Ninth Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike Set for Oct. 24, 2015

It's that time of year again: The Ninth Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24th at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN.

As always, the plan is to hike all of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet wilderness guide/hike leader Jason Allen at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The goal is to complete the hike by sunset, but there's a slight chance hikers could still be out on the trails after dark - so participants should bring a flashlight or light source just in case.

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles, or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles, no worries - you can stop whenever you please. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles with us or all 26 miles.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or on a website. Two years ago The Tennessean showed up for the event, and the following day the paper featured a story about the mega-hike, along with a photo gallery.

As is tradition, those who feel up to it afterwards are invited to the after-hike dinner/celebration at Angelo's Pizza on Murfreesboro Road.

Remember to bring plenty of water, lunch and snacks -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes, depending on the weather.

Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, you can leave food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a couple of locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed since attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will definitely start at Couchville Lake.

No pets, please. Kids are welcome.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park group, donations are welcome. 

Many of the park's hikes and events are organized and led by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers, and many supplies for the park's educational programs are purchased by the Friends group. To donate to the group or become a member, please go to http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the Long Hunter Mega-Hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.

"This Dang Planet" festival set for April 11, 2015

"This Dang Planet" - Long Hunter State Park's spring nature festival - is set for April 11, 2015. 

This free event features nature-themed activities for the entire family: an edible plants demonstration, bird walk, live snakes (and other animals!), craft station for kids, butterfly program, artist sketching, natural movement workshop, a water/habitat assessment program, and much more.

At lunch time there will be food trucks and a musical guest with a nature theme.

See below for schedule of events, presenter bios, and more!

Main Track (All Main Track events take place or start at the park office except where noted):

8 a.m. - Welcome/Opening Remarks

8:15 a.m. - Morning Bird Walk - John Froeschauer: Take a short walk to view and hear local and migratory birds.

10 a.m. - Eating Wild - Sharen Bracy: Let's go outside to search for wild edible plants - and then come inside for samples.

11:30 to 1:15 - Food Trucks - Jones Press Sandwich Shop and Maggie Moos (located at parking lot beside picnic shelter in Area 2)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Musical Guest Jerry Vandiver (located at picnic shelter in Area 2)

1:15 p.m. - Why Butterflies Need Trees - Rita Venable: Learn three good reasons why we should plant trees for butterflies. Rita will sign copies of her new book Butterflies of Tennessee after the presentation.

2:30 p.m. - Hiking With An Artist’s Eye - Fred Dickson: Try your hand at sketching the flora and fauna of Long Hunter. Attendees should bring a clipboard or other hard surface for drawing, as well as paper, favorite writing tools, and a camp chair if they don’t wish to sit on the ground.

Kids Track (All Kids Track events take place in or around picnic shelter in Area 2 except where noted):

10 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 - 3 p.m. - Learning About Cedar Glades Through Art - Liana Dranes - This is a craft station for kids who are welcome to come and go. Kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times. (Located under tent near picnic shelter)

10 a.m. - Water Water Everywhere But Not A Drop To Drink - Will Caplenor: Bring wading shoes for this water and habitat assessment program. Meet at Percy Priest Lake shoreline past Group Camp 2 at end of gravel road beside office.

11:15 a.m. - Rooted Movement: Natural Movement Workshop - Eric Newman: Participate in this physical education and fitness system based on the full range of natural human movement abilities. Meet beside playground in Area 2.

11:30 to 1:15 - Food Trucks - Jones Press Sandwich Shop and Maggie Moos (located at parking lot beside picnic shelter in Area 2)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Musical Guest Jerry Vandiver (at picnic shelter in Area 2)

2:30 p.m. - Exotic & Invasive Animals - Josh Justice: Live animals courtesy of the Natural History Education Company of the MidSouth.

"This Dang Planet" is organized and sponsored by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

For more information on the Friends of Long Hunter, visit http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark

* * *

PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES

Rita Venable - Why Butterflies Need Trees  

Rita Venable is a writer, photographer, and speaker whose much-loved subject is nature, especially butterflies. She is author of Butterflies of Tennessee (2014, Maywood Publishing). She was formerly an assistant biologist with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation conducting biological surveys in state parks and natural areas with the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory program. She developed butterfly checklists for individual parks, led field trips, conducted training sessions for seasonal naturalists, and spoke at wildflower festivals and other state park events.

