Come Out and Play!
Outdoor Chattanooga News + Events January 2020
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!
Outdoor Chattanooga Events
Winter Workshop Series
Wednesdays, Jan. 8- Feb. 19 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday Winter Workshop: Not all who wander are lost but those who are lost should know how to be found. We’ve become pretty dependent on smartphones for wayfinding, but what happens if the signal fails or the battery dies while you’re out on the trail? Knowing how to read a map and use a compass is an essential skill for anyone wandering in the woods. Learn the basics of how to navigate using the “old school” method of map and compass. Maps and compasses are available to use during the workshop.

Put it to practice: The following Saturday, January 11, participants can put those new map and compass skills into practice finding checkpoints at Coolidge Park. Maps and compasses are available to use during the field excursion. Registration is required in advance and space is limited with priority given to those that attend this workshop. Online registration will open to the public on Thursday morning following the workshop.
Wednesday Winter Workshop: Cave etiquette and speleoart is the art of leaving no trace in a cave and leaving with art in your sketchbook! Learn how to create caving memories and cave art without leaving a trace! This free workshop will have a Powerpoint presentation on cave etiquette and speleoart-the art of leaving no trace in a cave while leaving with art in your sketchbook. The workshop will also include demonstrations of ancient cave art along with modern speleoart techniques in various artist materials.

Put it to Practice: on Saturday, January 18 during a guided speleoart caving trip with the Chattanooga Grotto and Carolina Shrewsbury. Learn about ancient cave formations and how they are made while making your own art masterpiece from inside a local cave. Participation is limited to 10 people with first priority given to those that attend the Wednesday Winter Workshop. The field trip is appropriate for ages 12 and up with a participating adult. Online registration will open to the public on Thursday morning following the workshop and is first come first serve. A waiting list will be initiated once registration has met capacity.
Wednesday Winter Workshop: Is paddling on your “bucket list” of things to try, but not sure where to start or how to put this adventure into motion? Make plans to attend this free workshop at Outdoor Chattanooga to learn all about the wonderful world of paddling from an experienced paddling instructor. This workshop will teach you the basics of all the paddlesports, what types of paddle crafts are on the market, their intended use, and what style of paddling is best suited for you! We will have a variety of paddle crafts and equipment on hand for demonstration purposes. You’ll walk away with a beginner-friendly paddling guide so you'll have the confidence to check this adventure off your bucket list!

Put it to Practice: on Saturday, January 25 during a guided and equipped kayak tour at the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge to view the migrating Sandhill Cranes. The tour cost is $45 per person which includes all the kayak equipment, basic paddling instruction, the guided tour and transportation from Chattanooga. The tour is appropriate for ages 14 and up with a participating adult. Registration is limited to 10 participants due to limited equipment and ACA guidelines. Priority registration is given to those who attend the Wednesday Winter Workshop. Online registration will open to the public on Thursday morning following the workshop and is first come first serve. A waiting list will be initiated once registration has met capacity.
Wednesday Winter Workshop: Water experts from WaterWays will educate community members on how individuals and small groups can take action to protect and restore their local creeks and streams. This workshop will teach attendees how to build and restore eco-friendly yards and outdoor spaces at home and the office, and what steps to take to achieve a Tennessee Clean Water home, how to evaluate storm-water runoff issues as well as techniques for restoring riparian zones with streambank stabilization, native plants, and volunteer power. 

Put it to Practice: on Saturday, February 1 during a field expedition to North Chattanooga’s Mountain Creek stream restoration site to learn how to identify a healthy stream, conduct water quality samples, and see stream quality repair in action with the experts from Waterways. Participation is limited with first priority given to those that attend the Wednesday Winter Workshop. The field trip is appropriate for ages 10 and up with a participating adult. Online registration is required and will open to the public on Thursday morning following the workshop and is first come first serve. A waiting list will be initiated once registration has met capacity.
Guided Hike
Sunday, Jan. 12 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join Outdoor Chattanooga for a guided hike on the Cumberland Trail .   We'll lead registered participants on a moderately strenuous 4-mile hike to explore a unique section of the CT. We'll provide guides and a shuttle for the one-way trek so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature without the worry of getting lost. Call us at 423-643-6888 to register & receive details!

Learn to Ride a Bike 
Monday, Jan. 13 | 4:00 OR 6:00 p.m.
Learn how to ride a bicycle with Outdoor Chattanooga's experienced instructors in a relaxed setting. Gain the skills and confidence to get out there riding on your own! FREE classes offered the 2nd Monday each month. No experience necessary. Ages 5+. Bikes, helmets, and instruction provided. Online reservations required in advance. Call 423-643-6888 to register and learn more.

Rapid Learning Winter Skills Sessions
Tuesday, Jan. 14 | 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Learn how to whitewater kayak with Outdoor Chattanooga 's Rapid Learning Whitewater Program ! This dynamic program offers formal and equipped kayak instruction for beginner and seasoned kayakers to learn and develop the skills necessary to safely and confidently paddle whitewater streams. In the winter months, we move indoors to a heated pool at the  Hulsey Wellness Center  in Collegedale. Reservations, experience or equipment are NOT required to attend, and the first session is always free! Additional sessions: Feb. 11, March 10, and April 21.  For more info  email Outdoor Chattanooga .

Adventure Spotlight
Happy New Year!
First Day Hikes near Chattanooga
Start the new year with a resolution to hike and connect with the outdoors in a Tennessee State Park. Harrison Bay, Booker T. Washington, Cumberland Trail,  Red Clay and Hiwassee/Ocoee State Parks are all offering free, guided  First Day Hikes  as part of America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative in all 50 States. Make a #ResolutionToHike in 2020!

Community Events
Lookout Wild Film Festival
January 16-19 | times vary
For seven years the  Lookout Wild Film Festival   (LWFF) has brought the best outdoor adventure and conservation films from around the world to Chattanooga for one awesome weekend. Enjoy compelling on-screen stories that celebrate wild places and the people they inspire alongside hundreds of other adventure enthusiasts from around the Southeast. The 50+ official LWFF 2020 selections feature mountain biking, climbing, paddling, hiking, skiing and more!  Purchase tickets here  and get inspired for your next outdoor adventure!

Sandhill Crane Festival
January 18-19 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The  Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)  hosts the 2020  Tennessee Sandhill Crane Festival  January 18-19 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day at the Birchwood Community Center in Birchwood, TN. There will be craft and food vendors, music, kids activities, live demonstrations and free bus shuttles from the Birchwood Community Center to the  Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge  and  Cherokee Removal Memorial . Both the refuge and memorial provide great views of Hiwassee Island and the many birds that flock there each winter. For those who are new to sandhill cranes and birding, guides from the Tennessee Ornithological Society and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will be on hand with scopes at the refuge to help visitors get an up-close look at the cranes and answer questions. Crane viewing is best in the morning and late afternoon. 

MLK Day of Service
January 20 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Join the  City of Chattanooga 's  Office of Multicultural Affairs for their seventh annual "A Day on, Not a Day Off" in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's Legacy through a day of community service. The city will help match volunteer and supplies with projects submitted by citizens and communities spread out over the entire city. Get started by submitting your group, community or organization's service project idea by clicking the link below. And be sure to sign up to volunteer as well and be of service to your community!

Looking Ahead...Upcoming Events
January

February

March
Outdoor Chattanooga | 423.643.6888 | info@outdoorchattanooga.com | www.outdoorchattanooga.com