GET OUTDOORS ... THE PARK IS YOURS!

Registration CLOSES August 31st for the
2019-2020 Class of the Tennessee Naturalist Program!

The 2019-2020 Tennessee Naturalist Class registration is now open, and the class of 22 will fill up quickly.  Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and will close on August 31st. 

The Friends of South Cumberland is once again thrilled to offer the Tennessee Naturalist Program to its members. "TNP" is a series of ten four-hour classes, designed to introduce adult learners to the natural history of Tennessee. Graduates join a critical corps of volunteers providing nature education, outreach, and service to the Park. 

Since 2011, the Friends have offered its members the opportunity to become certified as Tennessee Naturalists by completing this series of ten classes, which includes a graduation requirement of 40 hours of service to SCSP or other environmentally-focused organizations. Classes are scheduled in two semesters, from September to November and February to May, and are usually held on Saturday mornings. The classwork is divided between lectures, hands-on activities and many hours of outdoor immersion. Topics include geology, forests, plants, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, aquatic ecosystems, trail building and interpretation. 
 

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TNP AND TO REGISTER.

 

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IN MEMORIAM:
WOODY McLAUGHLIN

 

Woody McLaughlin, a founder and leader of the Friends of South Cumberland State Park, passed away unexpectely in late July, while on a camping trip with his family in Montana. 

He helped establish the Friends organization in 1993, and served on its board for 18 years. Woody was also the 2016 recipient of the State of Tennessee's Robert Sparks Walker Lifetime Achievement Award. He received the award for his decades of devotion to the land and people of South Cumberland State Park, dating back to his days as a student at the University of the South.

“We have lost one of the great minds and hearts who helped shape the South Cumberland State Park and our Friends organization,” Friends President John Hille said. “Woody’s tireless, good-natured approach to fostering positive working relationships while achieving real conservation results was essential to preserving priority lands and protecting some of the most special places in the Park.  We are grateful for his personal commitment and quiet leadership.  It has made a real and lasting difference for our park, and for those who love it.” 

Under his leadership, the Friends group decided to launch the Saving Great Spaces Campaign in 2002. During part of this multi-year campaign, he served as president of the Friends group, and  worked tirelessly to encourage others to join the effort. This concerted, multi-year conservation campaign leveraged over $8.5 million in total resources, making it possible to add 5,495 acres of priority land at Savage Gulf and the Fiery Gizzard.

 

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The trails in your park need your help!  Bring yourself, your family, your Scout or Church group and help our rangers build and repair our much-loved trail system!  Please be prepared by dressing for trail work and the weather, including sturdy footwear, and bring plenty of water, lunch and high-energy snacks. If you have favorite trail-building hand tools and gloves, feel free to bring them, too!  Please email the rangers-in-charge to let them know you'll be coming to help!

Trail Building in Collins Gulf
August 20, September 2 & September 9, 9:00 am
Meet at the Savage Gulf South (Collins West) Trailhead
Join Ranger Dan Wescoat for a day of building new trail in Collins Gulf. We will be working on a reroute of the trail leading to Horsepound Falls.  NOTE: We will be hiking approximately 1.5 miles (each way) to the work-site, through some difficult terrain. For more information, and to RSVP, email Ranger Dan Wescoat.

Denny Cove Trail Improvement
August 24, 1:30 pm and September 28, 10:00 am (Nat'l Public Lands Day!)
Meet at the Denny Cove Trailhead
Join Ranger Ryan Harris at Denny Cove to help improve the section of the trail through the 'rock garden' and on the approach to Denny Falls. August 24th involves brush clearing and trash pick-up; September 28th will involve rock work, but tools will be provided; for either date, feel free to bring a favorite tool and gloves, and remember to wear appropriately sturdy shoes. For more information, and to RSVP, email Ranger Ryan Harris.

Sherwood Forest Trail Building
August 31, 9:00 am
Meet at the Sherwood Forest East (CCC Road) Trailhead
Join with other South Cumberland trail blazers to help complete a brand new loop trail at the park. Sherwood Forest is a beautiful new area of the park, now open for a variety of public uses, so we need your help to get this trail finished!  For more information, and to RSVP, email Ranger Jason Reynolds.

Savage Gulf Trail Maintenance
September 2 & September 12, 8:15 am
Meet at the Savage Gulf East (Savage Ranger Station) Trailhead
Join Ranger Mark Greenwood for a day of trail repair and maintenance in the awe-inspring Savage Creek basin of the Savage Gulf State Natural Area. For more information, and to RSVP, email Ranger Mark Greenwood.
 

