District Digest News Stories

Children ‘Get Outdoors’ with hands on experiences

Cordell Hull Lake Natural Resource Manager's Office
Published June 9, 2018
Park Ranger Ashley Webster shows a young boy the all-terrain vehicles the Corps of Engineers use when doing trail work during the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. (Courtesy Asset)

Park Ranger Ashley Webster shows a young boy the all-terrain vehicles the Corps of Engineers use when doing trail work during the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn.

Tennessee Kayak and Outdoor Company sets up a booth to explain about trips and tours they offer with safety in mind for the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. This was a cooperative event involving local businesses and agencies, state agencies and the Corps of Engineers. (USACE Photo by Ashley Webster)

Tennessee Kayak and Outdoor Company sets up a booth to explain about trips and tours they offer with safety in mind for the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. This was a cooperative event involving local businesses and agencies, state agencies and the Corps of Engineers.

A member of the Smith County Rescue Squad Extrication team shows off the “jaws of life” to a youngster during the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. (USACE Photo by Ashley Webster)

A member of the Smith County Rescue Squad Extrication team shows off the “jaws of life” to a youngster during the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn.

North Central Fire Department and Smith County’s volunteer fire department show kids their bunker gear and truck equipment used to battle fires during the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn. (USACE Photo by Ashley Webster)

North Central Fire Department and Smith County’s volunteer fire department show kids their bunker gear and truck equipment used to battle fires during the “Touch a Truck” event June 9, 2018 at Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tenn.

CARTHAGE, Tenn. (June 9, 2018) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District park rangers from Cordell Hull Lake held the first annual “Get Outdoors Day” with a “Touch A Truck” event today.  The free community event promoted safety and services offered in the surrounding communities by businesses and agencies. 

Smith County Sheriff Department Officer Glen Reece said it was great to meet with families and especially young people in a comfortable setting to “show and tell.”

“What a wonderful event, it let people of all ages come out and see our cars and trucks that we use in our daily workplace,” Reece said.

Some other agencies and businesses that participated include North Central Fire Department, Smith County Emergency Management Services, Tennessee State Parks, and Tennessee Kayak and Outdoor Company, to name a few.

Event organizers wanted children to get outdoors and gain an appreciation for nature while learning about future careers or interests they may have in the future.  With the support from the various presenters, collectively they were able to help kids understand the role each agency or business plays in their daily lives.

Jeff Hancock, Natural Resource manager, said the event featured a great collaboration of agencies from around the lake.  Other agencies included the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation, City of Carthage Police Department, and Smith County Rescue Squad Extrication Team.

The Corps of Engineers also contributed to one of the nine stations with an overview of equipment rangers carry in their “rolling offices” that they utilize for trail work, and they also emphasized the importance of water safety.

“National Get Outdoors Day supports the Let’s Move Outside Campaign to help foster exercise, nature, and memories for our future generations,” said Hancock.  “I feel the overall knowledge these kids and their families will leave with today is impacting.”

(The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.  The public can also follow Cordell Hull Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cordellhulllake.)