Fred Dickson - Hiking With An Artist’s Eye   

Fred Dickson is a visual artist, harpist and actor from Nashville, Tennessee. In 2014 Tennessee's first lady, Crissy Haslam, asked him to create an ornament representing Long Hunter State Park for the Christmas tree on public display in the Governor’s Residence. Mr. Dickson also designed "The Flora and Fauna of Long Hunter State Park," a collection of hand-painted ceramic plates which sold for the benefit of Friends of Long Hunter State Park. Much of his art can now be found on display at Long Hunter. Dickson is also a noted hiker, having completed four Long Hunter Mega-Hikes, which consists of hiking all 26 miles of the park's trails in a single day.

John Froeschauer - Morning Bird Walk 

John Froeschauer is the Middle Tennessee Regional Interpretive Specialist for Tennessee State Parks. He is responsible for overseeing, planning and providing assistance with interpretive programming, exhibits and signage, resource management, regional seasonal interpreter management, and serves as statewide fund administrator of monies generated by sales of the environmental state parks license plate. For the past 20 years, the state parks environmental "Iris Plate" has had receipts earmarked for landscaping and related maintenance in state parks.

Jerry Vandiver - Musical Guest  

Since making the move from Kansas City to Nashville, Jerry Vandiver has seen his songs recorded by such artists as Tim McGraw, Phil Vassar, Lonestar, Barbara Mandrell, Lee Greenwood, and The Oak Ridge Boys. He scored a Top 5 single on Gene Watson's Don't Waste It On The Blues, a Top 20 on Wild Rose's Go Down Swingin', and #2 on Tim McGraw's For A Little While. Jerry can be heard regularly at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe, The Ford Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame's Songwriter Series, and NSAI's Tin Pan South.

Sharen Bracy - Eating Wild 
  

Sharen Bracy is a freelance naturalist and author who specializes in wild edible foods. A native Tennessean, Sharen is a former interpretive specialist for Tennessee State Parks. Sharen has been teaching people about edible plants in Tennessee for many years. She hosts the annual Wild Foods Day at Fall Creek Falls State Park and also prepares edible plants for the annual Wildflower Pilgrimage at Cedars of Lebanon State Park. She is author of the cookbook Eating Wild, which features over 100 of Sharen's favorite recipes for preparing wild food and game.

Liana Dranes - Learning About Cedar Glades Through Art 
  

Liana Dranes works with State of Tennessee Department of Military as Natural Resources Manager with focus on keeping TNARNG lands available and suitable for mission activities while conducting responsible management of natural resources to ensure resources are used wisely and are protected. Previously she worked 24 years with ESC Lab Sciences in Mt. Juliet, TN. In 2010, Dranes was awarded Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association "Four-Star Programming Award" for her volunteer partnership with Tennessee State Parks bringing environmental science and nature education programs to children through "The Nature Circle" at Long Hunter State Park.

Josh Justice - Exotic & Invasive Animals

For almost 10 years, the Natural History Educational Co. of the Midsouth (NHECM) has been providing educational outreach wildlife programs to many schools, libraries, State and Federal Parks, conservation & youth-oriented groups and other learning institutions. NHECM programmer Josh Justice has worked with a variety of animals and wildlife providing outreach programs to local schools and youth organizations for almost 25 years, including volunteer work with the Tennessee Outdoors University and the Wildlife Society at UT-Martin.

Eric Newman - Rooted Movement: Natural Movement Workshop  

Eric Newman is a MovNat Certified Trainer in Middle Tennessee as well as a small business owner. He is beginning the journey of sharing his love of nature and the exploration of movement with others. He began his exploration of movement through the martial arts and dabbled in many systems, including Small Circle Jiu Jitsu, BJJ, Boxing, Ba Gua, KFM, Wing Chun, and Pencak Silat. He earned a 2nd dan in Hapkido through the USHF, and a 3rd dan in Jin Jung Kwan Hapkido. Fitness and healthy lifestyle have always been at the forefront, especially during his policing career. In 2008, Eric received the Physical Fitness Award from the Nashville Metropolitan Police Department.  


