Please join us for a FREE self-paced, unguided walk for National Wildlife Refuge Week on Saturday October 14th, 2023.  The walk starts at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Visitor Center located at 1371 Wildlife Drive in Springville, TN. Walkers can complete any part of this route between 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm.  The Friends of Tennessee NWR has planned a fall Family Fun Day that involves walking to benefit your heath and to promote the health of wildlife.

Along with walking on a beautiful fall day surrounded by gorgeous scenery, many fun activities will be happening too!  A 5K walk route will lead you from the refuge visitor center along beautiful vista views of a bay of Kentucky lake, through Britton Ford Trail and back.  Sprinkled along the route and at the visitor center will be a host of family friendly activities. The event is totally FREE, all walkers will receive a water bottle sticker, Walk for the Wild buttons plus more!

Those participating in the event include:

Friends of Tennessee NWR – selling hot dog meals and baked goods from 4:00 pm until 6:30 pm.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency – Portable Museum of Tennessee Wildlife

• Plus archery for all ages, we will teach you!

  Paris Landing State Parks – live wildlife including raptors, snakes, and more

  Tennessee Valley Authority – Water Quality Monitoring/macroinvertebrates

  National Guard – inflatable bouncy houses and goofy bikes for children

  Paris Parks Department – Childrens games and activities

  UT Martin Wildlife Society – Wildlife demonstrations, games, pollinator bingo

  Civil Air Patrol – Walker safety and hydration stations along the route

  To culminate a great day, from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm, join us on the refuge back patio for a free Astronomy program while roasting a s’more at the fireplace with your family.  The West Kentucky Amateur Astronomers club will be giving a short program and bringing their equipment for a better view of the stars and planets!

  We are going all out for our National Wildlife Refuge Week, we sure hope you can come and join us on the refuge for this fall afternoon and evening!