Warriors Path State Park: Summer in the Park

warrior

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 11
9:00 AM KAYAK RIDE & LAKE DISCOVERY- A quiet kayak in the bright
waters – there’s no better way to enjoy the peace and excitement of life
in the lake! See nature from a whole new perspective. NOTES: You
must sign up in advance at the Marina, since space is limited.
Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult, and anyone under
18 must have an adult to sign a release form. Meet at the Marina.
10:30 AM A NUTTY FRUITY HIKE – No, we’re not “nuts,” we’re just trying to
find some wildlife food. Meet at the main bath house to search for some
ripe discoveries.

5:00 PM NATURE’S POLLINATORS – Pollinators are precious, and our park is
home to many of them! Bring yourself and your keen eyes down to the
Campfire Circle. We’ll search for park pollinators, and find out why
they are so important! (In case of rain, meet at the main bath house.)
7:00 PM BIRDS OF PREY – Meet some real live feathered hunters. 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 LAMP-LIT NIGHT HIKE – Take a “de-light-full” hike through the
nighttime forest. We’ll light up the trail with old-timey kerosene
lanterns, and discover a “new world” of life after dark. We’ll supply the
lanterns, but children should bring flashlights instead for safety. Drive
to the camp store and we’ll carpool out to the park back country.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
9:30 AM FALL CREEK LOOP TRAIL -Let’s hike the park’s most scenic trail!
Enjoy beautiful vistas of the summer fields, as we search for signs of the
unique habitats in the open country. Drive to the camper check-in
station, and we’ll carpool to the start of a two hour hike.

2:00 PM JUNIOR RANGERS: TRAIL CLEANUP – Make our park a cleaner,
healthier environment! You’ll make a big difference for our earth, and
begin to earn your Junior Ranger badge. Meet at the main bath house.
Be prepared to get dirty!

4:00 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.

WEDNESDAY, CONTINUED
5:30 PM 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 (at the main bath
house if it’s raining.)

7:00 PM ENERGY CYCLES – 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.

9:00 PM CHEROKEE ASTROLOGY – The early travelers along the Warriors’ Path took
the time to look up at the night sky, to create stories, and to wonder. Come share
some of the star legends of the many peoples who have called this land home.
Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or pool entrance if it’s raining.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13
9:30 AM 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
camper check-in station, and we’ll carpool.

11:00 AM PEOPLE TRACKS – Wildlife leave tracks and signs, and so do we. But we can
choose what kind of signs we leave! Let’s go on a short adventure to find some
helpful and harmful people tracks. We’ll see what great tracks we can leave.
Meet at the camp store.

2:00 PM MUSHROOM MEANDER – There is so “mush room” for mushrooms at the
park! Come take a walk down the cool and shady trail to meet these fungi and to
learn more about them. Drive to the camp store, and we’ll carpool. Please wear
sturdy shoes.

5:00 PM 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.

7:00 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.

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.)

FRIDAY, JUNE 14
9:30 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.

11:00 AM WHAT LIVES IN OUR LAKE? – For us, the lake is a place to go boating or
fishing. But for many amazing animals and plants, it’s a home. Come help us
sample this incredible world of life in lake water. Meet at the main bath house,
and we’ll stroll on down to the shore.

FRIDAY, CONTINUED
3:30 PM TRADITIONAL BASKETS – We use bags to carry our goods from the store, but
our Appalachian ancestors used baskets! Take a peek at some old-time baskets,
then make your own basket to keep! We’ll make ours out of invasive
honeysuckle, so we can help clear the forest of some non-native plant pests, and
make some great little baskets at the same time. Meet at the Open Air Chapel,
or main bath house if it’s raining.

5:00 PM SKULLS – NATURE’S TOOL BOX – Every animal carries along all the tools it
needs for survival! Come investigate some natural “tool boxes,” and find out
more about each animal’s job! Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house
if it is raining.

6:00 PM EARTHBALL GAMES – Let’s have a ball – a six foot tall ball!! Meet at the
Open Air Chapel for some lively, cooperative games. If it rains, we’ll have some
smaller ball games at the main bath house.

9:00 PM TENNESSEE TALES – Enjoy a slide-illustrated talk on Tennessee Folklife, and
then share some good-old traditional tall tales. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or
pool entrance if it rains.

SATURDAY, JUNE 15
9:00 AM HIKE THE BONEYARD – Come explore a remote corner of Warriors’ Path, full
of geologic 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. Drive to
the camp store, and we’ll carpool.

3:00 PM CRITTER PATHS – Be a critter detective! Find out what’s been wandering

through the campground habitats. Meet at the camp store.

4:00 PM 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!

6:30 PM WASPS & HORNETS – Yes, they do sting if you bother them! But they are
really amazing creatures when you get to know them, from a safe distance…
Let’s get a close, stingless look at these common, important, misunderstood park
critters. Meet at the Open Air Chapel, or main bath house if it is raining.

9:00 PM NATURE’S FIREWORKS – Whether we call them fireflies or lightning bugs,we
sure do enjoy seeing how such a little “bug” can light up the night! Tonight we
can enjoy their “light show” and find out more about their amazing lives. Meet at
the Open Air Chapel for a short slide show about these “flashy insects.” (At the
pool entrance if it’s raining.)

SUNDAY, JUNE 16
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.

SPECIAL NOTE: We work hard to make our programs both safe and fun!
However, as with any outdoor activity, there is always a risk of personal
discomfort or even personal injury. Please use your common sense and care
whenever you enjoy activities in the Great Tennessee Outdoors.