Will Caplenor - Water, Water Everywhere, But Not A Drop To Drink

Will Caplenor is a Watershed and Restoration Specialist at the Tennessee Environmental Council. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2013 with a B.S. in Geoscience and will be pursuing a Masters in an Environmental field in the fall.

Long Hunter State Park website:
http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/LongHunter/

Long Hunter on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/730535187035717

Friends of Long Hunter website:
http://friendsoflonghunter.com/

Friends of Long Hunter on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark

Long Hunter State Park * 2910 Hobson Pike * Hermitage, TN 37076  615-885-2422

Ninth Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike (26 miles) Set For Oct. 24, 2015

It's that time of year again: The Eighth Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24th at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN. As always, the plan is to hike all of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet the Friends of Long Hunter State Park hike leaders at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) at approximately 6:45 a.m. and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The plan is to complete the hike by sunset, but there's a slight chance hikers could still be out on the trails after dark - so participants might want to bring a flashlight or light source just in case.

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles (or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles), no worries - you can stop whenever you want. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles with us or all 26 miles.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit. (A certificate listing previous year's survivors is currently on display in the park visitor center.)  There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or on a website. (Two years ago The Tennessean showed up for the event, and the following day there was a nice story about the mega-hike and a photo gallery.)  As always, those who feel up to it afterwards are invited to the after-hike dinner/celebration at Angelo's Pizza on Murfreesboro Road.

Just remember to bring plenty of water and lunch and snacks -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes. Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many of them do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, you can leave your food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a couple of different locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of the temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed until the following day (Sunday the 25th) because attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as previous years: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will definitely start at Couchville Lake.

 

No pets, please. Kids are welcome.

Since this hike is being organized, led and sponsored by the non-profit Friends of Long Hunter State Park group, donations are welcome. Many of the park's hikes and events are organized and led by Friends of Long Hunter volunteers. Most of the supplies for the park's educational programs -- not to mention snacks for Campfire Night, Trivia Night and other events  -- are also purchased by the Friends group. To donate to the group or become a member, please go to http://www.friendsoflonghunter.com/membership.html

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the Long Hunter Mega-Hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422. You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark.

Couchville Lake Film Festival: Long Hunter short films + WALL-E

Couchville Lake Film Festival: WALL-E plus Long Hunter Short Films: Friday, Sept. 27^th at 7 PM

For its final Movie Night of 2013, Long Hunter State Park plans to do something a bit different. They will start the evening by showing several Long Hunter-related short films, including four that will be making their premieres. Most will be five minutes or less; some are serious, others comic; all were filmed at Long Hunter State Park; and many were produced by members of the Friends of Long Hunter. They will conclude the evening by showing the classic Pixar feature film WALL-E, which tells the tale of a waste-collecting robot who inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will decide the fate of mankind.

This event is free and open to the public. Snacks and beverages courtesy of the Friends of Long Hunter State Park; attendees may also bring food, potluck items to share, popcorn and drinks. Participants should meet inside the Long Hunter State Park office at 2910 Hobson Pike. For more information, contact the park office at 615-885-2422.

List of films to be shown:

Plant a Tree in Tennessee  (directed by Scott Pessoni & Jason K. Allen, 2011)

The Inland Trail  (Scott Pessoni, 2011)

The Nature Loop  (Friends of LH State Park, 2009)

Catfish at Couchville Lake  (Mickey Bech, 2013)

Painting at the Park: A Community Mural Project  (Jeff James, 2013)

The Lost Loon Triathlon  (Terry Bulger, 2012)

The Mega-Hike  (Melinda Loy Bell, 2011)

Pondita: The Wandering Witch of the Glades  (Ponda Frost & Jason K. Allen, 2013)  (premiere)

Autumn Lovers  (Scott Pessoni & Jason K. Allen, 2013)  (premiere)

Wildcat From Outer Space  (Jason K. Allen & Scott Pessoni, 2013)  (premiere)

