National Trails Day

This June, WATeR celebrated National Trails Day with a Scavenger Hunt Hike on the Baker Hollow Branch of the East Lakeshore Trail! Designed for Loudon County families, the event combined outdoor adventure with hands-on learning, giving participants the chance to explore nature while identifying native plants and trees along the trail.

Armed with clue sheets and the free iNaturalist app, families set out to spot as many items on our scavenger list as possible, earning points toward prizes along the way. The morning combined the best of summer learning: fresh air, exercise, and a closer look at the plants and trees that make our watershed special.

Those who joined us had a wonderful time on the trail, soaking up nature, learning new skills, and enjoying a relaxed morning of discovery together. Their enthusiasm is exactly why WATeR believes events like this matter — they connect families to the outdoors and to the East Lakeshore Trail in a fun, memorable way.

We're grateful to TVA for their continued support of our trails events, The Brethen Foundation for their generous support in making this event possible, and to everyone who helped bring the Scavenger Hunt Hike to life. Stay tuned — we're already planning our next trail adventure!