Warriors Path State Park: Summer in the Park

MONDAY, JUNE 26
9:00 AM HIKE TO ROCK CITY – Come explore a remote corner of Warriors’
Path, full of geologic discovery. This will be a challenging 3-4 mile hike,
so be sure to wear comfortable clothes, good hiking shoes, and bring some
drinking water. Meet at the Mountain Bike Trail parking area.
2:00 PM GEOLOGY ROCKS! – Come discover more about the amazing rocks
beneath our feet. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is
raining.

4:00 PM TENNESSEE SYMBOL’S WALK – Join us on a short hike to discover
some of the Tennessee State Symbols that exist here at our park! Meet at
the camp store.

6:00 PM ROCK CYCLE CRAFT – Discover the wonders of the rock cycle using
crayons- and you’ll even get to make your own custom crayon to keep!
Meet us at the main bathhouse.

TUESDAY, JUNE 27
9:00 AM WAKE UP AND SMELL THE PAWPAWS – Come explore a big patch
of PawPaws with us this morning and even give them a smell. Be sure to
wear comfortable clothes, good hiking shoes, and bring some drinking
water. Meet at the Mountain Bike Trail parking area (end of Freeman
Rd, Blountville TN).

10:30 AM SOUNDS & COLORS – Try your skills as a “nature watcher!” Meet at
the campfire circle, east end of the campground to look, listen, and learn.
12 NOON PINE CONE BIRD FEEDERS – Let’s make a snack for our feathered
friends! Meet at the main bath house, and you’ll be able to bring back
home your own little bird feeder.

1:00 PM LEAF PRINTS – “Ordinary” leaves come in such extraordinary shapes
and textures. We can capture these patterns with ink and paper. Come
make a leaf souvenir at the main bath house.

2:30 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.

4:00 PM “FUZZ, PRICKLES & BUMPS” – Let’s use our sense of TOUCH to
explore the forest. Meet at the camp store to begin a “touch & feel” hike.
6:00 PM WALKING TREES, FLYING PLANTS – 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.

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

TUESDAY, CONTINUED:
9:00 PM TENNESSEE SEASONS, TENNESSEE WILDLIFE – Enjoy a tour of all four
seasons in the hills of Tennessee. With words and pictures, we will experience
the excitement of year-round discovery. After the slide show, one of our “Wildlife
Ambassadors” will share a lesson on Wildlife Tracking and reading “Critter
Signs.” Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or pool entrance if it is raining.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28
9:00 AM WAKE UP WALK – Let’s wake up our senses to morning in the forest. Meet at

the main bath house for a refreshing morning walk.

10:00 AM BOAT FLOAT – Are you ready to sail across ponds and puddles? Meet at the
Open Air Chapel to build your own bark boat. Then we’ll stroll on down to the
shore and watch them set sail. In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.
11:30 AM FISH TALES – Everyone enjoys a good story – and fishermen are well-known for
their tales! Come swap some big ones at the Open Air Chapel, or at the main
bath house if it’s raining

1:00 PM PLANKTON – For us, the lake is a place to go boating or fishing. But for the
micro-world of plankton, it’s a home. Come help us sample this incredible world
of tiny lives floating in lake water. Meet at the main bath house, and we’ll stroll
on down to the shore.

2:30 PM WATERCOLOR WILDLIFE – You don’t need a camera when you have paint
and a brush! For any experience level, enjoy making your own work of art at the
Open Air Chapel, or at the main bathhouse if it rains.

4:00 PM “WACKY WET WEDNESDAY” – Let’s enjoy some kid-friendly water play and
learning activities. You might even get to soak the Park Ranger. Meet at the
Open Air Chapel – be prepared to get VERY WET!

6:00 PM RIPARIAN RETREAT – Riparian means along the creek bank! Come along for
a cool hike near Fall Creek, on the far side of the Devil’s Backbone. Drive to the
camp store, and we’ll carpool.

7:00 PM JELLYFISH TAG – We’re not at the beach, but there are some freshwater
jellyfish in the lake. Come play a fun game about these amazing slimy critters.
Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it’s raining.

8:00 PM SUNSET HIKE – Watch the sun go down across the green hills. Meet at the
Mountain Bike Trail parking area. This is a short, but rather steep hike. Bring a
flashlight for the walk back down.

THURSDAY, JUNE 29
9:00 AM CRITTER COUNT HIKE – Park woodlands are amazing rich habitats. Come
along on a short hike to count who is at home in the forest. Bring along your best
wildlife watching skills, and meet at the camp store.

10:30 AM BEACH SEARCH – The lakeshore is full of tiny beaches, full of signs of wildlife
and clues to the people who once traveled here. Each wave brings us new things
to find! Meet at the main bath house to begin our natural “treasure hunt.”
2:00 PM CHALK CRITTERS – Try your hand at drawing your favorite animals with
sidewalk chalk! Bring a picture or use your imagination and meet at the Main
Bath House. (Bring a camera if you want to take your asphalt drawing home
with you!)

THURSDAY, CONTINUED
3:00 PM WHAT SMELLS? – The nose knows! Nature is full of amazing smells – some
delightful, some disgusting! Let’s follow our noses to nature discovery. Meet at
the main bath house for a short walk.

4:30 PM FOREST DISCOVERY HIKE – Be a forest detective! Come explore the web of

connections along the forest trail. Meet at the main bath house.

6:00 PM COMPOSTING – Not your everyday recycling. Find out how to turn trash into
garden treasure. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or 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 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 30
9:30 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!

11:00 AM MACRAMÉ – Learn the art of hand weaving. Meet at the Open Air Chapel and
see how creative you can be with a bit of rope! In case of rain, meet at the main
bath house.

12 NOON TEA TIME – Enjoy an old-timey favorite – Sassafras tea! We’ll also “brew up”
some knowledge on the uses of this tree throughout history. Meet at the Open
Air Chapel (or pool entrance if it is raining.)

2:00 PM TRADITIONAL SEWING CIRCLE – If you’ve every wanted to learn how to
sew by hand, here’s your opportunity. Let’s learn some simple stitching
techniques that were used hundreds of years and still used today. Meet at the
Open Air Chapel, or the main bath house if it is raining.

3:00 PM “WELL WITCHING” – Ever heard of “witching” for water? Come find out about
this mysterious, traditional method of finding underground water. Test your
“dousing” skills at the main bath house.

4:00 PM PIONEER SUPPLY WALK – Try to meet your needs like the pioneers did.
We’ll find our “supplies” waiting for us in the forest. Meet at the main bath
house.

6:00 PM OLD TIMEY GAMES – Enjoy some good-old fun! Try some games from the
early settlement days of East Tennessee. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main
bath house if it’s raining.

7:30 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 TENNESSEE TALES – Enjoy new insights into Tennessee Folklife as we share
some good-old traditional tall tales. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or pool
entrance if it rains.

SATURDAY, JULY 1
9:30 AM HIKE THE WHITETAIL LOOP – Come explore a remote corner of Warriors’
Path, full of wildlife discovery. 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 (Freeman Rd, Blountville).

12 NOON NATURE JOURNAL – Come create your own little “nature diary.” Your home-
made book will be a perfect way to remember all your nature fun in the park!

Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or the main bath house if it is raining.

2:00 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.

3:30 PM TREE COOKIES – Let’s read a small slice of nature! The inside of a tree holds
many clues to the outside of the land! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath
house if it is raining.

6:00 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.

9:00 PM CAMPFIRE – What a great combination: A dark night, a bright fire, and some

traditional riddles. 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, JULY 2
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.