Outdoor Chattanooga News + Events February 2019
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Outdoor Chattanooga's newsletter highlights the awesome outdoor activities happening in and around Chattanooga that will connect you to the outdoors and inspire you to come out and play with us!
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Outdoor Chattanooga Events
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Learn to Play Disc Golf
Saturday, Febr
uary 2 | 1 - 3 p.m.
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Learn how to play Disc Golf with Outdoor Chattanooga and the experts from
Chattanooga Flying Disc Club
at Portland Park. This free event is open to all ages and skill levels interested in learning more about this growing sport. We'll cover rules, objectives, scoring, equipment, lingo and course courtesy/safety. Discs available for the group to play the 9-hole course at Portland Park. Advanced reservations requested to have enough discs on hand for everyone in attendance. Inclement weather may cancel. Call 423-643-6888 to RSVP and learn more.
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Rapid Learning Winter Kayak Sessions
Tuesday, February 5 | 7-9 p.m.
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Outdoor Chattanooga's
Rapid Learning Kayak Program
provides formal instruction for beginner and seasoned kayakers to learn and develop whitewater kayaking skills. We move indoors in the winter months to a heated pool at the
Hulsey Wellness Center
in Collegedale. NO reservations, experience or equipment required to attend, and the first session is always free! There is a $2 pool use fee charged by the Wellness Center. Please bring cash. For more info
email Outdoor Chattanooga
.
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Try Archery
Wednesdays | 3:30-6 p.m. | February + March
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Take aim at Outdoor Chattanooga's Try Archery sessions every Wednesday from 3:30-6:00 p.m. in February and March at Outdoor Chattanooga. These free indoor archery sessions offer a hands-on opportunity to learn more about the sport of archery. We follow the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) procedures, concentrating on range safety rules and fundamentals of archery. All sessions are walk-in, open to ages 6 and up. No reservation or prior experience required. All equipment and instruction provided. Cost: free. Just show up, take aim and give archery a try! For questions or more information
email Outdoor Chattanooga
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Winter Workshop Series
Thursdays | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. |
January 10 - February 28
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Outdoor Chattanooga's
Winter Workshops
are a series of classroom-based, skill-building workshops that cover a variety of outdoor topics. Workshops are free, open to all ages, and occur on Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 PM, Jan. 10 through Feb. 28, 2019, at Outdoor Chattanooga, 200 River St. in Coolidge Park. Join for one, some or all to improve your outdoor skills. No reservations or experience required to attend.
Outdoor Chattanooga's bicycle guru, James Eubank, will demonstrate and allow time for practice on tuning your rear derailleur. Tools will be provided and questions will be encouraged. Hands and clothing might get dirty/greasy. Bring your bike or use one of ours to practice on.
The search and rescue visuals seen during a news flash when disaster strikes offer just a small glimpse into the Search and Rescue (SAR) team’s coordination and efforts. This workshop highlights the methods and techniques used by our local SAR team to safely locate and extract people in need. We’ll also cover the training requirements teams undergo to perform their duties, as well as the vehicles and equipment they use.
Learn how Search and Rescue (SAR) teams manage large-scale search and rescue missions utilizing infrared drone equipment and canines. The presenters will identify and discuss the difference between urban and wilderness search and rescue operations. If time permits, there will be a dog and drone demonstration.
Learn techniques from local expert, Capt. Richard Simms, a certified U.S. Coast Guard Captain and owner/guide of
Scenic City Fishing Charters
, on how to catch the big one! During this workshop, he will discuss techniques that intermediate to advanced anglers can use to catch some of the most popular game fish in our area including Crappie, Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, Blue Catfish, and Bluegill.