Moving Mountains & Touching Lives  (Jason K. Allen, 2013)  (premiere)

WALL-E  (Andrew Stanton, 2008)

 

Long Hunter State Park website: http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/LongHunter/

 

Friends of Long Hunter website: http://friendsoflonghunter.com/

Long Hunter on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark

LongHunter State Park * 2910 Hobson Pike * Hermitage, TN 37076 * 615-885-2422

Fifth Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike (26 miles) Set For Oct. 29, 2011

It's that time of year again: The Fifth Annual Long Hunter Mega-Hike is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29th at Long Hunter State Park in Hermitage, TN.  As always, the plan is to hike all of the park's trails - about 26 miles - in a single day. This free event is sponsored by the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.

Participants should meet hike leader Jason Allen at the Couchville Lake parking lot (in Area 2) and be prepared to hit the trails at 7 a.m. sharp. The plan is to complete the hike by sunset, but there's a decent chance hikers could still be out on the trails after dark. So participants might want to bring a flashlight or light source.

If you're unable to hike all 26 miles (or just aren't interested in hiking that many miles), no worries - you can stop whenever you want. The main objective is to have fun while enjoying the fall colors and variety of habitats that Long Hunter has to offer - whether you hike just two miles with us or all 26 miles.

Those who complete the hike will receive a frameable certificate of merit signed by Park Manager Thurman Mullins. (A certificate listing last year's survivors is currently on display in the park visitor center.) In addition, there will likely be some giveaways/freebies courtesy of the Friends of Long Hunter State Park.  There's also the possibility of your photo appearing in a newspaper or on a website. (Last year The Tennessean showed up for the event, and the following day there was a nice story about the mega-hike and a photo gallery.) And if enough people are interested, commemorative Mega-Hike t-shirts might be printed up for participants or for those who complete the hike.

As always, those who feel up to it afterwards are invited to the after-hike dinner/celebration at Angelo's Pizza on Murfreesboro Road.

Just remember to bring plenty of water and lunch and snacks -- and perhaps extra socks and clothes. Since Long Hunter's trails are spread out and many of them do not intersect, participants will return to their cars several times in order to drive to different areas of the park; in other words, you can leave your food or extra clothes in your vehicle and get them later if you wish. You'll also have access to park restrooms at a couple of different locations.

As for the weather, the hike will take place regardless of the temperature. However, if it's raining or if the weather looks threatening, the event might be postponed until Sunday the 30th -- because attempting to hike 26 miles in the rain might prove to be difficult and probably not much fun.

The plan is to hike the trails in the same order as last year: Couchville Lake Arboretum Trail, Nature Loop, Inland Trail, Bluff Trail, Deer Trail, Group Camp Trail, Day Loop, Volunteer Trail, Couchville Glade Trail, Jones Mill Trail, Point Trail, Bryant-Grove Trail. The order is subject to change, but the hike will definitely start at Couchville Lake.

  

One more note: Mega-hikers will be forced to "cheat" a bit on the Volunteer Trail. As some of you know, the Volunteer Trail is a six-mile, one-way backpacking trail. If participants were to hike all the way to the end and back, it would be 12 miles total and they would be re-tracing their steps for six miles. Plus, it would be impossible to re-trace those six miles and hike all of the other trails before dark. So the plan is to hike to the halfway point of the Volunteer Trail and then turn around and walk back for a total of six miles; in other words, the total mileage will be the same as if he we had hiked the entire Volunteer Trail one way.

No pets, please.  Kids are welcome.

Directions to Couchville Lake parking lot: Enter Long Hunter State Park at the main park entrance (2910 Hobson Pike) and then take the first left (which is Area 2) and proceed to the parking lot beside Couchville Lake.

If you have further questions about the Long Hunter Mega-Hike, call the Long Hunter State Park office at 615-885-2422.  You can also keep up with all the latest news on the Long Hunter Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark

Tennessee Coneflower: A Conservation Success Story

By Jason Allen

A summer afternoon. 94 degrees. A hiking trail leads you to a large open area of exposed limestone and thin, gravelly soil. The sun bares down, the heat is intense, the ground is cracked. Not exactly prime conditions for most living things.

