November Hikes & Programs
All ranger-led hikes and programs are now listed on the Tennessee State Parks website.
Please bookmark that page to get info about all the latest ranger-led hikes and programs!
Last Call for Your
Most Awesome Photos
Enter them TODAY in the “Picture the Park” Photo Contest!
Only a few days left to enter! November 1 is the final day to enter photos in our “Picture the Park” photo contest! The Friends and SCSP Ranger Jessie McNeel invite you to send us your most awesome photos, and support the Park in the process! As long as your photo was taken in South Cumberland State Park, it is eligible -- even photos you took years ago! You may enter as many entries, in as many categories as you like!
We’ll offer great prizes for the best photos in the following categories:
Scenic Vistas, Moving Water, Wildflowers of the Park, Ferns and Mosses ‘Shrooms, Fungi & Lichens, Mammals of the Park, Birds of the Park Insects of the Park, Ol’ Man Winter, The Rites of Spring, Cool and Shady Summer, Fabulous Fall, “It’s the Little Things…”, “Wow, That’s Big!”, “A Piece of History…”, The Most Awesome Rock(s), The Most Awesome Trail, The Most Awesome Tree(s), The Most Awesome Lighting, The Most Awesome Color, Abstract Composition, A Moment of Solitude, Rock Climbing, Trail Running, Hiking, and Camping.
We will feature your photos on the Friends' website, printed literature, and in physical products we may offer in exchange for donations to the Friends, or sell in order to raise money for projects we facilitate for South Cumberland State Park. It's your opportunity to support the park in a very real and tangible way, and showcase your awesome photographs at the same time! Thank you for your support of South Cumberland State Park!
TO ENTER: You must log in via your Google account in order to use the entry form. One photo per form submission; minimum photo size: 3000 pixels on the longest dimension (wide or tall). Photos not meeting the size requirement will be disqualified. This contest runs until November 1, 2018, at 11:59 pm Central Time. Decisions of the judges are final. Winners will be notified via email, at the address provided with each submitted photo. Winners can pick up their Winner Certificate(s) and prize(s) at the South Cumberland State Park Visitor Center, 11745 US 41 Monteagle, Tennessee 37356-7609, during normal business hours between the date of notification and March 31, 2019. A valid photo I.D. will be required in order to claim your certificate and prize. Sorry, but we cannot ship prizes.
Friends Volunteers Introduce
4th Graders to the Park
Volunteer Mark Hommrich informs Grundy County students all about the park
As part of the Friends' Every Child in the Park initiative, every fourth grader from Grundy County Schools, plus Monteagle Elementary, got to know the Park during the Friends' annual fall field trip programs, presented this year on Oct. 1-3.
From rats to rocks to nature play, the 4th graders were inspired and educated and empowered and encouraged to stretch themselves. As one little girl was getting on the bus, she came running back to say she had held both snakes by herself. She exclaimed, "Today made me brave!" The students' plans to come back to explore the exhibits in the Visitor Center and their excitement over the Nature Play Area were so heartening to all who helped put on the event.
Approximately 70 students attended each day. Students rotated among three activities: Geology and Pioneer Life, inside the Visitor Center; Gardening and Nature Play, on the Meadow Trail; and a hands-on Wildlife Program in the picnic pavilion. Students also received their own SCSP Nature Journal, authored by Friends' member and longtime leader, Mary Priestley. Special thanks to Friends' Education and Outreach chair Margaret Matens for organizing what is now a Fall tradition, and an event in which every fourth grader in Grundy County eagerly looks forward to participating!
Ranger Jason Reynolds wins TDEC’s Star Award
 Congratulations to SCSP Ranger Jason Reynolds (center), who was recognized in the most recent round of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s STAR Award Winners.
Jason, a 15-year veteran of our Ranger team at South Cumberland (and a master trail design and construction guru!) received the award for:
• Making those they serve their highest priority
• Conducting themselves professionally
• Respecting privacy and confidentiality
• Having a sense of ownership
• Communicating effectively
• Maintaining a commitment to colleagues
• Consistently meeting or exceeding performance goals
The Friends are incredibly proud of all the outstanding work Jason has put in, from daily Ranger policing duties to above-and-beyond efforts, such as managing the 2015-2017 Fiery Gizzard reroute project, and now, the Sherwood Forest trail construction effort. We all say “it’s about time!” that he is recognized for everything he has done for the Park!
Goldenrod Gala raises nearly $13K to Help the Park
Thanks to your support, the second annual Goldenrod Gala — a “night out for Nature” and an important fundraiser for the Friends of South Cumberland State Park — went underground on Saturday evening, October 6, 2018, raising nearly $13,000 to support the many Friends’ initiatives on behalf of the Park.
