Warriors Path State Park: Summer In the Park

MONDAY, JUNE 12
10:30 AM BIRD’S EYE VIEW – Take a hike to the Overlook and look at our world
from a different perspective. Don’t forget your camera! Meet at the camp
store.

1:00 PM POISON IVY – Don’t let fear of a little itch keep you out of the lovely
summer woods! Learn to be safe around this “sneaky” plant. Meet at the
Open Air chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.

3:00 PM WAYWARD WEEDS – There are more weeds among us than we may
realize, and many of them are edible! Join us at the main bathhouse to
learn our way, and “eat” our way, through some of the plants that don’t
belong here.

5:00 PM HOME “TWEET” HOME – What kind of homes and nests do our
neighbors build for their “home sweet homes?” Learn about wildlife
shelters, and try your hand at building your own critter home. Meet at
the main bath house

9:00 PM OUR BACKYARD BATS – Bats live in almost every community in
North America! Come discover more about our neighborhood bats with
an interactive slideshow. Meet at the Open Air Chapel or pool entrance if
it’s raining.
TUESDAY, JUNE 13
9:00 AM RIPARIAN HIKE – “Riparian” means “along the creek bank.” It also
means an extra-rich wildlife habitat! Come along for an “extra- cool” hike
near Fall Creek. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool.

10:00 AM AMPHIBIAN “ATTACK” – Let’s search for our slippery friends!
We’ll “hunt” for frogs, toads and salamanders, and discover more
about their amazing, changing lives. Meet at the campground boat
ramp. Please wear clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!
1:00 PM TURTLE TALK – Meet a real, live “shelled friend” and find out more
about their amazing lives. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath
house if it is raining.

2:00 PM FINGER PAINT FROGS – Come discover all about the importance
of our parks frogs while creating your own froggy masterpiece! Meet
at the main bathhouse.

NOTE: All activities meet in and near the park’s Main Campground, unless otherwise specified.

TUESDAY, CONTINUED
4:00 PM COOL DOWN LAKE WALK – Let’s dabble our toes in the water and enjoy all
the “cool” discoveries. Meet at the campfire circle, east end of the campground.
9:00 PM NIGHT WOODS – It’s a whole different world out there at night! Tonight is our
chance to discover the peace and the excitement of forest life on the dark side of
the day. Bring a dim flashlight to the main bath house, to begin our night hike.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14
9:30 AM HIKE TO CHILDRESS TOWN – A vigorous hike over the high ridges will
bring us to the ruins of the first settlement in the park. This will be a three to
four hour hike, so wear good walking shoes and comfortable clothes. Drive to the
camp store, and we’ll carpool to the start of the trail.

11:00 AM WHAT’S UP WITH THE WIND? – From gentle summer breezes to howling
hurricanes, the wind is one of nature’s most important travelers. Meet at the
Open Air Chapel to “travel along.” In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
1:00 PM PUFFY FLUFFY – Ever look up and see crazy shapes in cloud? Come find out
more about clouds and make your own fluffy cotton cloud creation! Bring your
imagination to the main bathhouse.

3:00 PM NATURE’S SKYSCRAPERS – Forests are like apartment houses! Come along
on this forest hike, and we’ll find out more about who lives “upstairs.” Meet at
the main bath house.

5:00 PM AFTERNOON BIRD WALK – Think you missed the “early bird” by sleeping in?
Well, some birds might like to sleep late too! Come this afternoon for a walk
through AFTERNOON bird country. Meet at the Campfire Circle, east end of
the Campground.

7:00 PM SKY ART – What does the sky look like today? How does the sky change with
the day? Help us be “sky watchers,” and then create a permanent image of your
favorite skies. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15
9:00 AM RIDGETOP HIKE – Enjoy some fine high views of the summer forests and
fields under the bright sunny skies. This is a fairly short, but very steep hike. So
wear good hiking footwear, bring some water, and meet at the Mountain Bike
Trail parking lot (at the end of Freeman Road, Blountville TN).

10:00 AM SQUIRREL SEARCH – The more we watch these grey furry neighbors, the
more we can discover about their fascinating lives. Meet at the Open Air Chapel
for some critter behavior studies.

11:00 AM WHAT’S A PATH? – There are so many paths, and so many kinds of paths, here
at Warrior’s Path!! Meet at the Open-Air Chapel to find out WHY it’s called
“Warriors’ Path,” and to discuss the many paths you can discover here. (In case
of rain, meet at the main bath house.)

12 NOON SOIL CREATURES – Discover the amazing world of life in the ground at our

feet. Meet at the Open Air Chapel to “dig into” a new world.

2:00 PM PACKING FOR THE TRAIL – Not sure what you need for the trail? Come
learn about what you DO and DON’T need to pack for a fun hike. Meet at the
Open Air Chapel (or main bath house if it’s raining).