Then you look around and notice one particular plant that seems right at home: the Tennessee Coneflower. Its striking blooms are scattered all around this desert-like environment, emerging from what appears to be almost bare rock. In fact, they seem to be thriving here. But this wasn't always the case.

Botanist Augustin Gattinger first discovered this species in 1878 in Rutherford County. But for much of the 20th century, the Tennessee Coneflower was thought to be extinct until Vanderbilt biology professor Elsie Quarterman rediscovered it in Davidson County in 1968. In 1979, the plant became one of the first Tennessee wildflowers to be listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

In the years that followed, several local, state and federal agencies -- as well as landowners, volunteers and other individuals -- worked together to protect the plant's habitat and establish new colonies from seed. And now, thanks to 30-plus years of dedicated conservation work, the Tennessee Coneflower is expected to be removed from the endangered list later this summer.

For botanists, conservationists and nature lovers in general, the Tennessee Coneflower is one of Tennessee's brightest success stories.

"When I went to work at Cedars of Lebanon State Park in 1972, we were not to tell anyone where they were for fear the few remaining ones would become extinct," says Long Hunter State Park Manager Thurman Mullins. "It's great to see them make the comeback they have made."

Despite its resurgence, the Tennessee Coneflower will likely never become a widespread plant. It's found only in three U.S. counties -- Wilson, Davidson and Rutherford counties in Middle Tennessee. Within those counties it occurs only in the rare desert-like areas known as cedar glades, which are characterized by exposed limestone and thin, rocky soil surrounded by cedar trees.

From a distance, cedar glades might appear to be barren wastelands. Historically many of these areas were used for dumping grounds. But on closer inspection, there's a vibrant world of unique wildflowers, mosses, lichens, ferns, cactus, shrubs, and trees that do quite well here. Several cedar glades are now protected by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation under its State Natural Areas Program and are frequent destinations for school groups, hikers, photographers and botanists who marvel over the rare and unusual plants found there.

"The increased occurrence of this species and ease of access to sites offer an opportunity for us to educate students visiting from nearby schools and public program participants about the Tennessee Coneflower and cedar glades in general," says Tennessee State Parks Interpretive Specialist John Froeschauer. "It provides a forum for learning about the role of government in preserving the coneflower's unique habitat as well as other issues concerning endangered species."

The Tennessee Coneflower (scientific name Echinacea tennesseensis) is a remarkable plant in many ways. The first thing people tend to notice is the beauty of its long, slender, pinkish-purple petals. Unlike most coneflowers, whose petals droop downward, its rays spread outward or turn upward - giving it a robust, vibrant appearance.

And then there are the coarse hairy stems and leaves, which help the plant retain moisture during the hot, dry summer.

The plant is also noted for its long taproots, which creep down into the cracks of rocks, seeking out moisture. Because of these extra long roots, Tennessee Coneflower can't be dug up and replanted; it must be grown from seed.

Finally, the plant seems to defy all odds: It blooms during the hottest part of the year (from May to July, usually peaking in mid-June) in the most inhospitable of habitats. It's nature's ultimate survivor.

As of 2011, there are an estimated 900,000 Tennessee Coneflower plants in Wilson, Davidson and Rutherford Counties. About 75 percent of these occur naturally; the rest have been established from seed. Two of the largest natural populations occur at Couchville Cedar Glade (next to Long Hunter State Park) and Vesta Cedar Glade, near Cedars of Lebanon State Park. Both of these State Natural Areas are open to the public and include hiking trails that make it possible for everyone to see Tennessee Coneflower in its natural habitat.

Although Tennessee Coneflowers are well past their peak for 2011, it's not too late to see them in bloom. Long Hunter State Park conducts wildflower walks and tours of the Couchville Cedar Glade on a regular basis. Check Long Hunter's schedule of events at http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/LongHunter or their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark for more program information and times, or call the park office at 615-885-2422.

* * *

(Jason Allen is a Nashville-based naturalist and screenwriter)

Long Hunter State Park Schedule - April 2011

Long Hunter State Park has announced its schedule for the month of April.  All programs are free and open to the public; no reservations are needed.  For more info on these programs or directions to the sites, call the park office at 615-885-2422.   

