Warriors Path State Park: Summer in the Park

MONDAY, JUNE 5
12 NOON LEAF MOBILES – How peaceful it is to sit under a summer tree and
watch the leave move in the wind! Come make your own leafy “tree” to
enjoy and remember the summer forests. Meet at the main bath house
3:00 PM GRAND-DADDY WHO? – Granddaddy Long Legs may be creepy
crawlers, but they are also an important part of the forest community.
Come take a short hike to search for our little grand-daddies, and to
discover more about these misunderstood leggy neighbors. Meet at the
camp store.

5:00 PM BUG HUNT – They’re more than just “creepy crawlers!” Come get a
close look at our multi-legged friends. Meet at the camp store

9:00 PM SPIDER EYES- Meet at the Open Air Chapel and bring a flashlight as
we hunt for the deadliest hunter on eight legs, SPIDERS! Will you be
able to spot a spider in the dark? Bring water. Children under 10 must
bring a parent.
TUESDAY, JUNE 6
9:00 AM OH DEER! – Discover more about some of the biggest wildlife in the
park. Come explore a remote corner of Warriors’ Path, the Whitetail
Loop. This will be a challenging 2-3 mile hike, so be sure to wear
comfortable clothes, good hiking shoes, and bring some drinking water.
Meet at the Mountain Bike Trail parking lot (at the end of Freeman
Road, Blountville TN).

10:30 AM LAKE SHORE ROUNDUP – We can help wildlife, and clean up their
home at the same time! If they could talk, the critters would say
“THANK YOU!!” Meet at the main bath house.

1:00 PM TRASH TO TREASURE – Here’s a new way to recycle! We can take
the junk that makes our park look ugly, and create our own “animals”.
Pick up some trash on your way to the main bath house.

2:30 PM NEVER-ENDING CIRCLE WALK – Nature is the “master recycler.”
Let’s discover some of nature’s endless cycles. Meet at the Campfire
Circle on the east end of the campground.

4:00 PM THE THREE R’S – Do you know the Three R’s? Come to the Open Air
Chapel to explore ways we can save money, families, and the planet.
Meet at the main bathhouse if it rains.

7:00 PM RACCOON RASCALS – Come discover more about these fascinating
fur buddies, and learn more about their adventurous lives. Also find out
how to keep them out of your campsite! Meet at the campfire circle, east
end of the main campground (pool entrance if it is raining).

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7
9:30 AM MORNING LAKE CONNECTION – Walk the Connector Trail this morning as
we try to find critters waking up and getting their days started along the lake!
Meet at the main bathhouse for a leisurely trail walk.

11:00 AM NATURE PAINTERS – Here’s your opportunity to be a modern Van Gogh by
getting time to paint in nature. For the serious painter as well as the beginner,
this is the chance to artistically re-create our natural surroundings. Feel free to
bring your own supplies if you have them! Meet at the Open Air Chapel (main
bath house if it’s raining).

1:00 PM HABITATS AROUND US – Let’s look for clues to who is “at home” near our
homes. Come join us for a short habitats stroll. Meet at the main bath house.
4:00 PM BARE BONES – It’s what’s inside that counts! We can find out a lot about our
wildlife neighbors by a close look at their bones! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or
main bath house if it is raining.

7:00 PM SLANTING LIGHT STROLL – Come for a relaxing meander to look for animal
signs as the nighttime animals start to stir and the sun starts to cast long
shadows through the woods. Meet at the camp store.

9:00 PM LONG-LOST SPECIES – A surprising number of animals and plants have
faded away, and are now only part of Tennessee’s history. Come discover the
bittersweet story of extinction in our region. Enjoy a slide-illustrated talk on
some “ghosts from the past,” at the Open Air Chapel, or pool entrance if it is
raining.
THURSDAY, JUNE 8
9:00 AM SINKING WATERS RIDGE HIKE – Explore succession – the changing face of
nature – on the first loop of the Sinking Waters Trail. We’ll discover the
woodlands changing all around us! Drive to the camp store, and we’ll caravan to
the start of the trail.

11:00 AM LIFE UNDER LOGS – Every corner of this earth is a home – and rotten logs are
some of the best! Help us “dig into” this unique habitat. Meet at the main bath
house, and be ready to get your hands dirty.

12 NOON LEAF ART – Explore the artistic side of nature as we make leaf rubbings and
decorate frames for our artwork! Meet at the main bath house. We’ll supply the
materials, you supply the creative fingers.

