Category: outdoors

Animals, Chattanooga, Chattanooga Audubon Society, community, donate, Entertainment, Environment, Healing, History, outdoors, Philanthropy, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Healing Wings

Written by Alexis McMurtry

John Stokes transfers one of his two eagles, Yazta, from the pen to his enclosure at his and his wife’s house in Trenton, Georgia. Monday, November 11, 2024. Photo by Alexis McMurtry.

At the end of a rugged, unpaved mountain road in Trenton, Georgia, John Stokes and Dale Kernahan’s home stands as a sanctuary surrounded by the wild beauty they work to protect. Outside, hand-built enclosures house majestic birds of prey, while bird feeders invite a chorus of smaller birds. Here, nature is more than a backdrop – it’s the heartbeat of their lives.

Wings to Soar, a nonprofit organization founded by the duo 11 years ago, serves as a sanctuary for birds of prey that can no longer survive in the wild alone. These raptors – many of whom are injured or have imprinted on humans – are given to them by various wildlife veterinarians and rehabilitation facilitators. This organization also focuses on education by offering programs that help the public understand the vital role these birds play in maintaining the balance of nature.

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Animals, Anxiety, art, Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Entertainment, Environment, Family, Folklore, Healing, Health, History, Hugs, Love, Music, outdoors, Sports, teachers, Trains

Rising Rock Radio Showcase
Graphic by Kylee Boone

Rising Rock is excited to showcase some of our best audio stories in a continued partnership with Scenic Roots.

Nature vs Nurture

Taryn Brooks sits with Taylor Reed, a member and volunteer of Forest Families of Chattanooga. Reed, along with her daughter, has grown alongside the organization and seen the benefits of nature firsthand.
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Chattanooga, Chattanooga outreach, community, Daily Life, Environment, Family, Hugs, Love, outdoors, teachers

Nature vs Nurture

Written by Taryn Brooks

Children of Forest Families play together at Greenway Farms. Friday, November 8th, 2024. (Photo by Taryn Brooks).

Cheerful giggles and child-sized stomps harmonize with singing birds to fill the air of an otherwise quiet afternoon. In a world where trees are towers to be climbed, sticks are swords, and friendship can be made with no words at all, nature brings a new type of imagination to a young mind. Darana Campbell, executive director of Forest Families of Chattanooga, founded the organization as a branch between families and their connection to the outdoors. 

Four years ago, in the midst of Covid confinement and a heartbreaking divorce, Campbell found herself overwhelmed with stress. To clear her mind and give her son a new way to channel his energy, the two began to adventure out together on frequent walks. 

“I had so much stress that I just felt so much better when we went for a walk,” Campbell said.

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Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Family, Health, outdoors, Sports, teachers

For the Girls

Written by Carter Graham

Ana Garcia (14) rushes past Valerie Huerta (18). Tuesday, October 29, 2024. (Photo by Mia Liu).
Addi Dills receives her senior roses. Tuesday, October 29, 2024. (Photo by Mia Liu).

In the chaos of high school extracurriculars, where the color guard rehearses their routines with large bright flags sweeping back and forth, the marching band walks in unison with the distant sounds of football pads colliding from a practice field. It’s a typical Tuesday night at Heritage High School, and the Girls Varsity Flag Football team is about to kick off.

Led by Junior linebacker and wide receiver, captain Addi Dills’ face is painted with the familiar eye black spectators many see on Saturday or Sunday, reminiscent of Ray Lewis or John Randle. Dills, a three-sport athlete, also plays basketball and runs track. 

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Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Environment, Family, Health, outdoors, Sports, UTC

Run Nooga Run

Written by Maya Spratley

The Chattanooga Run Club is a group of individuals who value community and welcome new runners with open arms. Drew White speaks with Lucas Gallon, founder of the club, about the club’s impact on the Chattanooga area and the people who attend.

The low patter of footsteps and the occasional labored breath can be heard throughout downtown Chattanooga. A group of strangers gather due to their shared interest in running, but in the process, they gain community. 

Those exploring North Chattanooga early Saturday morning might run into the Chattanooga Run Club.   

