Thank you for registering for the Worthington Cemetery Trail BioBlitz with Discover Life in America (DLiA), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning (TCWP)! We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Free, family-friendly opportunity to learn about local animals and plants while contributing to science! Join Discover Life in America, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning for a BioBlitz on the Worthington Cemetery Trail at Melton Hill Reservoir.

Two chances to ‘blitz!

Friday, September 25 from 7pm to 10pm Eastern: On Friday, we will meet at Jefferson Middle School and explore the neighboring Oak Ridge Barrens Natural Area. Throughout the evening, we will survey for plants, insects, and more! At dusk, we will set up black lights to monitor insect populations, and we may hear bats with our echolocation detector!

Saturday, September 26 from 8am to 11am Eastern: On Saturday, we will meet at Worthington Cemetery Trail. We will start by looking and listening for birds, then continue to look for other flora and fauna throughout the morning. Join us after the 'blitz for pizza provided by Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning!

Where?

On Friday, we will meet at Jefferson Middle School and explore the neighboring Oak Ridge Barrens Natural Area.

Jefferson Middle School

200 Fairbanks Rd

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

On Saturday, we will meet at the Worthington Cemetery Trail.

Worthington Cemetery Trail

Oak Ridge, TN 37830

About Worthington Cemetery Trail (from TVA):

This TVA area is special because of the unusual cedar barren habitat, which is more common in middle Tennessee. A cedar barren is an open area surrounded by plants that prefer thin, shallow soils around limestone outcroppings like Eastern red cedar, blazing star, prairie dock and big bluestem. Other features of this trail include an old cemetery (1800s), a pond and a recently built pier that extends out into a wetland, offering an excellent opportunity to see some of the 125 bird species that have been observed here. An easy trail for young ones to navigate—but be prepared to get muddy as the trail holds water. This trail is east of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on Hwy. 95 at Elza Gate Park.

To prepare for the event:

Download iNaturalist to your phone (it’s free!)

Follow prompts in the app to create an iNaturalist account

Bring water, snacks, and anything else you need to keep yourself safe and comfortable outdoors (we’ll have some water just in case)

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes for hiking

Questions? Contact DLiA's Biodiversity Program Specialist, Julie Elfin, at julie@dlia.org or 240-731-5503.

Worthington Cemetery Trail & Oak Ridge Barrens BioBlitz