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APRIL 1- 30

April 26-28

2024 Spring Nature Rally by Friends of Roan Mountain – Meet at Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center. Register for the event. Join the Friends of Roan Mountain for the 65th annual Spring Nature Rally. This event is held at Roan Mountain State Park with the park Conference Center as the registration and main meeting area. Nature rally field trips and activities vary in location and time as described on the Nature Rally brochure. Registered participants can expect a full weekend of nature hikes, talks, and adventures they will remember their entire lives. To learn more about the Spring Rally or to register to participate, please visit the Friends of Roan Mountain website at https://www.friendsofroanmtn.org/.

 

April 26-April 28

Spring Rock Climbing Workshop – 7 p.m. – 3 p.m. Meet at Cumberland Mountain State Park Recreation Lodge. Price is $60 and register for the event. ***NOTE*** THIS PROGRAM IS BASED OUT OF CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN STATE PARK, CROSSVILLE, TN. ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL TIME.

Event Description:
• Friday we will start with a meet and greet at the Rec Lodge around 7:00 pm CST. We will cover outdoor climbing basics, including knot tying and belay technique.
• Saturday we will meet at the Rec Lodge parking lot at 8:30 am CST to carpool to the Black Mountain climbing area. Once we get to Black Mountain, there is a short hike to the climbing location from the trailhead (1/2 mile). A number of top rope climbs and a 40 ft. rappel will be set up for the day. Climbs range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate/advanced.
• Sunday morning we will meet back at the Rec Lodge parking lot at 8:30 am CST to carpool to the Black Mountain for another day of climbing. The day ends around 3:00 pm CST, but you are free to leave earlier as needed (please let one of the staff know if you plan to leave early).

**The Black Mountain Climbing area does not have restroom facilities, please be prepared for each day. We will be practicing Leave No Trace.
Age restrictions:
18 Years of Age and Older
Price:
$60 – instruction and gear for the weekend

Accommodations for Cumberland Mountain State Park:
Camping/Cabin reservations – make them online at https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cumberland-mountain
Please make your camping/cabin reservations ahead of time.

Food will not be provided during the course of this workshop. Pack your breakfast, lunch, and snacks for each day. For dinner, we encourage you to bring your own or plan to eat at the Homestead Harvest Restaurant in the park.

Cancellation Deadline/Refund Policy:
After April 17, 5 p.m., there will be no refunds for participant cancellation.

Weather Cancellation Policy: There is no alternate date. In the event of a weather-related cancellation on 4/26/24 or prior we will offer a full refund. In the event of a weather-related cancellation on 4/27/24 or later, we will consider refunds on a case-by-case basis. 

April 26

Highway 143 Garlic Mustard Pull Day – 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Meet at Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center. Register for the event. Join Roan Mountain State Park and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy for a day of pulling non-native Garlic Mustard plants along the lowlands and along Highway 143 throughout Roan Mountain. This invasive plant is able to outcompete other aquatic vegetation and create monocultures that snuff out flowers needed by our pollinators. This annual event will meet at the Roan Mountain State Park Headquarters building at 9:30 a.m. where staff will split volunteers up into working groups to move along the highway in search of areas of Garlic Mustard to tackle. The park will provide volunteers with work gloves and tools. This volunteer event is limited to 30 participants. Plucking out the pesky invaders when they’re young and tender isn’t hard work, but it does take a lot of hands! Volunteers are encouraged to bring water bottles and snacks for the day. We will break for an hour lunch period at noon where volunteers could bring a packed lunch or utilize one of the many local dining options in the village of Roan Mountain. The event will conclude with a weigh-in of the pulled Garlic Mustard.

 

May 11

Elks Lodge 2024 Youth Trout Tournament – 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Meet at the Roan Mountain State Park Amphitheater. Register for the event. Join Roan Mountain State Park and the Elizabethton Elks Lodge for the 41st annual Elks Lodge Youth Trout Tournament (Mother’s Day Weekend). This year’s trout tournament is strictly for youth ages 4-14 with youth competing in 3 age groups: 4-7, 8-11, and 12-14. Families interested in their youth participating must register their youth participants online on this page by May 10. The event times and details are as follows:

Trout Tourney Schedule:

• 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. – Mandatory Participant Check-in and Last-Minute Registration @ Amphitheater
• 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Trout Fishing Tournament within the boundaries of the Doe River (see rules)
• Noon until 2 p.m. – Fish judging and prize preparations @ Amphitheater
• 2 until 3 p.m. – Prize Award Ceremony @ Amphitheater

Tournament Rules

• Tournament is limited to 250 participating youth fishermen/women.
• Youth participants must provide their own fishing gear and bait/tackle.
• Fishing boundaries of the Doe River include all of Roan Mountain State Park as well as the Roan Mountain Community Park located behind the Roan Mountain Post Office.  
• Family members may assist youth, but may not fish for them – remember, this is for the kids!
• Fishing laws are per TN State Law: 7 trout/day (all species) may be kept to present for turn-in for measurements. Keep your best 7!  
• Youth ages 12+ must have a valid TN Fishing License and Trout Stamp to participate.  Youth under the age of 12 may fish without license.
• Judging of fish is by total lengths and weights of all trout presented to the judging table.  A tie winner will be decided by total species caught.
• 1st-3rd place prizes will be awarded in each age category as well as door prizes awarded to participating youth.
• Park Rules and Laws – rangers will be enforcing fishing regulations, state laws, and parking throughout the park grounds – remember, no parking on grass or sides of roads.  You must park in a designated parking area.
• Food is welcome to be packed by families or participants can claim a lunch from the Elks Lodge Staff at the Amphitheater (drinks, chips, and sandwiches will be available).  

June 24 – June 28

Junior Ranger Camp, Ages 8-12 – 8:30 a.m. – 12 Noon. Meet at the PIcnic Pavilion #2. Price is $55/Cloudland Elementary Students, $75/per participant. Register for the event. Registration Now Open! Learn about safety, plants, animals, bugs, astronomy, environmental stewardship, history and more! At the conclusion of the week each participant will be sworn in as an official Junior Ranger for Tennessee State Parks at our graduation ceremony and banquet. 

Camp begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends by noon, Monday through Thursday. Our graduation ceremony and party will take place Friday night from 6-8:30 p.m. at the park Conference Center.  An optional night hike will be offered Friday Night after the banquet (families welcome). Registration fee of $75 includes a T-shirt, daily snacks, and a fun awards celebration on Friday night. After registration closes on June 1, registrants will receive additional paperwork via email including a liability waiver, medical history form, and information forms for each child, as well as agenda details and pickup and drop off locations for each day. Registration open to kids ages 8-12 only. Refunds will be given for cancellations before June 1. After June 1, no refunds will be granted (T-shirts and supplies will have been ordered).