2:00 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

3:00 PM NATURE STORY TIME – Meet at the Open Air Chapel, in the shade of the big
Walnut tree, to share a great nature story. Afterwards, we’ll take a very short
walk to find the “star” of our story. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.

4:00 PM NATURE GAMES – Don’t miss the natural fun – for the young or the young-at-
heart! Meet at the Open Air Chapel for some lively games about our natural

world. If it’s raining, meet at the main bath house.

6:00 PM LOVELY LICHENS – Come walk to discover some of our park’s most amazing
plants! You’ll really “take a liking” to them! Meet at the main bathhouse.

THURSDAY, CONTINUED
7:00 PM TREE TOOLS – How big is that tree? How old is it? What wildlife could be
hiding in it? Come see and try out some of the tools that foresters use to study
and protect our native trees. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if
it is raining.

9:00 PM FOREST TREES – Take a “hike” from the comfort of your seat. Enjoy a “tour”
of our nearby forest habitats using words and pictures. After the slide show,
we’ll share a demonstration of how to identify our local trees. Meet at the Open
Air Chapel, or pool entrance if it is raining.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9
9:00 AM HIKE THE “DARWIN’S REVENGE” TRAIL – It may have a very strange
name, but it is an awesome trail! Come spend several hours in one of the most
beautiful and wildest parts of the park. Be sure to wear good walking shoes,
comfortable clothes, and bring some drinking water. Meet at the park’s
Mountain Bike Trail parking lot (at the end of Freeman Road, Blountville TN)
10:00 AM PLANT DEFENSES – They don’t look too stressed, but even plants have their
troubles! Find out how our green neighbors deal with the troubles of life. Meet at
the Open Air Chapel to begin our short walk.

11:30 AM DANDELION DINING – Come enjoy a picnic lunch with us as we discover the
amazing uses of Dandelion, and even enjoy some free Dandelion Tea! Meet at
Duck Island Parking lot or the Duck Island Kiosk if it is raining.

1:30 PM MAGNIFYING GLASS HIKE – Use your eyes and some handy little magnifiers
to get a close look at nature’s amazing details. Meet at the main bath house to
begin a short discovery walk.

3:00 PM EVERLASTING ENERGY- The turtle shell may be empty, but where’s the
turtle? Discover how energy cycles through all living things on Earth, and how
those that are gone still contribute to the environment. Meet at the Open-Air
Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.

4:30 PM CHALK CRITTERS – What’s at home here? Decorate the park with sketches of

park wildlife “at home” in their habitats. Meet at the main bath house.

7:00 PM SEED RACES – Wind, water, and animals carry seeds of new trees and plants
all across the land. Our “wind” can help too! Meet at the Open Air Chapel to
show off your “hot air” and plant some new life. Meet at the main bath house if it
rains.

9:00 PM WILDLIFE TRACKING – You can be a wildlife detective! Learn to read the
tracks, scats, and other signs of our nearby wild creatures. Park staff (and a
small native animal) will be at the Open Air Chapel so you can have a chance to
meet our 4-legged friend and enjoy his tracking lesson.(In case of rain, meet at
the main bath house.)

SATURDAY, JUNE 10
SPECIAL EVENT TODAY – DRAGONFLY DAY – SEE POSTERS FOR DETAILS

Pre-registration is required. Preregister at:
https://tnstateparks.com/events/warriors-path

9:00 AM DUCK ISLAND BIKE RIDE – Meet at the camp store and we’ll pedal on down
to Duck Island! See what the lake is like now, and find out about the river it
used to be. Note that ALL riders MUST wear a bicycle helmet! Children 12 or
under must be accompanied by an adult!

SATURDAY, CONTINUED
11:30 AM POCKET DRAGONS- Dragonflies zip through the summer sky here at
Warrior’s Path! Join us at the main bathhouse to create your own pocket
“dragon” and discover more about these fascinating flying creatures.
2:30 PM NATURE MYSTERY BAG – Try your hand at discovering some natural
textures. See if you can guess which natural object is which. Meet at the Open
Air Chapel, or the main bath house if it is raining.

6:00 PM WATER’S EDGE – Discover more about the animals and plants who live each

day “on the edge!” Meet at the camp store.

9:00 PM CAMPFIRE – What a perfect combination: A dark night, a crackling fire, and
some local, traditional ghost tales. Meet at the campfire circle, east end of the
main campground. If it is raining, we’ll have an indoor “campfire” at the pool
entrance.
SUNDAY, JUNE 11
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.