No ballgame Saturday means a chance for organizations to meet, to plan and to restore their favorite recreation spots. We see a work party at Baker Creek Preserve and a stream/road cleanup at Roy Arthur Stormwater Park. Plus, a couple of meetings and some fall events. See our full calendar at Outdoor Knoxville.
Saturday, October 7
AMBC Work Party: 9 a.m. to noon, Baker Creek Preserve. Info: Appalachian Mountain Bike Club. Join us for our monthly work party, great way to catch up with the community while improving our awesome trails. We’ll provide tools – bring water, gloves, and safety glasses. Lunch served at noon with drinks and beers. Details online.
Fall Adopt a Stream/Adopt a Road Cleanup: 9 a.m. to noon, Roy Arthur Stormwater Park. Info: Beaver Creek Kayak Club. We will clean Harrell Road from Oak Ridge Hwy to Emory Rd, Roy Arthur Stormwater Park and the stream banks of Beaver Creek. Details online.
Sturgeonfest: 10-2, Seven Islands State Birding Park. Free. Info: Seven Islands State Birding Park at 715-630-6848. Release a baby sturgeon into the French Broad River. There will be vendors, exhibitors and more. Register online.
Pellissippi Blueway Paddle Trip: 10 a.m., Melton Lake Park. Free. Info: TN Citizens for Wilderness Planning at 865-583-3967. Join us for a paddle on a section of the newly christened Pellissippi Blueway. We’ll make a loop up and down the river, exploring interesting places and picking up trash along the way. Details online.
3rd annual BCKC No-Yak: 6 p.m., Roy Arthur Stormwater Park. Info: Beaver Creek Kayak Club. No-Yak is our chance to recap the paddling season and talk about what’s coming next, for the club and the creek. Our friends at Creekside will be cooking food and special drinks along with games and fun. Help us at the clean up in the morning then finish the evening with a special cocktail by the fire pits. Details on Facebook
Tuesday, October 10
Harvey Broome Group monthly meeting: 7 p.m. TN Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Info: Harvey Broom Sierra Club. Meets the second Tuesday of each month and is open to the public. This month’s program is: Measurements and Models: The Science of Climate Change by Dr. Peter Thornton, director of the ORNL Climate Change Science Institute. Details online.
Clinch Valley Trail Alliance monthly meeting: 7 p.m., Woody’s Bar & Grill. Info: Clinch Valley Trail Alliance. Meetings held on the second Tuesday of the month. Join us in person or live on Facebook.
Wednesday, October 11
Conservation on Tap: 7 p.m., Albright Grove Brewing Co. Info: Discover Life in America. This month’s program features Joseph Clark of the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr. Clark has just finished a survey of the elk population in and around the Smokies. Learn how many elk are here, where they are and what they do. Details online.
Friday, October 13
Edible and Medicinal Plant Hike and Acorn Flour Workshop: 4:30 p.m., Seven Islands State Birding Park. Cost $12. Info: Seven Islands State Birding Park at 715-630-6848. Join Ranger Clare on a 1.5 mile walk to look for edible and medicinal plants. Hear her favorite stories, tips and recipes for collecting and using these plants. Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a treat while learning about the process of making acorn flour with a hands-on demonstration. Register online.
Haunted Prison Mine Hike: 6 p.m., Frozen Head State Park. Cost $5. Info: Frozen Head State Park at 423-346-3318. Meet SIR Bethany over at Historic Brushy Mountain Penitentiary for this spooky hike to the abandoned prison coal mines. Register online.
Saturday-Sunday, October 14-15
Secret City Head Race: 8 a.m., Melton Lake Park. Free. Info: Oak Ridge Rowing Association. Join ORRA on Melton Lake as we host teams from the southeast and Midwest as they compete over the traditional downstream (Saturday) and throwback upstream (Sunday) 5000m racecourses.
Sunday, October 15
Paddle with Conservation Fisheries: 1:30 p.m., Ijams Nature Center. Info: Conservation Fisheries. Join Conservation Fisheries for a paddle down the Holston River prior to our Annual Fall Dinner. Register online.
Annual Fall Dinner: 5 p.m., Ijams Nature Center. Info: Conservation Fisheries. Join Conservation Fisheries Inc. for a magical evening at Ijams Nature Center to celebrate our first annual Fall Dinner. Details and tickets online.
Carol Evans is executive director of Legacy Parks Foundation. Find dozens of outdoors events at outdoorknoxville.com