FRESH AIR CALENDAR
Local Tennessee Ornithological Society meeting:
Today, 7 p.m., Ascension Lutheran Church, 720 S. Germantown Road. Contact David Stone at rockyturf@epbfi. com or 413-7033.
Soddy-Daisy chapter of Tennessee Trails Assn. hikes:
Saturday, Board Camp Trail to Soddy Gulf trailhead, where vehicles will be staged, moderately strenuous 7 miles (meet at 8:30 a.m. by ballfields on Durham Street in Soddy-Daisy; call John Politte at 304-8327); Tuesday, Chickamauga Battlefield east loop, easy 3-4 miles (meet at 8:30 a.m. at lower parking lot near the park visitors center; call Gloria Nelson at 6459008); July 20, Rainbow Falls in Ocoee area, 3.3 miles (meet at 8:30 a.m. at Food City in Ooltewah; call Tom McElhone at 805-208-4654); July 23, Elsie Holmes Nature Park, easy 3-4 miles (meet at Food City on East Brainerd Road; call Trish Appleton at 240-3443); July 27, Ocoee area, Rock Creek Trail to Dry Pond Lead & back to Hwy. 64 across from Thunder Rock Campground, moderate 7 miles (meet at 8:30 a.m. at Food City in Ooltewah; call McElhone).
Spirit of America youth boating camp:
Monday-July
19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; orientation this Friday, 4:30 p.m., at Harrison Bay State Park recreation hall; ages 12-15, maximum participants 18; instruction in operating small boats, canoes, kayaks & sailboats; $40 plus $10 for TWRA exam permit; applications at Harrison Bay park office.
Chattanooga Bicycle Club meeting:
Monday, 6-7 p.m., Outdoor Chattanooga, Coolidge Park; for recreational cyclists.
Rapid Learning intro to kayak & skills practice:
Wednesdays, 6-7 & 7-8 p.m., Chester Frost
Park, end of swimming beach by first boat ramp; family-friendly for ages 8-up; $75 for individual year’s membership, $125 for family; first-timers free; equipment provided, reservations not required. See www.outdoorchattanooga.com.
NPS Lookout Creek guided canoe tour:
July 20, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; learn about the area’s American Indian & Civil War history; must use Outdoor Chattanooga equipment & be able to swim; pre-registration required, opens July 6. Call 643-6888.
Family Funday at Greenway Farm:
July 21, 4-7 p.m., canoeing ($25), hiking (free) & archery (free) at the Hixson park; ages 5-up. Email info@outdoorchattanooga. com or call 643-6888.
Adult Archery & Aces:
July 23, noon-1:30 p.m., indoors at Outdoor Chattanooga center, Coolidge Park; ages 30-older, free, no reservations or experience necessary, sessions include games & socializing; equipment & instruction provided.
Tennessee River Gorge sunset kayak tour:
July 25, 6:309:30 p.m., from TVA boat ramp off Raccoon Mountain Road; guided & beginner-friendly; equipment & shuttle provided; $50, required in advance at https://tnrivergorge trust.ticketspice.com
July 27 & 28; Saturday, admittance 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Sunday, admittance noon-3:30 p.m;$15; space limited, so reservations required. See www. LulaLake.org.
Lula Lake open gate days:
Cloudland Canyon Star Party:
Aug. 3, 8-10 p.m., near the park’s disc golf course; conducted by Barnard Astronomical Society; chance to see the night sky through telescopes & binoculars available free, with experts to identify constellations, etc.; parking fee $5; if there’s a possibility of rain, call 941-544-3420 after 6 the night of the scheduled event.