Earth Week
This year’s festivities go well beyond a typical Earth Day, representing a full year of work dedicated to connecting our community with the "urban wild" right in our backyards. Whether you are a regular on the trails or just looking for a new way to enjoy the Scenic City, this week is a chance to see the National Park City vision in action through community-led activities and local conservation. It’s a celebration of the progress we've made and the greener, more connected future we are building together across our city’s parks and open spaces.
Join Outdoor Chattanooga, National Park Partners for various guided outdoor adventures through history! Hear the history unfold at each location while experiencing a beginner friendly adventure from hiking to paddling. Registration is required for this event.
To gain support for your National Park City, from the public, organizations, politicians and any relevant authorities, you’ll need to put together proposals – a good way to help you formulate your ideas and collaborate with others.
Join the City of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors and Public Arts at Stringer's Ridge for forest bathing and nature journaling. Bring your own journal or a small one can be provided for you upon request. This event will be a reflective, observational hike where we are focusing on being present in nature. Click here to RSVP.
Celebrate Earth Day with a lively, interactive reading of The Lorax at Renaissance Park with Outdoor Chattanooga!Join us for a fun, family-friendly gathering where many voices come together to “speak for the trees” and experience an engaging, interactive reading of Dr. Seuss’s beloved environmental story, The Lorax.
Expect colorful costumes, playful voices, and plenty of Thneeds as the story unfolds in a lively and imaginative way!Perfect for kids, families, and anyone who loves nature, this event combines storytelling, imagination, and a shared appreciation for the outdoors.
Come enjoy the beauty of the park, connect with your community, and celebrate caring for our planet—because, as the Lorax reminds us, “unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Location: Renaissance Park at the grassed area Inner Circle
Bring a camp chair or blanket to relax during the reading, or use one of ours (limited availability).
No registration required—just walk up and join the fun!
In case of inclement weather, the event will move to the Philip Grymes Outdoor
Chattanooga Center in Coolidge Park.
Free!
All ages welcome—come ready to listen, participate, and have fun!
In honor of Earth Day, come celebrate nature with Lula Lake Land Trust and Outdoor Chattanooga on a guided hike through the breathtaking and biodiverse landscapes of Lula Lake's Core Preserve property. Over the course of this 3.5-mile hike, we'll dive into the unique biodiversity of this protected property, exploring the rich ecosystems that thrive here.
Led by knowledgeable guides, you'll learn why the Core Preserve and its surrounding properties are recognized for their "high conservation value" and why preserving them is essential to the health and well-being of both local communities in Northwest GA and the greater Chattanooga, TN area. We’ll make sure to visit all the highlights of the property, including the stunning 110-foot Lula Falls, the serene Lula Lake, and the breathtaking Bluff Overlook, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Click here to RSVP.
Join the City of Chattanooga Parks & Outdoors Naturalist, Kayla Reeves, on a guided walk around East Lake Park.
Our naturalist will discuss the history of East Lake Park, the work that has been done to improve the park over the decades, and how we've incorporated Green Stormwater Infrastructure into the park to improve water quality. Come prepared to walk about 1 mile.
Join the City of Chattanooga Naturalist on a Guided Hike around Reflection Riding Nature Center. Participants will be encouraged to log their observations on iNaturalist as part of the global City Nature Challenge.
To Celebrate the end of Earth Week and our one year anniversary of becoming North America’s first National Park City, we are throwing an all-day celebration!
Parks and Outdoors is partnering with Chattanooga National Park City, Chattanooga Arts, Culture and Creative Economy (ACCE), Outdoor Chattanooga, Waterways, and Lookout Wild Film Festival to bring you a day of non-stop fun!
- 9 AM – 3 PM: 'GEAR'age Sale and Repair Fair in partnership with Waterways
- 9 AM – 11 AM: Bird Banding
- 11 AM – 12 PM: City Nature Challenge Guided Hike
- 12 PM – 3 PM: Notes in Nature, featuring live music by Cody James Harris, Ashly Dilbeck, Ryan Oyer, and Tyler Lackey
- 12 PM – 6 PM: Earth Week Vendor Fair, featuring local artisans, makers, and food vendors
- 3 PM – 5:30 PM: National Park City Family Seed Pitch
- 5:30 PM – 8 PM: Live music by the band Land Camera at Sniteman Cabin
- 8 PM – 9 PM: Lookout Wild Film Festival selected short films
