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Outdoor events in the Chattanooga area encourage muddy fun among babies and young children

Writer's picture: Mason Edwards!Mason Edwards!

by Mason Edwards

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Irisella Allen, 3, plays with her brother, Zimran, 9 mo., during a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield on Friday, December 13, 2024.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Irisella Allen, 3, plays with her brother, Zimran, 9 mo., during a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield on Friday, December 13, 2024.

On a drizzly afternoon, soft rain seemed to purify the air as expectant mother JoAnna Massey led her two daughters through Ringgold's paved trails, splashing in puddles and watching a great heron glide across a fog-filled creek. For Massey, these hour-long excursions are part of a yearlong mission: spend 1,000 hours outdoors.


Massey founded Bumps and Babies, an event dedicated to pregnant women and new mothers who yearn for wide-open spaces and company they can relate to. On the first Tuesday of every month, event attendees meet at stroller-friendly trails like Chief Richard Taylor Nature Trail and Camp Jordan Park.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Portia White, left, and Elle White cross a stream during a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Portia White, left, and Elle White cross a stream during a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield.

With another baby on the way, Massey hopes to host child-led hikes as her youngest grows. "I think if we want our children to connect to nature for a lifetime and not just as little children," she says, "then infancy is the prime time to foster that connection." She adds that when it comes to having to change a baby while out on the trail, she just does it right there on the grass.


Massey, a lifelong Chattanoogan, is the program coordinator for Forest Families of Chattanooga, a nonprofit she co-founded during the pandemic to organize outdoor activities for all ages, from casual strolls to rugged hikes. No matter the difficulty of the excursion, Massey recommends parents bring clothes for play. Her events aim to encourage child discovery — no matter how muddy — and connect people in similar seasons of life. "I have made almost all of my friends through this group — people I didn't even know," she says.


Bumps and Babies events have drawn in new members to Forest Families of Chattanooga, like Rebekah Allen, a stay-at-home mom of three children. At another Forest Families of Chattanooga event open to kids of all ages, Free Play Friday, Allen's family and other kids explored the Chickamauga Battlefield — crossing creeks, climbing fallen trees and searching for animal bones. Her 9-month-old son, Zimran, smiled and laughed as he played with his sister and felt the grass between his fingers.

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Children and parents walk together as part of a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Children and parents walk together as part of a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield.

Allen learned about the event through Facebook, and she felt her children could benefit and it would help break the monotony of staying home. "They can play at our house, but they don't really get interaction with other kids," she says.


Getting outdoors is part of Allen and her husband's identities, though she admits they've had to scale back their river tubing and kayaking with three little ones. Summer days often meant running barefoot through the yard or playing in creeks, but winter outings require hats, socks, gloves and blankets. Despite the added effort, Allen noticed a calming effect on the children. "It makes them less fussy for sure," she says. "Like in the house, if they start just getting crazy, we'll go outside, and they're so much better."


While Forest Families of Chattanooga helps connect parents, some mothers, like Meg Watson, prefer to stick within their families. Watson has carried her son, Aiden, 5, since he could fit in a hiking carrier. After moving from South Florida to Lookout Valley for a fresh start following her partner's passing, Watson discovered that nature helped her heal and instill confidence in her son. "If he's having a hard day at school, we'll go to Reflection Riding after, and we'll do the trails there between 5:00 and 6:00 when it gets dark," she shares. "People are like, 'I can't believe you go hiking alone with a child,' but I feel much safer going on a trail than I do going into some large city."


She's amazed by how much fun he has with "toys" as simple as rocks and sticks. "It's just a reminder that you don't need anything external to make you happy, and your kid doesn't, either," Watson adds. "I think you're missing out on all that Chattanooga has to offer if you're not getting outside."


As parents encourage nature exploration — whether it's through Ringgold's foggy trails or Chickamauga's sunny creeks, Massey reminds us that getting outdoors doesn't require a planned adventure with an amazing destination. "Sometimes it's just okay to take them out to a big field and let them run," she says.


To learn more about Forest Families of Chattanooga, visit forestfamilieschatt.org.


 Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Portia White plays in a downed tree during a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield.
 Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Portia White plays in a downed tree during a hike at the Chickamauga Battlefield.


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