Free event celebrates various outdoor activities and encourages conservation
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – People are invited to learn about outdoor pursuits and how to help preserve our natural resources at the second annual Outdoor Enthusiast Expo from August 28-29 at Maryville College. The free two-day event, sponsored in part by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, promotes the use of the great outdoors by all types of outdoor enthusiasts.
“No matter your experience level or outdoor passion, the Outdoor Enthusiast Expo is a welcoming place to learn, explore, connect and celebrate the outdoors together,” Ronnie Cowan, outdoor recreation Extension specialist in the UT School of Natural Resources, says. “Families can enjoy a wide variety of youth activities, hands-on demonstrations and interactive exhibits. Outdoor enthusiasts can also participate in educational seminars and experiences. Whether you are a hunter, angler, paddler, hiker, wildlife watcher, mountain biker, camper, or simply someone who enjoys spending time outside, there is something for everyone.”
The two-day event will be at the Crawford House on the Maryville College campus. The Friday Night Social will start at 6 p.m. and feature live music and a food vendor. People can also go on a bat hike following the concert. On Saturday, the Expo opens at 9 a.m. with various hunting, fishing, mountain biking and hiking excursions. People can also enjoy a wilderness first aid session, a hunting dog demonstration, and even a duck and turkey call contest. Expo goers will get the chance to browse different outdoor vendors in the Expo’s base camp.
“The Expo will provide two fun-filled days of old and new activities that help foster life-long learning and meaningful connections among our students, community members, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the region,” Jennifer Oody, chair of the Division of Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies at Maryville College, says. “We’re really excited about the second annual Outdoor Enthusiast Expo because it is at the heart of what so many of us here in Tennessee love – our amazing outdoor recreation resources and the communities they support.”
People can register now for the free event on the Expo’s website. They can also find full descriptions of excursions and other activities for the whole family. People who want to participate in the kayaking excursion, deer hunting academy or fly-fishing excursion should sign up before the Expo. All other excursions are first-come, first-serve. Those interested in being a sponsor or vendor can contact Ronnie Cowan at rc@utk.edu.
The School of Natural Resources and Mountain Challenge at Maryville College partnered to hold the first Outdoor Enthusiast Expo in 2025.
The UT School of Natural Resources focuses on a mastery learning approach, emphasizing practical, hands-on experiences. The school’s faculty, staff and students advance the science and sustainable management of our natural resources through various programs of the UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA).
UTIA is comprised of the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.