a tour of wetland and grassland habitats and have an opportunity to view wildlife in an area that is off limits to the public. Reservations are required and space is limited. Call (423) 892-3690 to reserve or learn more.  Cost is $10 for the general public or $5 for members of Chattanooga Audubon Society.    

News  

Tenne-SEA's Gear Closet Opens Sept. 21  

The Tennessee chapter of the Caribbean Student Environmental Alliance (Tenne-SEA) will re open the Gear Closet used outdoor store on Fri., Sept. 21, at their new location, 535 Cherokee Blvd. Proceeds from the sales of gently used outdoor gear and clothing to towards TenneSEA's Kids for Clean Water programs and camps.

Men's Journal Magazine Loves Chattanooga for Travel  

Chattanooga has been approved by yet another national magazine: "Men's Journal," as an affordable, hip and super outdoorsy place to visit. Go us    

Chattanooga's Crash Pad World's First LEED Platinum Hostel

The Crash Pad Chattanooga has received a coveted Platinum designation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council. They are the first hostel in the world to earn that honor. Congratulations, guys!

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