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January 1-31
Support Our Wildlife Ambassadors
Roan Mountain State Park
All month

Price:

• $10: Feeds one bird a day
• $20: Feeds two birds a day
• $30: Feeds three birds a day
• $40: Feeds four birds a day
• $50: Feeds five birds a day

At Roan Mountain, we house, care for, and educate the public on a variety of native animals. We work under an educational permit from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Currently, we care for three birds of prey and several snakes. As you can imagine, caring for these animals is costly, as their food and health care are specialties.

All of our animals are non-releasable for a variety of reasons. We frequently program with these animals and never charge for educational programs when using them. Here is your opportunity to support our educational wildlife program and help us care for these animals.

All donations will go to purchase food, pay veterinary bills, buy gloves, tethers, falconry equipment, and aquarium bedding, and improve and build more housing facilities for our non-releasable birds of prey.

To donate, click the green “Register for Event” button at the right. Your donation is a one-time payment. If you wish to cover more than one day, update the “quantity” you wish to donate, or simply return to this page in future months.

Thank you for supporting our wildlife ambassadors at Roan Mountain State Park!

January 31
2025 Volunteer Appreciation Banquet
5-7 p.m.

Meet at the Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center. It is a free event. Register for the event. Roan Mountain State Park has been fortunate to have many volunteers join us over the past several years for trail work, events, working with the park animals, maintaining the Miller Farmstead, and more. All volunteers are invited to be celebrated.

This banquet will serve volunteers and their families a pizza and salad dinner with plenty of sides and desserts. Over dinner, a short presentation will celebrate the major volunteer accomplishments over the past two years, as well as a look forward to plans for 2025.

Volunteers are asked to register the number of people attending for a food count. A slideshow presentation of volunteer action shots will also be offered during the event. Volunteers are welcome to submit any photos they wish to be included prior to the event.

February 2
Wetlands in Winter
Meet at the amphitheater. Price: Free. Register for the event.

Join Ranger Hylen and Ranger O’Day for a unique adventure as we uncover the hidden beauty of wetlands in winter. Take a peaceful stroll along the boardwalk at Roan Mountain State Park and discover why wetlands are vital to our ecosystem, even during the colder months.

We’ll learn about the fascinating changes that occur in this habitat as plants and animals adapt to winter conditions. As we walk, we’ll identify and document the species we find. Dress warmly for the weather, and bring your sense of wonder!

February 7
Doe River Beginner’s Fly-Tying
1-3 p.m. Price: $20. Register for the event.

Have you ever wanted to learn to make your own flies for fishing the streams of Roan Mountain? Join Park Ranger Phil Hylen for our Fly-Tying for Beginners class.

In this two-hour course, participants will learn the basics of the art of fly-tying and make their first fly. This class will also introduce participants to some of our more common aquatic critters by turning over rocks and leaves in the Doe River to get a close-up look at the local trout’s dinner menu.

This class is limited to five participants at a fee of $20 per person. Registration is available using the registration link on this event page or at a park office. If you are registering a youth, parents are asked to stay and assist the minor during the class (assisting adults are not required to register unless they are making their own fly).

This class will take place at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center. Meet your host on the porch.

February 8
Peg Leg Mine GeoVenture
1-3 p.m. Price: $15. Register for the event.

Join Roan Mountain State Park for a geology adventure hike to the Peg Leg Mine. Your host, Ranger Phil Hylen, will take you back to the late 1800s as you explore the ridges of the mountains for traces of iron ore. Along the way, we will learn the geology of Roan Mountain and what makes it unique.

After exploring the Peg Leg Mine on a 1.2-mile hike (moderate difficulty, natural terrain), participants will get to crack open geodes and iron ore to keep.

This program begins and ends at the Visitor Center. This time of year is historically cold, so dress in layers appropriate for the temperatures and wear good hiking shoes. Bring plenty of water and any snacks you may need.

This program is limited to 20 participants. The fee is $15 per person.

February 28
Raptors of the Roan
4-5 p.m. Meet at the Roan Mountain State Park Office Aviary.

Join Roan Mountain State Park at the aviary, located at the park headquarters building, to meet our owl ambassadors and aviary staff. Participants will become familiar with the rich and unique diversity of birds of prey found in the park and surrounding area.

This is a great way to learn about local raptor birding destinations and events. Of course, meeting our live education owls is an experience all its own!

June 23
2025 Junior Ranger Camp (Ages 8-12)
8:30 a.m. to noon. Price: $75 per participant; $55 for Cloudland Elementary students.

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 runs Monday through Thursday, with the graduation ceremony and party taking place Friday night from 6-8:30 p.m. at the park Conference Center.

The 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 agenda details.

Registration is open to kids ages 8-12 only. Refunds will be granted for cancellations made before June 1. After June 1, no refunds will be given (T-shirts and supplies will have already been ordered).