The Venue
This year's Gala took place in the dramatic new performance hall at The Caverns, which is also the now home to the popular PBS television series Bluegrass Underground. This year’s Gala also featured a silent version of the very popular Adventure Auction, which offered a dozen opportunities to experience unique places in and around South Cumberland State Park.
The Evening
The 2018 Gala began with a one-of-a-kind Underground Cocktail Reception, with small-batch spirits courtesy of Prichard’s Distillery, artisan beers courtesy of Chattanooga Brewing Company and an excellent selection of wines, courtesy of the Monteagle Inn. An artisan-style buffet dinner followed, crafted by the talented chefs at Ivy Wild Catering. The Monteagle Piggly Wiggly provided additional support for the evening's events.
After dinner, Gala Emcee Amy Katcher announced the winners of the 2018 Adventure Auction, and recognized the many companies, organizations and individuals who made the evening possible. (Visit the Goldenrod Gala website to learn more about the outstanding support the event has received.)
The after-dinner entertainment got underway, featuring the music and stagecraft of the Grammy-nominated WannaBeatles, who demonstrated their multi-instrumental skills to re-create songs from every part of the Beatles' era, making for a consistently full and vibrant dance floor. As part of their lively performance, the WannaBeatles also offered up a special Gala version of "With a Little Help from My Friends”
Still Time to Donate to the Gala Campaign
Even if you couldn't make it to the Gala, there is still time to donate to its purpose -- to generate essential funding for a wide range of Friends’ initiatives on behalf of South Cumberland State Park.
Photos from the Gala
https://www.friendsofsouthcumberland.org/gala-2018-slideshow.html
Tennessee State Parks has been named one of only two state park systems in the country to receive accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). The announcement was made at the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual conference in Indianapolis on September 25.
“Achieving this independent accreditation means Tennessee State Parks meets national standards of best practice,” said Brock Hill, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “It also acknowledges that visitors can expect the best in terms of recreation, programming and amenities when they visit our state parks.”
Accreditation scoring is based on the adoption of efficient and effective processes, such as having an environmental sustainability policy that includes protections for natural resources; soliciting employee and visitor feedback on park management plans; proper utilization of volunteers; and the availability of high-quality programming to all visitors, including historically underserved populations.
Volunteers: State requests Liability Release forms
Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation need your help! Before you volunteer for your next activity in the Park, TNSP and TDEC urgently request that you download and complete a Volunteer Liability Release Form. You will only need to do this once; the Friends, and the Park, will keep it on file for as long as you are an active volunteer. Thank you for your support of the Park!
IF YOU'RE A FIRST-TIME VOLUNTEER, when you go to the Volunteer Sign Up Form on the Friends' website, the Volunteer Liability Release is included in your first sign-up.
 Shop and support the Park
at the same time!
When you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon donates a portion of your purchase directly to the Friends of South Cumberland State Park. Click the logo below to begin, and bookmark that page as your Amazon starting point in order to designate the Friends as your preferred recipient!
The Friends are now on Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!
Be among the first to follow us and share your adventures in the Park
on these new Friends of South Cumberland pages:
Join or renew your Friends membership today!
Now it’s easier than every to join or renew your Friends membership online! Just visit the Membership page of the Friends website. If you’re renewing, there will be a link on that page for current Friends members to use. If you’re a current member and follow that link, it will ask you to enter your email and password to log into the Member Services area of the website. If you have not yet set up your password, enter the email address you believe we have on file for you, and then click the “forgot password” link, which will allow you to set up a password to access your info in our system. Once you’re set up, it will be much easier to do future membership renewals; register for Friends’ events; make gifts or donations; and any other kind of transaction you’d like to make in support of the Park!
Add our new address to your Contact list!
The Friends now offer online Member Services functions (click here to learn more)! Please add FriendsOfSouthCumberland@gmail.com to your device’s contacts or address book. This email address is the official address for communications from the Friends (including TrailTracker!), so please add it to your contacts to be sure important messages from us aren’t landing in your junk mail folder by accident.
Why should you join and support the Friends?
Now protecting more than 30,000 acres, South Cumberland is the largest State Park in Tennessee. Although this is great news, more land, and more visitors, creates new and urgent unmet needs for the park. New trails must be built, and existing trails must be maintained or upgraded. New and expanded parking areas, restrooms, camping and picnic facilities, and directional signage are needed. Invasive pests, like the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and invasive plants must be controlled. Guided hikes, seminars and historical re-enactments, including programs for area school children, must be prepared and delivered. And, the work of conserving additional environmentally-significant lands is far from complete. By becoming a member of the Friends, you can help insure that South Cumberland will always be a safe, well-maintained and amazing place to experience world-class natural beauty!
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