Nature

First Day Buffalo Mountain Sunrise Hike

Location: Buffalo Mountain Park. Park in guard shack vicinity, below orange service road gate Call: 423-283-5821 Date: Saturday, Jan. 1 Time: 6:30-8:45 a.m. Ages: If you can hike steadily at an average pace, you are good Cost: Free Registration: No registration Instructor: Connie Deegan, program coordinator/ nature

Join us for a new tradition and optimistically greet the first sunrise in 2022 and toss out some quiet wishes. We will head out at 6:30 a.m. to catch the sunrise at eastward facing White Rock overlook (Constant moderate uphill on the front end of this hike for just over a mile). We will then make our way to the Tower Ridge Trail and back down on this 3-mile hike. Consider warm gear, flashlight, water and camera. Put that best foot forward!

First Day Nature Hike

Location: Willow Springs Park, 1201 Huffine Rd., main parking lot Call: 423-283-5821 Date: Saturday, Jan. 1 Time: 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Ages: Families Cost: Free Registration: No registration Instructor: Connie Deegan, program coordinator/nature

After you crawl out of bed and into a New Year, put your best foot forward and consider a local hike with a bit of winter nature thrown in! We will take it easy on this mile long walk with stops and explanations of plant and animal survival strategies in wintertime. Then go home and put the feet up…

Naturally Yours: Stories Behind our Tennessee State Symbols

Location: Memorial Park Community Center, Senior Services Call: 423-283-5821 Date: Feb. 8 Time: 10:30-11:45 a.m. Ages: Families Cost: Free

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Registration: No registration necessary Instructor: Connie Deegan, program coordinator/ nature

Our state symbols are a rallying point. They speak of a state’s cultural or commercial heritage and its natural beauty. Please enjoy as Tennessee’s nature based symbols are explored: state wildflower, reptile, insect, etc., and the stories behind how they were chosen.

Pond Dipping

Location: Rocky Mount, 200 Hyder Hill Rd, Piney Flats. Park near barn across from main building Call: 423-283-5821 Date: March 12 Time: 10- 11:15 a.m. Ages: Families Cost: Free Registration: No registration necessary Instructor: Connie Deegan, program coordinator/ nature Location: Winged Deer Park, Disc golf parking lot, 204 Carroll Creek Rd. Call: 423-283-5821 Date: April 1, Time: 10-11:15 a.m. Date: April 4, Time: 10-11:15 a.m. Date: April 4, Time: 1-2:15 p.m. Date: April 5, Time: 6-7:15 p.m. Date: April 6, Time: 10-11:15 a.m. Ages: Families Cost: Free Registration: No registration necessary Instructor: Connie Deegan, program coordinator/ nature

Enjoy the largest collection of naturalized bluebell flowers in Northeast Tennessee! These beautiful ephemeral flowers bloom for a short period of time. We will take a slow paced stroll around the back forty with the bluebells as our centerpiece, taking advantage of many other things that spring has to offer.

Join us as we learn about the critters that cavort, call, fly about and carry on in this small pond habitat. We will make our way around the pond, briefly discussing what we find/catch. All animals will be released. Some dip nets available for sharing. Bring one if you have one.

Wildlife Detectives

Location: Buffalo Mountain Park, 570 High Ridge Rd., Harris Pavilion Call: 423-283-5821 Date: March 12 Time: 1-2:15 p.m. Ages: Families with children 12 and under Cost: Free Registration: No registration available Instructor: Connie Deegan, program coordinator/ nature

What are the signs that animals have been around? There are Many! We will put our heads together and come up with a list. Then, we will take a walk as Wildlife Detectives and see what signs we can find on our way to Catbird Creek. We will use what we’ve learned to search out and catch some stream critters.

2022 City Nature Challenge Hikes! Come help Johnson City win!

Location, Date and Time:

Buffalo Mountain Park, 570 High Ridge Rd., Harris Pavilion Date: April 29, Time: 10-11:15a.m. Jacob’s Nature Park, 1919 Ocala St., Outdoor classroom Date: April 29, Time 1:00-2:15 p.m. Call: 423-283-5821 Ages: Families Cost: Free Registration: No registration necessary Instructor: Connie Deegan, program coordinator/ nature

Come and use/learn your iNaturalist skills. Use your phone to record identifications of plants, animals, insects, feathers, nests, etc., while in city parks. Each observation will count towards another hopeful win for Johnson City over our challenging city of Knoxville! Enjoy these group strolls as we learn the value of this easy app and the important roll Citizen Science plays.

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