THURSDAY, CONTINUED
4:00 PM LEAVE NO TRACE – We can enjoy the wilderness, and leave the land as
beautiful as it was. Find out how to camp and hike, and leave no signs of your
presence. Meet at the campfire circle, or main bath house if it is raining.

6:00 PM EVENING STROLL – Let’s wake up our senses to evening in the forest. Meet at

the Camp Store for a short, refreshing hike.

7:00 PM SIGNIFICANT SOIL – Soil is the base of all life, but what happens when it gets
polluted? Even more important, what can we do about soil pollution? Join us at
the main bathhouse to try a “clean the soil” experiment!

9:00 PM NIGHT HIKE TO SINKING WATERS – It’s a whole different world out there
at night! Tonight is our chance to discover the peace and the excitement of a
night in the Sinking Waters wetland. Bring a dim flashlight and drive to the
camp store. We’ll carpool out to the park back country.

FRIDAY, JUNE 16
9:30 AM RIVERBANK STROLL -This green river valley has seen generations of
travelers. This morning, we’ll travel together, and search for signs of the wildlife
and the people who came before us. Meet at the main campground bath house.
11:00 AM RAFT CRAFT – Years ago, men needed to know how to make rafts of huge logs,
to travel the river and to sell timber. Today we can make little rafts just for fun,
and to remember those early days. Meet at the Campfire Circle on the east end
of the Campground (or main bath house if it is raining). We might even try out
our new toy rafts at the shore!

1:00 PM WALK ON THE SUNNY SIDE – Warm summer sunshine feels great, but too
much can be a “real pain!” Find out how plants and animals use the sun, and
keep from being burned. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s
raining

2:00 PM PLANT DEFENSES – How do plants defend themselves from weather, from
hungry critters, and from other dangers? Let’s get a close look at “war” in the
plant world! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.
4:00 PM FERN FUN – Make friends with some of the local ferns and their kin. Meet us
at the Open Air Chapel and we will take a short walk to find some fern friends.
5:00 PM “ALIEN” ROUNDUP – Not aliens from a galaxy far far away, but non-native
“alien” plants. Come find out how these invasive aliens traveled here and help
remove them from the park. Your work will make a big difference for the future
health of our region! Meet at the Open Air Chapel and be prepared to get a little
messy.

6:00 PM NOISY TOYS – How did the pioneer children make music or noise? Make your
very own “musical” instrument with a few simple things from nature. Meet at
the Open Air Chapel to create some “beautiful music.” In case of rain, meet at
the main bath house.

7:30 PM NATURE POETRY – Come enjoy “listening in” to some inspiring words about
nature. Then amaze yourself by writing your own poem about the great
outdoors. Bring your favorite poem if you’d like, and meet at the Open Air
Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.

9:00 PM PLANTS & POLLINATORS – Enjoy a slide-illustrated talk on native
wildflowers, and the “busy bugs” who help them thrive. Meet at the Open Air
Chapel, or pool entrance if it’s raining.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18
9:00 AM CREEK WALK – Get on your old clothes and tennis shoes. It’s time to explore
the cool, clear creek waters. We’ll discover a world of amazing life. Drive to the
camp store, and we’ll carpool. Be prepared to get wet!

10:30 AM BUILD A BIRD’S NEST – Birds can do it, but can we? Let’s find out who is a

real “bird brain”. Meet at the main bath house.

12 NOON BE AN ANIMAL! – If you were a park “critter,” where would you find the things
you need to stay alive? Come on along for a “critter supply walk!” Meet at the
Open Air Chapel.

2:00 PM SPOTLIGHT STROLL – Let’s shine our light on some bright natural
discoveries. Meet at the camp store to begin a short, sunlit walk.

5:00 PM ANIMAL CHARADES – Explore your wild side and show off your acting skills
with a fun game of animal charades! See if you can walk, talk, and squawk like
the animals here in the park. Meet at the Open Air Chapel or the main bath
house if it’s raining.

7:00 PM MEET THE OWL – Meet a REAL LIVE feathered hunter, and learn his
fascinating life story. Come to the Open Air Chapel and see “whooo…” is waiting
for you. If it is raining, meet at the main bath house.

9:00 PM NIGHT SOUNDS – Nature is full of sounds when the sun goes down! Some
seem eerie, but there’s no need to be nervous. Come find out whose noise is
whose. Meet at the Open Air Chapel for a short slide show of the creatures who
“talk” in the night! (At the pool entrance if it is raining.) NOTE – there will be a
special NIGHT SOUNDS contest for children after the show.

SUNDAY, JUNE 19
9:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE – Enjoy a peaceful morning worship service at the Open
Air Chapel, or at the pool entrance if it is raining. Sponsored by the Colonial
Heights Baptist Church.