2009 July Interpretive Programs

Date: June 30, 2009
Contact: Howard Duncan, 423.569.2404 ext 260

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will host a series of day and evening programs during the month of July.  Park rangers and volunteers will present a wide variety of program topics in both Tennessee and Kentucky.  The Tennessee programs will be held at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center and Bandy Creek Campground.  In Kentucky, programs will be at the Blue Heron Mining Community and Blue Heron Campground.

In case of inclement weather or for more information please call either Bandy Creek Visitor Center at [phone] or the Stearns Visitor Center at [phone].  All programs are scheduled on Eastern Time.

Saturday, July 4th

Snake Tales – 10:00 a.m. - Bandy Creek Visitor Center - Park Ranger Sue Duncan will introduce you to her snake friends.  Learn some facts, myths and stories about snakes.

Owl Prowl - 8:30 p.m. – Bandy Creek Campfire Circle behind area B - Owls are specially adapted predators of the night.  Take a walk with Park Ranger Debbie Zimmerman and learn how to speak the owl’s language.  Bring a flashlight with you and be prepared for insects before you go on this hike.

Grin and Bear It! - 7:00 p.m.– Blue Heron Campground Campfire Circle – Park Ranger Shauna Delk and Resource Management Technician Alonda McCarty will introduce you to the world of the black bear.  They will share many fascinating facts about these native animals.  You will learn about bear behavior, their life cycle and how humans should respond if they encounter a black bear.

Sunday, July 5th

Scavenger Hunt – 10:30 a.m. - Bandy Creek Visitor Center back porch -  Join Park Ranger Dustin Beaty on a scavenger hunt to look for unusual natural wonders.

Saturday, July 11th

Day Program for Junior Rangers – 9:30 a.m. – Bandy Creek Visitor Center back porch – Park Ranger Jessica Moore will be having an activity especially designed for Junior Rangers.

What’s in a Name? – 7:30 p.m. - Bandy Creek Campfire Circle - There are places in the Big South Fork with some very unusual names.  These names may be based on facts or on legends handed down through generations of folks who lived there.  History will come alive as you join Park Ranger Brenda Deaver and discover the stories behind the names of places like “Troublesome, Maude’s Crack, and Grand Gap.” 

Legends of Big South Fork – 7:00 p.m. Blue Heron Campground Campfire Circle – Ranger Sherry Fritschi will entertain you with some mysterious legends and colorful stories from these hills and hollows.  Could they be true?  Perhaps you can join in and share a tall tale of your own.

Saturday, July 18th

Unnatural Trail – 9:30 a.m. – Bandy Creek Visitor Center back porch – What is an unnatural trail? How many times do we overlook things?   This hike will challenge you to look for things on the trail that do not belong.  Join Park Ranger Debbie Zimmerman and test your powers of observation to find all the unnatural things on the trail.

To Dye For – 7:30 p.m. – Bandy Creek Campground Picnic Shelter by the Pool – We take color for granted today.  In the late 1700s, settlers had to work to produce beautiful colored garments.  Using a natural dye that comes from a plant, pioneers could color their clothes blue.  Come to this program to learn about this precious dye.  Park Ranger Sue Duncan will be showing you colors that pioneers used for their clothes.  Bring a white cotton garment (tee shirt, socks or handkerchief) with you and you can dye along with her.

Logging on the Kentucky and Tennessee Railroad - 7:00 p.m. – Blue Heron Campground Campfire Circle – Park Ranger Lynn Thornton will share the story of the logging operations of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company.  The Stearns Company had a significant impact on the history of the Big South Fork and the lives of the people who lived here.  Join Ranger Thornton to learn about this fascinating chapter in Big South Fork history.

Saturday, July 25th

What’s in a Name? - 10:30 a.m. - Bandy Creek Visitor Center back porch - There are places in the Big South Fork with some very unusual names.  These names may be based on facts or on legends handed down through generations of folks who lived there.  History will come alive as you join Park Ranger Brenda Deaver and discover the stories behind the names of places like “Troublesome, Maude’s Crack, and Grand Gap.” 

Legends of Big South Fork – 7:00 p.m. Bandy Creek Campfire Circle – Ranger Sherry Fritschi will entertain you with some mysterious legends and colorful stories from these hills and hollows.  Could they be true?  Perhaps you can join in and share a tall tale of your own.

Can’t Touch This!  – 7:00 p.m. – Blue Heron Campground Campfire Circle – While most living things in the great outdoors are harmless or even beneficial to humans there are some plants that should be avoided.  Park Ranger Shauna Delk will introduce you to a few things that are best not to touch.