Young outdoor enthusiasts, budding naturalists and emerging environmentalists will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy Chattanooga’s second annual RiverRocks festival, two weeks of outdoor activities and entertainment that highlight the area’s outdoor lifestyle and land conservation ethic.
Kids who dig the dirt – and even those who don’t quite yet - can get muddy exploring a natural cave, paddleboard on the Tennessee River, fly high above Coolidge Park in a hot air balloon, roast marshmallows under the stars, navigate a canoe on area waterways, and experience the natural beauty that makes Chattanooga so unique.
This year’s RiverRocks event features unique offerings for kids, as well as programs provided by some of Chattanooga’s favorite purveyors of outdoor fun who will offer activities in conjunction with the festival. Visit the RiverRocks 2011 website for a schedule of events.
Roast Some Marshmallows:
Fireside at Greenway Farm
Thursdays in October (Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27)
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Spend a fall evening outdoors enjoying the simple comforts of a campfire and one another’s company, without having to pitch a tent. Each Thursday in October, Outdoor Chattanooga will host this fireside event, which will include music, storytelling and other campfire fun. Pack up your kids, blankets, chairs, marshmallows and musical instruments and head to Smiteman Cabin at Greenway Farm for a memorable evening under the October stars.
Ages: Adults and kids of all ages
Cost: Free
Location: Smiteman Cabin at Greenway Farm
For more information, contact Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 842-6629 or email terri@outdoorchattanooga.com
Reach New Heights:
Tethered Hot Air Balloon Flights
Saturday, Oct. 1, and Sunday, Oct. 2
7:30 a.m.
Rise early and head to Coolidge Park to take a short ride in a hot air balloon, one of the world’s oldest forms of aviation and air travel. Be sure to pack your camera to capture the view of Chattanooga and Coolidge Park from air. Tethered flight provided by AeroSports.
Ages: All ages welcome
Cost: $5 per person; Kids under age 10 free with a paying adult
Location: Coolidge Park
Volunteer for Waterways:
23rd Annual Tennessee River Rescue
Saturday, Oct. 1
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Bring the kids and join this community-wide effort to pick up trash and debris along the Tennessee River and its tributaries. Each year, volunteer cleanup efforts recover hundreds of bags of trash and tires. There are more than 20 sites along the river to choose from, stretching from Cleveland to the Shellmound Campsite in Marion County. Clean-up tools are provided through Tennessee River Rescue.
Ages: Adults and kids of all ages
To find a clean-up site near you, visit www.tennesseeriverrescue.com or call (423) 785-4177
Get Dirty:
Wild Cave Adventure at Raccoon Mountain
Saturday, Oct. 8
12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Explore passageways, discover fossils and slide down slippery slopes inside the wild cave of Raccoon Mountain Caverns with Tennessee Aquarium educator George Bartnik and experienced cave guides. Full spelunking gear will be provided.
Ages: Adults and kids 8 and older
Cost: $28 Tennessee Aquarium Members; $33 Non-members
Location: Raccoon Mountain Caverns in Lookout Valley
Reservations required: Contact the Tennessee Aquarium at (423) 267-3474
Navigate A Canoe:
South Chickamauga Creek Canoe Trip
Monday, Oct. 3
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Outdoor Chattanooga guides Tiffany Herron and Tevor Childress will lead this family-friendly paddling exploration of South Chickamauga Creek, which is home to the federally protected snail darter and is a significant flyway for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds. The creek also features 19 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. The group will meet at the new South Chickamauga Creek Greenway canoe/kayak launch site, located at Sterchi Farm Park.
Ages: Adults and kids 5 and older
Cost: $8 per person (includes canoe and PFD)
Location: Launch at Sterchi Farm Park on Old Harrison Pike
Reservations required: Contact Outdoor Chattanooga at (423) 842-6629 or email tiffany@outdoorchattanooga.com
Lookout Creek Canoe Trip
Saturday, Oct. 8
1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Paddle historic Lookout Creek and learn about wildlife and plants native to the Chattanooga area with CA&NC naturalist Kyle Waggener. During this two-hour flat water tour, watch for turkeys hiding in the brush, Belted Kingfishers hunting for fish, and listen for Red-shouldered Hawks soaring above. Occasionally, a lanky Great Blue Heron will appear and follow the canoes. You’ll never believe the things you’ll see in nature!
Ages: Adults and kids welcome
Cost: $15 for ages 12 and up; $7 for ages 4-11; $3 for 3 and under (includes canoe and PFD)
Location: Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center
Reservations required: Contact the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center at (423) 821-1160 to register
Explore Natural Areas:
Pot Point Hikes & Open House
Tuesday, Oct. 4
9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Spend the day in the Tennessee River Gorge, 27,000 acres of land carved through the Cumberland Mountains and one of the most unique natural treasures in the Southeast. Tour the historic Pot Point House, an 1835-era log cabin that was purchased and restored by the Tennessee River Gorge Trust. At 10 a.m., hike the 3.5 mile Pot Point Nature Trail, a moderately strenuous loop trail. At 2 p.m., take a stroll with TRGT Executive Director Jim Brown to learn about the history and ecology of the gorge.
Ages: Adults and kids welcome
Cost: Free
Location: Pot Point House on River Canyon Road (visit www.trgt.org for directions)
For more information, contact TRGT at (423) 266-0314 or email sarahq@trgt.org
Hiketoberfest 2011
Sunday, Oct. 9
Noon to 6 p.m.
Learn more about the local geology, native flora, reptiles, amphibians and history of the Cumberland Trail, Tennessee’s 300-mile hiking trail that stretches from the Cumberland Gap in Northeast Tennessee to Signal Point on Walden’s Ridge. Spend the day outdoors with educators and naturalists, hiking portions of the Cumberland Trail, eating local fare and enjoying regional music. Funds raised from the event will be used to expand and improve the Cumberland Trail.
Ages: Adults and kids welcome
Cost: Adults $15; kids under 12 are free
Location: Shackleford Ridge Park on Signal Mountain
For more information, contact Friends of the Cumberland Trail at www.cumberlandtrailchallenge.org.
Learn a New Skill:
Shane Webb Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) Clinics
Friday, Sept. 30 (1 p.m. to 2 p.m.)
Sunday, Oct. 2 (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)
Monday, Oct. 3 (11 a.m. to Noon and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Tuesday, Oct. 4 (11 a.m. to Noon and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
Paddleboarding (SUP) is a fun, easy way to enjoy the water and a great way to get a full-body workout. With a minimum of equipment – a stand up paddleboard, paddle and PFD (personal flotation device) – you can paddle on rivers, lakes and ocean surf. Shane Webb, a native Chattanoogan, is cofounder of SUPPaddleboard.com and heads the company’s Florida division. An avid surfer since age 14, he teaches surfing, paddle surfing and flat water paddleboarding and encourages kids to come out and try this exciting sport.
Ages: Adults and kids 8 and older
Cost: $50 per person
Location: Ross’ Landing Dock
Reservations required: Register online with SUPsplash
Tim Inskeep’s Approach to Wave Riding Clinic
Saturday, Oct. 1
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Tim Inskeep is a lifelong waterman with a history of competitive swimming, surfing, lifeguarding and teaching surf and stand up paddling (SUP). He teaches people of all ages and abilities through Maui Surf Clinics in Hawaii and SUP Guides in Nashville. He is the founder of NEEDS H20, a new non-profit that helps kids with special needs gain confidence and other life skills through water sports.
Ages: Adults and kids 8 and older
Cost: Free
Location: Ross’ Landing Dock
Reservations required: Register online with SUPsplash
