The Windows Cliff Natural Area hosting a Junior Ranger Program next week exposing kids to fun, educational experiences and the outdoors.
Park Ranger Kristen Willis said the idea for the camp was to help kids appreciate time spent outdoors while teaching them how to do so carefully. She said one of the focuses of this year’s advanced program is safety on the water.
“There’s a lot of activities in the Upper Cumberland that revolve around water, around our lakes such as kayaking and boating,” Willis said. “So we’re trying to give them an opportunity to get outside and enjoy those things and learn how to do it safely and want to continue doing those activities.”
Willis said kids can learn without even thinking about learning, as they just need to know they’re having fun in the creek while kayaking or canoeing. Willis said she hopes campers will continue activities from the Ranger Program when they are adults.
In a world saturated with phones and screens, Willis said most of this year’s camps have been full. She said there is still limited space on the advanced camp.
“There’s not going to be a lot of opportunity to be on your phone or on your device,” Willis said. “Except maybe when you’re at the base of the falls to take pictures, so it’ll be exciting.”
The camps will take place around the Window Cliffs Natural Area, which Willis said is very unique. Willis said the trail offers great views, exercise, and interesting fauna.
“You can get a pretty strenuous five and a half mile hike where the trail actually ends on the cliff itself,” Willis said. “We actually have a lot of people that bypass the overlook to see the windows in the cliffs, and when they get to the end of the trail, they realize they are actually standing on the cliffs themselves.”
Willis said sign up links for the Advanced Junior Ranger Camp can be found on the Burgess Falls Facebook Page and the Tennessee State Parks web page. The two day camp will be Monday and Tuesday.