  

Get Fit "Step Into Spring" Event:  Saturday, April 2nd at 10 AM

Tennessee Health Commissioner Susan Cooper will join state and local government employees for an informal walk at Area 2/Couchville Lake. The event is tied to "Step Into Spring", an initiative to get state and local government employees outside to increase their physical activity.  Commissioner Cooper will be joined by country music artist Julie Roberts, who will be introduced as the newest spokesperson for Get Fit Tennessee.  The event is open to the public.  For more info, go to http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/promo/docs/step_into_spring.pdf.  * Please meet at the Area 2/Couchville Lake parking lot.  

 

Spring Wildflower Walk:  Sunday, April 3rd at 1 PM

Long Hunter's diverse habitat results in a wide variety of wildflowers.  The park's woodland trails are the best places to view blooms in early spring.  Take a leisurely walk with naturalist Jason Allen on the one-mile Inland Trail to see how many different species of wildflowers we can find.  For those participants who want to see some bonus blooms, we'll then drive to the nearby Nature Loop trail to check out a few more species of wildflowers. * Please meet at the Area 4 parking lot.

Couchville Lake Nature Hike:  Sunday, April 3rd at 4 PM

There's plenty going on at Couchville Lake this time of year: Purple Martins arriving, trees leafing out, wildflowers blooming, frogs calling, and much more.  Join naturalist Jason Allen on this easy two-mile walk on the scenic lake trail to seek out these first signs of spring.  The hike will last approximately two hours.  * Please meet at the Area 2/Couchville Lake parking lot.   

Preschool Story Time - The Nature Circle:  Monday, April 4th at 10 AM

"The Nature Circle" is an interactive group made up of nature-themed stories, puppets, songs, and crafts for ages 3-5. Children are encouraged to bring an item (examples: favorite book, stuffed animal, or photograph) to The Nature Circle that relates to each week's theme.  Join us each Monday morning as we develop and nurture our love of nature.  Participants should meet at the park office.  This week's theme: Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds!

Jones Mill Trailbuilding & Cleanup Day:  Saturday, April 9th at 9 AM

The Jones Mill Mountain Bike Trail features 4.5 miles of trails, but an expansion is underway which will extend the length to 10 miles.  For those who wish to contribute to Long Hunter's newest trail, feel free to join us for a day of trailbuilding and litter removal along the wild and scenic Jones Mill Trail.  For those who choose to work on trailbuilding, tools will be provided; if you wish to help with the cleanup, trash bags will be provided.  Don't forget to wear sturdy shoes and bring water and snacks. * Please meet at the Jones Mill Mountain Bike Trail parking lot. 

Birds, Trees, Wildflowers & More!:  Saturday, April 9th at 3 PM

Although only one mile in length, Long Hunter's Inland Trail features an impressive variety of flora and fauna.  Wildflowers are common here in early spring, birds abound in the canopy, and some of the most impressive oak & hickory trees in the park can be found along this trail.  Take a slow-paced walk with a park naturalist and let's see how many different species of birds, trees and wildflowers we can identify.  * Please meet at the Area 4 parking lot.  

Natural Areas Week: Sunday, April 10th-Sunday April 17th: To celebrate the 40th anniversary of our State Natural Areas, more than 20 events have been scheduled to celebrate Tennessee State Natural Areas Week.  There will be hikes to such destinations as Short Springs State Natural Area, Savage Gulf, Taylor Hollow, Virgin Falls, Flat Rock SNA, Frozen Head, Walls of Jericho, and more.  To see a complete listing of all the hikes and programs, go to http://tn.gov/environment/na/events/seasonal.shtml.  