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Friends Annual Meeting 2019
SCSP Manager highlights challenges facing the Park

 

In his annual State of the Park address, held at the annual Friends meeting on June 22, SCSP Manager George Shinn focused on some of the unique challenges facing the Park at this time: increasing park visitation, even in the winter months; the high number of visitor rescues (61 in the past 11 months) and law enforcement incidents (208 in the past 11 months), all of which require the time and attention of the Park’s eight rangers. A relatively young Ranger staff, coupled with an aging (and retiring) maintenance staff have created additional administrative challenges for Manager Shinn and Assistant Park Managers Aaron Reid (Savage Gulf area of SCSP) and Bill Knapp (Fiery Gizzard-Sherwood Forest-Grundy Lakes areas of SCSP). Manager Shinn concluded his remarks by emphasizing the increasingly important role of FSC volunteers in helping maintain trails, deliver programming, and, in particular, conduct outreach to the communities surrounding the Park.
 

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING RECAP

President Kendrick began the business portion of the meeting by announcing that the State of Tennessee has signed options to purchase the remaining properties currently held by FSC: the Greeter Pines and Jones Tracts at Savage Gulf and the Flury Tract at Grundy Lakes. Proceeds from those purchases will replenish the FSC Land Acquisition Fund, making possible the future purchase of additional environmentally-sensitive lands.

President Kendrick then announced the recommendations of the Nominating Subcommittee for both new and returning Officers and Directors:
• OFFICERS: President, John Hille; Vice-President, Trae Moore;
  Secretary, Rick Dreves; Treasurer, Rich Wyckoff
• DIRECTORS, RE-ELECTED: Sam Baggett, Ben Myers, John Greeter
• DIRECTORS, NEW: Alyse Getty, Susan Campbell

A motion to accept the slate as presented was made by FSC member Woody McLaughlin, and seconded by member Mary Priestley. The motion was approved unanimously. President Kendrick then asked for a motion to authorize incoming President John Hille and Treasurer Rich Wyckoff to be authorized as signatories on the banking accounts of the Friends of South Cumberland. The motion was made by FSC member Joan Hartvigsen and seconded by member Mary Priestley. The motion was approved unanimously. President Kendrick then officially turned over his responsibilities as FSC President to incoming President John Hille, as signified by the passing of the FSC Presidential Hiking Staff. 

A number of awards were presented at the meeting.  Highlights are below:

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From left: George Shinn and Lee Davenport

From left: Naullain Kendrick and Scott Parrish

Golden Shell Award The 2019 Golden Shell Award was presented to Lee Davenport, FSC Director and Trail Friends Coordinator, at the annual meeting by SCSP Manager George Shinn. Lee was recognized for her leadership in organizing the FSC Trail Friends program.

T&T Tribute Award The 2019 Trails & Trilliums Tribute Award was presented to the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly for its outstanding long-term support of the Friends of South Cumberland, ranger housing initiatives, and other important contributions to South Cumberland  State Park. Scott Parrish, right, accepted the award on behalf of the MSSA from outgoing Friends President Naullain Kendrick.

 

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From left: Naullain Kendrick and Margaret Matens

From left: Naullain Kendrick and Latham Davis

Harry C. Yeatman Award For enthusiastically devoting time, energy and resources to educating both children and adults about the natural wonders of our region, the Friends of South Cumberland presented the 2019 Harry C. Yeatman Environmental Education Award to wildlife rehabilitator Margaret Hawkins Matens. With Margaret is outgoing Friends president Naullain Kendrick. Henry "Harry" Clay Yeatman, who died in 2013, was a professor of biology at the University of the South and a beloved naturalist.

Jim Prince Award Latham Davis, right, received the 2019 Jim Prince Award at the annual meeting. Davis is a FSC director and president emeritus. The award recognizes his enthusiastic energy, time and leadership to the protection of environmentally significant land on the Southern Cumberland Plateau. With Davis is Naullian Kendrick, outgoing president.

 

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Trail Master Certifications SCSP Manager George Shinn, left, presents Trail Master Certifications to Naullain Kendrick, outgoing president, (center), and Rick Dreves, FSC Director and Strategic Planning and Communications Committee Chairs.

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Now’s the time to
become a Trail Friend!

Bruce Blohm (at right) is a very active Trail Friends volunteer. Trail Friends are volunteers who offer Park visitors a cheery welcome and much-needed information about the Park, the natural surroundings, and the specifics of the trails. Trail Friends staff five of the busiest trailheads in the Park, and also walk these trails, answering questions and providing assistance as they go. More than four thousand people have been helped by this enthusiastic team of volunteers. The Trail Friends team is always looking for enthusiastic new members!  More info and online training is available now.  Visit the Trail Friends page of the Friends of South Cumberland website to learn more and get involved!
 

Trail Friends Program Receives Mini-Grant from Friends of TN State Parks
“We are pleased to offer another round of grant funding to our Friends groups and congratulate this year’s recipients,” said LeaAnn Carr, President of The Friends of Tennessee State Parks.  The Friends of South Cumberland received a $500 Mini-Grant to support the Trail Friends' trail interpretation initiative. In particular, it pays for a one year renewal of the Trail Friends' GPS software license, and for printing of Trail Interpretation handouts, which promote park visitor awareness of trail routes and trail features.