As part of Kids to Parks Day, a ranger-guided scavenger hunt and hike is set for Saturday, May 19, at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
Kids to Parks Day - annually celebrated the third Saturday in May - is a national day of play to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks. It is an opportunity to cultivate future generations of outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists.
The scavenger hunt/hike will begin at 10 a.m. Children in third grade and older are invited to join a ranger for the activity-guided 1.5-mile hike. Families will meet at the battlefield Visitor Center and caravan to the trailhead.
The hike is expected to wind up by noon, when all children are invited to join the ranger for a bring-your-own picnic lunch. Parents should make sure their children are dressed appropriately for the weather, wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and bring a bottle of water.
Also on Saturday, Outdoor Chattanooga and battlefield staff resume their summer series of free, historical bike rides through the battlefield. The rides will be held every third Saturday of the month from May through October.
This year's bike tours are scheduled Saturdays May 19, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20. They will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center.
Ride length is approximately 3 to 4 miles on flat-to-moderately-hilly terrain. The rides are appropriate for adults and children ages 8 years and older, accompanied by an adult. Children must be able to ride confidently, without training wheels. All participants are required to wear helmets.
The public is invited to bring their bicycles (recumbent or hand cycles are also appropriate) and join in the leisurely paced rides, which will take approximately 2.5 hours. National Park Service rangers will talk about the history of the battlefield while Outdoor Chattanooga staff and volunteers provide ride leadership and support.
Loaner bicycles from Outdoor Chattanooga's Mobile Bicycle Fleet will be available for riders 5 feet tall and over at no charge, thanks to sponsorship from Friends of the Park and the Chattanooga Bicycle Club. Reservations for these bicycles are required: 706-866-9241.