Preschool Story Time - The Nature Circle:  Monday, April 11th at 10 AM

"The Nature Circle" is an interactive group made up of nature-themed stories, puppets, songs, and crafts for ages 3-5. Children are encouraged to bring an item (examples: favorite book, stuffed animal, or photograph) to The Nature Circle that relates to each week's theme.  Join us each Monday morning as we develop and nurture our love of nature.  Participants should meet at the park office.  This week's theme: Remarkable Rabbits

Friends of Long Hunter Cookout & Night Hike:  Friday, April 15th at 6 PM

The Friends of Long Hunter State Park is a non-profit group which assists in protecting, preserving and promoting the beauty of Long Hunter State Park.  As a reward for the support of its many members, the group is holding a cookout and night hike at Couchville Lake.  Please keep in mind this is a "members only" event.  If you're a member and would like to RSVP for the cookout/night hike, please contact Erika Odom at nautical.gal8@yahoo.com; the deadline to RSVP is April 9th.  If you wish to join the Friends of Long Hunter or learn more info about the group, go to http://friendsoflonghunter.com/ or call 615-885-2422.    

Nashville Hiking Meetup Spring Picnic:  Sunday, April 17th at 12 noon

Nashville Hiking Meetup is an outdoor adventure and eco-volunteer club that plans hiking, camping and other outdoor events all over Tennessee throughout the year.  The group, which often hosts hikes/events at Long Hunter, will be holding its annual spring picnic at the Couchville Lake/Area 2 shelter.  If you're a member of Nashville Hiking Meetup, please go to http://www.nashvillehiking.com/ to RSVP for this event.  If you're not a member (membership is free), you can visit their website to sign up or learn more about the group.  

Natural Areas Week Hikes - Couchville Cedar Glade & Vesta Cedar Glade:  Sunday, April 17th at 3 PM

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Tennessee State Natural Areas, a wide variety of events have been scheduled across the state.  This "2-for-1" event will feature hikes to a pair of unique destinations: Couchville Cedar Glade State Natural Area and Vesta Cedar Glade State Natural Area.  Join naturalist Jason Allen for a leisurely stroll along the one-mile Couchville Glade trail, which is home to many unusual and rare wildflowers.  We'll then carpool to nearby Vesta Cedar Glade (about a 15-minute drive) and see what other flora and fauna we can discover.  The glades can be extremely hot on sunny days, so don't forget your hats and sunscreen!  * Please meet at Couchville Cedar Glade parking lot on South Mt. Juliet Rd.      

Preschool Story Time - The Nature Circle:  Monday, April 18th at 10 AM

"The Nature Circle" is an interactive group made up of nature-themed stories, puppets, songs, and crafts for ages 3-5. Children are encouraged to bring an item (examples: favorite book, stuffed animal, or photograph) to The Nature Circle that relates to each week's theme.  Join us each Monday morning as we develop and nurture our love of nature.  Participants should meet at the park office.  This week's theme: Eggs-travaganza!

Earth Day Hike At Couchville Cedar Glade:  Friday, April 22nd at 5 PM

Celebrate Earth Day with a relaxing evening stroll into Tennessee's "desert" -- the one-of-a-kind Couchville Cedar Glade.  This unique ecosystem features many rare wildflowers, including two federally endangered plant species: Tennessee Coneflower & Leafy Prairie Clover.  Tennessee's only native cactus -- the Prickly Pear -- is also common here.  We'll keep our eyes & ears open for songbirds, owls, nighthawks, whippoorwills & other wildlife which calls the glade their home.  * Please meet at Couchville Cedar Glade parking lot on South Mt. Juliet Rd.

Preschool Story Time - The Nature Circle:  Monday, April 25th at 10 AM

"The Nature Circle" is an interactive group made up of nature-themed stories, puppets, songs, and crafts for ages 3-5. Children are encouraged to bring an item (examples: favorite book, stuffed animal, or photograph) to The Nature Circle that relates to each week's theme.  Join us each Monday morning as we develop and nurture our love of nature.  Participants should meet at the park office.  This week's theme: Creek Connections

Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival:  Friday & Saturday, April 29th & 30th

Our "sister" park, Cedars of Lebanon, will host its 34th Annual Elsie Quarterman Cedar Glade Wildflower Festival on April 29th and 30th.  The event features guided hikes, guest speakers, seminars, crafts, booths, and more.  For additional information, go to http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/Cedars/ or call 615-443-2769.

 *** For updates, last-minute hikes, photos & other Long Hunter news, join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/longhunterstatepark ***