The idea that someone actively chooses to push their body in a way that causes their heart to race, blood to pulse, and sweat to drip can seem daunting to some. The Chattanooga Run Club aims to change that perspective on running. According to the club’s founder, Lucas Gallon, the club prides itself on welcoming all speeds and experience levels. 

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community, Daily Life, Diversity, outdoors, Uncategorized, women

Motorcycle Missus

Written by L’Nyah Mattress

Alexis McMurtry speaks with Donna Vann, Wild Ones president and founder. The Wild Ones is a women-only Chattanooga-based motorcycle club, that provide a home for wild spirits who enjoy being on two wheels.

Flying down the highway, seven leather jackets fall in line for a monthly ride along. Patched on the front of the jackets are the words, “I am my sister’s keeper.” At the core of the group is Donna Vann, aka Honeybee, the founder and president of Wild Ones. 

The women of Wild Ones, a Chattanooga-based women-only motorcycle riding club, create a space for women and sisterhood in a male dominated pastime. With each approaching second the thunder of engines grow and the painted nail emboldened on the back of their jackets comes into focus.

“The reason it’s called Wild Ones is because my mom used to say I was her wild child,” Donna Vann said.

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Animals, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Diversity, Environment, Family, Love, outdoors

Ferret Ambassador

Written by Lexi Foley

Turbo stares at passersby in Coolidge Park. Sunday April 7, 2024. (Photo by: Lexi Foley)

It was an average Chattanooga afternoon for six-month-old Turbo as he scurried across the walking bridge, chasing each new scent. Rays of sunlight fought to peak out of the clouds as a hawk flew through the sky. Turbo flicked his black and white head forward and backward as he followed the hawk’s flight pattern. A group of bicycles came rolling across the bridge, stealing the young ferret’s attention for just long enough before a collection of teenagers strolled past him. 

His noodle-like body winded like a river as he explored one of Chattanooga’s most popular attractions: the Walnut Street Bridge. The bridge is one of many spots Turbo will visit throughout the year, along with pop-up markets, Rock City, the Commons, etc. Since he was adopted in October of 2023, Turbo has become a beacon of light for anyone willing to stop and say “hi”. Although Turbo was adopted by owners Jonah and Kat Aberle to be a public service to the greater Chattanooga community, the Aberles originally got a ferret from their local PetSmart for their college home in Cookeville.

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Animals, art, Chattanooga, community, Daily Life, Dance, Diversity, Entertainment, Environment, Family, Health, Love, Music, outdoors, Sports, Uncategorized, UTC, women

Rising Rock Radio Showcase
Graphic by Kylee Boone

Rising Rock is excited to showcase some of our best audio stories in a continued partnership with Scenic Roots. To listen to Scenic Roots, visit https://www.wutc.org/scenic-roots.

Tiny Bailarinas

Ava Nessell spoke with Wendy Reynoso, the student success and services coordinator at La Paz Chattanooga, about her experience finding a community in Chattanooga after immigrating from Guatemala. 

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Chattanooga, Daily Life, Environment, Health, outdoors, Safety, Sustainability, Uncategorized

Cliffside Saviors

Written by Alexis McMurtry

Alexis McMurtry speaks with Bill Moore about his experiences volunteering with the Chattanooga Hamilton County cave/cliff/technical team and his chaotic day-to-day schedule.

Bill Moore, a volunteer rescuer, was surrounded by the faint glow of his and his teammates’ headlamps as they navigated through a cave’s twisting passages, squeezing through narrow crevices and scaling steep inclines.

On the surface, Cara Moore is developing and releasing information about the rescue to the public. Her mind is in two places: the state of the rescue and the well-being of her husband, Bill.

What seemed like an adrenaline-filled adventure was another day in the office for the Chattanooga Hamilton County Cave-Cliff-Technical Rescue Team.

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Chattanooga, community, Environment, outdoors

Sun Chasers

Written by Lexi Foley

Emily and Jacob Roberts describe their experience observing the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Heads and fingers pointed to a darkened sky as they waited for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. A million pairs of eyes from across the nation watched as the moon danced in front of the sun for a brief four-and-a-half minutes. 

White glimmering light encircled a group of strangers, including viewers Jacob Roberts and his family, united under the low glow of the covered sun. A path of totality drew in as the world experienced darkness at 2:00 p.m. together. 

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