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All Day Outdoor Photography Workshop & Hike
February 2 & 23
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Join a Tennessee State Park Ranger and David Duplessis of
Tennessee Photographs
for an all-day photography workshop in some of Tennessee's most beautiful and accessible State Parks. Winter is one of the best times to learn and practice outdoor photography, and this workshop will teach basic outdoor photography principles and camera settings, how to shoot and capture water, waterfalls and much more. Participants should have and bring their own DSLR camera, lenses, and a tripod, along with plenty of water/fluids, snacks, and a lunch. The workshop will caravan and hike around the park to different points of interest through out the day, and there will be some short, strenous hiking involved. There are two offerings of this all day photography workshop. February 2 will be at Rock Creek State Park, February 23 will be at South Cumberland State Park. Registration and payment is required in advance. Cost is $90 per person.
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Basic Orienteering
Sat., February 9 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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Learn how to read a topographic map, use a map compass, and then put your new skills to the test at Enterprise South Nature Park on Saturday, February 9. Cost: Free. Maps and compasses will be provided. Please call (423) 893-3500 to register as space is limited.
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Ever wonder what it would be like to camp at Enterprise South Nature Park? Here's your chance to experience the park in a new way and Campout Polar Bear Style, February 23-24! Park rangers will offer a guided hike, and s'mores around the campfire, while you enjoy a night of nature sounds camped out in the park. The event is appropriate for ages 8+. Cost: $20 per group of 4, $5 per additional group member-max 6 people in a group. Registration and fees are required in advance as spots are limited. Call Ranger Kylee Saunders to learn more and get registered at 423-710-0274.
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We recommend
this article
from
Mark Pace
at the
Times Free Press
regarding the aquisition of nearly 2,400 acres on Lookout Mountain into Johnson's Crook in Dade County, Georiga that will be preserved and managed by
the Southeast Cave Conservancy Inc. as the new Charles B. Henson Preserve at Johnson's Crook.
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Local Adventure Spotlight
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This month's local adventure is inspired in part by
the Times Free Press article regarding Southeast Cave Conservancy's land acquisition in North Georgia, which contains more than 30 known caves. We're excited for SCCi and can't wait to see what becomes of the new preserve! Since February is often the coldest month of the year here in Chattanooga and the thought of spending much time outside has little appeal, we've decided to take you underground instead. Did you know there are over 7,000 known caves within an hour’s drive of Chattanooga, including parts of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia (TAG). Guided cave tours are a great outdoor activity to do on extremely cold or bad weather days because cave temperatures stay a constant 55-60 degrees. Commercial caverns and outfitters in the area offer guided cave tours ranging from an easy walk on wide pathways to getting down and dirty, muddy and cruddy on a wild cave adventure.
Here's what you need to know to try this month's outdoor adventure.
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Disclaimer: Wild caves are fragile and dangerous. It requires specialized equipment and knowledge to access them. The inexperienced should not enter any cave without proper guidance and equipment because cave ecosystems are extremely fragile and beginner blunders can become dangerous life threatening emergencies. We highly recommend using an established guide service for caving. With that being said, here are our recommendations for this month's local underground adventure.
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- What makes it great?
The closest cave to downtown Chattanooga, open year round and offering two distinctly different tour types - walking and wild - depending on your physical ability and preferred level of adventure. Walking tours offered daily with no reservation, wild tours required advance reservation and vary.
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- What makes it great?
They offer a variety of wild cave tours ranging from 1-4 hours in length that vary in difficulty and distance covered. The tours are appropriate for beginners, but the caves are truly wild with no lights, walkways, or handrails. If you go, be ready for adventure and to get dirty. Pigeon Mountain Cave tours are offered year round. Sitton's Cave tours are select months of the year. All tours meet at Cloudland Canyon State Park and require advance reservation. Transportation, equipment and guides are provided with the tour fee.
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The Lost Sea
- What makes it great? They are open year round except Thanksgiving and Christmas offering tours that last 1 hour 15 mins and include an underground boat ride on America's largest underground lake. Enough said!
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Looking Ahead...Upcoming Events
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Outdoor Chattanooga | 423.643.6888 | info@outdoorchattanooga.com | www.outdoorchattanooga.com
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