Additional information on all TCWP activities may be obtained from TCWP Executive Director Sandra K. Goss at Sandra@sandrakgoss.com or at (865) 583-3967.
TCWP’s Guidelines for Activities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, TCWP will be conducting its activities following CDC guidelines.
- We ask that you not participate if you are sick or were recently exposed to someone who is.
- We will practice social distancing, maintaining at least 6 feet of separation between participants. This will limit the amount of interpretation that can be done.
- We will organize activities into groups of 10 or fewer.
- We recommend that you bring a mask and wear it when around others.
- We recommend that you bring hand sanitizer or other ways to wash your hands.
- We recommend that everyone bring their own water, lunch, snacks, and sunscreen.
- We recommend caravanning to activities instead of carpooling.
- Keep in mind that restrooms may be unavailable at activity locations.
- Activities are subject to change or cancellation as we monitor and react to local, state, and federal data and guidelines.
Thank you for your patience while we work through ways to serve our community.
TCWP is cosponsoring a social distanced Weed Wrangle® at the UT Arboretum on Saturday, August 22 at the UT Arboretum from 9am-12 noon. Additional cosponsors are Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TNIPC), the UT Arboretum Society, and the UT Arboretum.
Participants will meet at 9am at the UT Arboretum Auditorium Parking lot. The goal of this Weed Wrangle® is removing invasive plants from a plot close to the Auditorium. The plan for this plot is to remove large invasives, autumn olive, privet and other smaller invasives to prepare this area for meadow construction. This event is the first step in transforming the area from an invasive plant-infested plot as the first step to a meadow demonstration garden that increase wildlife and pollinators habitat and serve as a teaching tool.
There will be weed wrenches to help remove the larger invasives. Participants are encouraged to bring their own tools to prevent the cross handling of equipment, a mask, water, and sun and bug protection.
Attendees (must be 18 or older) are asked to pre-register for this event with Michelle Campanis at mcampani@utk.edu or 615-310-6992 with your name, email, phone number and number in your party. Event updates may be sent closer to the event.
This will be the second of our three annual workdays at the Oak Ridge Cedar Barren. Located next to Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, the barren is a joint project of the City of Oak Ridge, the State Natural Areas Division, and TCWP. One of just a few cedar barrens in East Tennessee, the area is subject to invasion by Chinese lespedeza, Japanese privet, autumn olive, mimosa, Nepal grass, multiflora rose, and woody plants that threaten the system’s prairie grasses. Our spring, summer, and fall cleanups help to eliminate invasives and other shade-producing plants that prevent the prairie grasses from getting needed sun. The late-summer workday is optimum for viewing prairie wildflowers that flourish at the barren.
Volunteers should meet in the Jefferson Middle School parking lot at 9 a.m.; wear sturdy shoes, and bring loppers, gloves, and water. For additional information, contact Tim Bigelow at Bigelowt2@mindspring.com or at (865) 607-6781.
This activity will be conducted to protect participants from the COVID-19 virus. This event may have to be reconsidered based on conditions at the time.
In this joint outing with the Tennessee Native Plant Society and TennGreen, we will caravan from Crab Orchard to the powerline, then walk along the powerline right-of-way to see many species of goldenrods, asters, and other fall flowers. The walk will be less than four miles round-trip, with opportunities to return early.
We will meet for caravanning at the Gold’s Gym/Books-A-Million parking lot in Oak Ridge (at the end close to S. Illinois Avenue, near Salsarita’s) at 9 a.m. Eastern time, or meet at the Marathon station at I-40 Crab Orchard exit 329 east of Crossville at 10 a.m. Eastern time (9 a.m. Central).
An email or call to hike leader Larry Pounds (PoundsL471@aol.com, cell 865-705-8516) saying you are likely to come is appreciated. This helps with planning and allows for participants to be contacted with any change of plans.
The walk will be conducted to protect participants from the COVID-19 virus. Please avoid carpooling, and maintain six-foot spacing between household groups (bubbles) or wear face masks. This event may have to be reconsidered based on conditions at the time.
