OutVenture Programs to Continue in Spite of Fire

An early Saturday morning fire that destroyed the "Red Barn" at the Greenway Farm in Hixson and a large portion of Outdoor Chattanooga's OutVenture kayak fleet will not stop spring and summer kayaking programs, according to OutVenture director Marcus Hulsey.

Lost in the fire were 20 sea kayaks, five recreational kayaks, six recently-purchased Jackson whitewater kayaks, a heavy duty kayak trailer, paddles and related gear, and a cache of trail building equipment that was donated by the Outdoor Industry Association last year.

"We use a lot of the gear for multiple programs and losing something as big as a trailer affects our programming as a whole." says Hulsey.

OutVenture uses the kayaks, trailer, and gear for kids' summer camps, free, public kayak events at local parks, and guided kayak trips throughout the Tennessee River watershed, including several river gorge overnight trips scheduled beginning in mid-May.

"We are especially glad no one was injured in the fire, and we can recover from this blow," adds Hulsey. "The community has already begun to rally around us and we're moving forward with our busy spring and upcoming summer schedule."

Hulsey is in the process of gathering loaner equipment so OutVenture programs can continue as planned, but these measures will only be temporary.

"We have already received phone calls from various outfitters, retailers, and other Chattanooga outdoor organizations, offering loans of equipment to keep our programs running," says Outdoor Chattanooga Executive Director Philip Grymes.

Hulsey, Grymes, and their staff are already working on soliciting permanent donations.

"It's very important that we keep our kayaking programs going." says Grymes. "They are a vital part of our mission to get people outdoors and active."

"We are sad about the loss of the barn and what it meant to our programs," adds Hulsey. "The barn is a Greenway Farm icon."

In addition to OutVenture gear, the Red Barn also housed other agencies' equipment and a host of antique toys, games and farm equipment used by the Greenway Farm volunteer community gardens coordinator Pete Snider. "Some of the stuff that was lost cannot be replaced," says Snider. "The games and memorabilia I've collected over the years were priceless."

Organizations or individuals who are interested in making donations of money or equipment to help with OutVenture and Outdoor Chattanooga programs this summer may call OutVenture director Marcus Hulsey at (423) 842-6629.