Upcoming Events & Programs

  Summer Camp Registration is now open!

Wake Up With the Birds
Date/Time: Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 7:30am to 10:00am
Cost: CA&NC Members - FREE; Nonmembers - Free with paid admission

Rise and shine for an early morning boardwalk tour with our bird watching experts - CA&NC Naturalist, Kyle Waggener, and members of TOS. You may spot woodpeckers, summer tanagers, scarlet tanagers, and various migrant warblers. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring binoculars for a relaxing stroll along the boardwalk and through the grounds of Reflection Riding. Please call (423) 821-1160 ext. 0 to register. Space is limited.

Bow-drilling Workshop
Date/Time: Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Cost: CA&NC Members - $12; Nonmembers - $16

Spend an afternoon learning the basic friction fire method of bow-drilling. Participants will learn to identify proper raw materials and how to construct a bow-drill set. Learn the basics of this beginner-friendly fire art and primitive skill. All pieces of the bow drill set constructed in the workshop will be yours to keep. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothes that can get dirty and pack along a water bottle. This workshop is designed for participants 14 years-old and up. Space is limited. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Please call (423) 821-1160 ext. 0 to reserve your spot.

Nature at Night
Date: Friday, May 25, 2012
Cost: CA&NC Members - $7 Adults, $5 Seniors & Kids (4-11); Nonmembers - $10 Adults, $7 Seniors & Kids (4-11)

Programs are as follows:
Blacklighting for Insects - Ongoing throughout the evening with Julia Gregory and Bill Hailey, educators from the Tennessee Aquarium
Frog Walk - 8:00pm to 9:00pm - Explore our habitat and learn to identify frogs by sound
Owl Prowl - 9:00pm to 10:00pm - Hoot like a pro to call in our resident owls.
Night Sky Viewing - 10:00pm to 11:00pm - Be a star gazer and explore the night sky.

Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Participants have the choice of one or all the programs. Please call (423) 821-1160 ext. 0 to reserve your spot.

Night Hike
Date/Time: Saturday, June 2, 2012 - 8:00pm to 10:30pm
Cost: CA&NC Members - $7 Adults, $5 Kids (ages 10-11); Nonmembers - $9 Adults, $7 Kids (ages 10-11)
National Trails Day - Challenge yourself on the moderately strenuous Bradford Williams Trail. This hike is approximately 5 miles.

Join Jeff Hunter, Resident Caretaker, in a series of night time adventures. Participants will discover the night time wonders of the forest hiking on the trails at Reflection Riding. Each hike will be a unique experience as new trails will be discovered each evening.  All hikes except for the June 2 date will conclude with a campfire and marshmallow roast. This program is designed for participants 10 years old and up. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Please call (423) 821-1160 ext. 0 to reserve your spot.

Bat Watch
Date/Time: Friday, June 8, 2012 - 7:15pm to 9:30pm
Cost: CA&NC Members - $9 Adults, $5.50 Seniors & Kids (4-11); Nonmembers - $12 Adults, $7 Kids (4-11)

Meet at CA&NC for an informative power point presentation about bats. We will then car caravan to the Nickajack Cave, home to more than 60,000 endangered bats. There is a short walk to the viewing platform. As the sun sets, the tiny gray bats wing their way out of the cave to feed on insects. Bring a flashlight and wear comfortable walking shoes. This is a very popular program and space is limited. The price includes a required parking fee at the Maple View Parking area. Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Please call (423) 821-1160 ext. 0 to reserve your spot.

Flint Knapping with Jumping Bull (Jon Kinsey)
Date/Time: Saturday, June 9, 2012 - 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Cost: CA&NC Members - $20; Nonmembers - $25
This program is appropriate for adults who are 16 years old and up.

Pre-registration and prepayment are required. Class size limited to 10 participants.
Flint knapping - the art of making arrowheads, knife blades, and such - is coming to the CA&NC. The purpose of the class is to learn the basics of a nearly-extinct art.  Participants will leave with a finished product and a desire to keep the craft alive. The class will include basic information on the history of knapping, proper angle and technique, beginner's tools, and the material to create an arrowhead.

Jon Kinsey (Jumping Bull) of mixed Cherokee and French decnt has been performing various Native American arts and crafts for several years. From knapping to pipe making and many arts in between, he attempts to produce usable yet beautiful art in the ways of the ancestors.