Winter Retreat
January 24 – 26, 2020
Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Mark your calendars now for our Winter Retreat in the Group Camp of Cedars of Lebanon State Park, just north of Murfreesboro. Come for training, hiking, relaxing close to Nature, and the company of good friends, old and new. People from all across the state come to these gatherings!
There will be activities outdoors including hikes and nature walks both days. Committee meetings indoors will fill out a busy Saturday. You can participate in as much or as little as you wish, walking a short trail or sitting by the fire may be what appeals to you the most and that's ok!
Walking the Hidden Springs Trail at Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Photo by Michael Hicks.
Cedars of Lebanon's ecosystem features a landscape of karst formations including limestone sinkholes and caves and one of the largest stands of Eastern red cedars in the United States. The Park has ten miles of hiking trails that range from easy to moderate, a butterfly garden, and a nature center that explores the ecological and cultural significance of the park.
It has a fascinating history, High demand for cedar wood throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries left the area nearly cleared of its timber. Following reforestation and development for jobs, recreation and timber by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the 1930s, this land now contains one of the largest public stands of eastern red cedar in the United States. Not true cedars, these trees are actually junipers, a close cousin. Early settlers associated these evergreens with the dense cedar forests depicted in the biblical lands of Lebanon and began calling them 'cedars.' The original park, completed in 1937, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Districts. You can learn more about the park here and read about the history and development of the park here on Wikipedia.
Cedars of Lebanon State Park is located approximately 31 miles east of Nashville in Wilson County and six miles south of I-40 on U.S. Highway 231 (State Route 10). Click here for a map and driving directions. GPS navigation in your car? Try these GPS coordinates: 36.080048,-86.323934. Look at a map of park trails here or pick up a printed map at the park.
When you arrive at the Winter Chapter Retreat Friday evening, check-in at the Group Lodge. Get acquainted with other participants and plan to enjoy the night sky.
Registration
The retreat begins 4 PM Friday and ends at 2 PM on Sunday. We'll be at the Group Lodge; prices low ($50/person with email or on-line reservation by Jan. 18, after that price rises to $60/per-son; first-timeers 1/2 off; kids 15 and under free.) For that price you get bunkhouse lodging (women's & men's dorms,) 2 breakfasts and Saturday dinner -- pack your own trail lunches for Saturday. Payment happens when you check in at the Group Lodge.
The Group Lodge includes two air conditioned bunkhouse wings each with 19 twin size bunk beds, restroom and shower accommodations.
The nearby campground will be open if you want to pitch a tent or hook up a camper.
Schedule of Weekend Events
Friday
- Dinner on your own
- 8:00pm - Political Committee meeting
Saturday
- 6:30-8:00am - Breakfast
- 9:00am - Wilderness Hike with Randy Hedgpeth, State Naturalist
Saturday Workshops and Committee Meetings
- 9:00am - Sierra Club political training- important rules and procedures
- 10:00am
Sierra Club “Beyond Coal” strategies for 2020- desired outcomes
Tactics regarding local power companies & proposed 20 year TVA contracts, negotiating for higher percentage of renewable energy.
Tactics regarding local power companies - bill “roundup” to fund energy efficiency program.
- 12:00 noon - Lunch on your own
- 1:00pm - Wilderness Hike led by Sierra Club leaders or on your own
- 1:00pm - Budget Committee
- 2:00pm - Conservation Education Day Planning Session
- 3:00pm - Know Nuclear Committee
- 4:30pm - Discussion: What are the strengths of each of our Groups and Committees, what do we need to work on to get stronger? Bring your ideas and stories to share.
- 6:00-7:30pm - Dinner
- 7:30pm - Program – From the Chickasaw Bluffs to the Cherokee National Forest: Sierra Club Keeps Tennessee Green! - Scott Banbury, Tennessee Chapter Conservation Coordinator.
Sunday
- 6:30-7:30am - Breakfast
- 8:00-noon - Chapter Executive Committee Meeting – Election of Officers, Committee Appointments
- 9:00am - Wilderness Hike with Randy Hedgpeth, State Naturalist
- 12:00 noon - cleanup and food sales
What To Bring
Linens or sleeping bag, pillow, towel
Stuff for hiking: trail lunches, water bottle, daypack, rain gear • Beverages, flashlight
For the cave outing: Bring clothes and shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. Multiple light sources including a head lamp are recommended.
Winter Weather
January at Cedars of Lebanon usually brings daytime temperatures in the 30's and 40's, night time down to the 20's in a normal year. Can't predict what this year will be! There may be or may have been some rain in the area so prepare for possibly muddy trails. We don't know for sure. The climate is changing. But it won't hurt to be prepared!
Food
Saturday and Sunday breakfasts and a Saturday evening meal are provided. If you register online you may request vegetarian options.
Please let us know you are coming by making your reservation on-line or for more information and registration contact Dennis Lynch at dmlynch1@gmail.com.
All Retreat participants will be required to sign the standard Sierra Club outings liability waiver when checking in at the retreat location. Click here to see the waiver form. Any attendee under the age of 18 not accompanied by parent or legal guardian must have the signed liability waiver and "Medical Treatment Authorization & Consent Form" upon arrival. Both forms can be printed from these links.
The Chickasaw Group looks forward to hosting you all!